Monday, November 22, 2010
Sorry there are a couple double pictures
I accidentally posted a couple pictures twice. I am still learning how all of this works. I promise by the time we leave here I will be a pro. (I still have three years to work on it) :)
Planning....
This past week has been devoted to preparing for the holidays.I am trying to get our Christmas cards and gifts out early this year since I am not sure how long it will take to get to everyone.
The disappointment of the week started as a great idea, I made Christmas ornaments but they are too fragile to ship :( So I will be bringing them home with me next time I come. I made a bunch so everyone will get one. Here is what they look like :
They have sea glass, coral and shells in them. That way all of our loved ones will have a little piece of Okinawa.
The exchange and grocery store on base have done a wonderful job decorating and supplying the shelfs with items that people will need for the holidays.I am grateful for this not just because they have the items I desire but also because it feels like we aren't so far from home when we see Christmas stuff everywhere.
This Thursday we will be celebrating Thanksgiving at our friends Angela and Phil's house. Phil and David (along with Chris) will be separating from their current unit in December and joining a different unit for a year. The three guys will be leaving in January on a ship for 5 months. They will get to travel all over and have the opportunity to spend a week or two in several different countries. While on the ship they will be in training. They will also be the first ones called if a new conflict should arise or if there is a natural disaster in the area. I am hoping that neither occur and David has the opportunity to take online classes and see this side of the world.
We are continuing to try new things this week we went to a place called Mos Burgers. They are a chain restaurant on the island and most are located close to a base so I figured it would be easy to order, it was not :). I'm not sure who was more confused the girl that worked there or us. The food was ok (the fries were good) :)Here are some pictures from our visit to Mos.
The sign below is posted downstairs in our apartment complex. I'm not sure if you will be able to read it but David and I often smile at the grammatical errors that are made in the signs around town. After reading my posts you probably think that the Japanese are rubbing off on me. - I always have a few errors myself) :) Down the road for us there is a sign that advertises C Food. It always makes me smile.
The other picture is of a place called Jusco. There are many of these around town and are probably the closest thing to a mall that Okinawa has. There is a grocery store on the lower level and the other levels have items such as clothes,home goods, electronics, specialty shops and a food court. We haven't bought anything from Jusco but it is always fun to go inside and look around.
We hope that everyone has a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
We love you guys!!!
The disappointment of the week started as a great idea, I made Christmas ornaments but they are too fragile to ship :( So I will be bringing them home with me next time I come. I made a bunch so everyone will get one. Here is what they look like :
They have sea glass, coral and shells in them. That way all of our loved ones will have a little piece of Okinawa.
The exchange and grocery store on base have done a wonderful job decorating and supplying the shelfs with items that people will need for the holidays.I am grateful for this not just because they have the items I desire but also because it feels like we aren't so far from home when we see Christmas stuff everywhere.
This Thursday we will be celebrating Thanksgiving at our friends Angela and Phil's house. Phil and David (along with Chris) will be separating from their current unit in December and joining a different unit for a year. The three guys will be leaving in January on a ship for 5 months. They will get to travel all over and have the opportunity to spend a week or two in several different countries. While on the ship they will be in training. They will also be the first ones called if a new conflict should arise or if there is a natural disaster in the area. I am hoping that neither occur and David has the opportunity to take online classes and see this side of the world.
We are continuing to try new things this week we went to a place called Mos Burgers. They are a chain restaurant on the island and most are located close to a base so I figured it would be easy to order, it was not :). I'm not sure who was more confused the girl that worked there or us. The food was ok (the fries were good) :)Here are some pictures from our visit to Mos.
The sign below is posted downstairs in our apartment complex. I'm not sure if you will be able to read it but David and I often smile at the grammatical errors that are made in the signs around town. After reading my posts you probably think that the Japanese are rubbing off on me. - I always have a few errors myself) :) Down the road for us there is a sign that advertises C Food. It always makes me smile.
The other picture is of a place called Jusco. There are many of these around town and are probably the closest thing to a mall that Okinawa has. There is a grocery store on the lower level and the other levels have items such as clothes,home goods, electronics, specialty shops and a food court. We haven't bought anything from Jusco but it is always fun to go inside and look around.
We hope that everyone has a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
We love you guys!!!
Naha
Last weekend we went shopping down in Naha. Naha is the largest city on Okinawa it's population is over 300,000 it is located about 45 minutes south of Yomitan Son (where we live). We enjoyed walking around on Kokusai St. Here are a few of the pictures from that day
The picture of our car shows David pulling into a parking garage with a conveyor belt system because space is limited in the city this system allows them to park multiple cars in "the same spot". Another picture is of the ladies restroom toilet. Most of the time they have normal toilets too. We aren't really sure what the purple looking thing in David's hand is. We think the purple part is some kind of potato and the bottom part is dough.( But we really don't know :) They sell them ALL OVER the island so we thought we would try one. It didn't really have any flavor to it at all. We also went to a little market where everything is already prepackaged and ready to go so the picture of the food is David's dinner that night. The rest are just random pictures.
The picture of our car shows David pulling into a parking garage with a conveyor belt system because space is limited in the city this system allows them to park multiple cars in "the same spot". Another picture is of the ladies restroom toilet. Most of the time they have normal toilets too. We aren't really sure what the purple looking thing in David's hand is. We think the purple part is some kind of potato and the bottom part is dough.( But we really don't know :) They sell them ALL OVER the island so we thought we would try one. It didn't really have any flavor to it at all. We also went to a little market where everything is already prepackaged and ready to go so the picture of the food is David's dinner that night. The rest are just random pictures.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Zakimi Castle
Yesterday I went to the Zakimi Castle. It is located 3 miles from my house and was built around 1440. It's amazing to me that it has held up so well.
Pictures !
I don't remember what order I put the pictures in but there is a picture of the beach. A dragon fruit (Very popular fruit in Okinawa the inside is white with little black seeds and people eat it like a kiwi.) It's kinda hard to tell but there is a picture of two trees blown over from the wind. David made me a welcome sign to welcome me back to Okinawa :) The final picture is of mango candy.
It's November!! (The edited version I wrote the other one in the middle of the night and did a horrible job)
It has been two weeks since I arrived back in Okinawa and I am behind on updating our blog but I have been too busy to sit down and type. So this post is going to be a long one.
The night I flew back into Okinawa the pilot in Tokyo announced to the passengers that if anyone was interested in getting off the plane the airline would refund their ticket or guarantee to have them on the first flight on Saturday. The pilot explained that a typhoon would be making landfall in Okinawa the following day and the island was already feeling the effects. This is when I should have stood up and exited the plane. Halloween party on Saturday or not. However none of the 20 passengers stood up so neither did I. Thirty minutes out of Okinawa I was saying prayers and mumbling about being an idiot and then the most amazing thing happened. I saw the runway. WE LANDED!!! I was so excited I hugged the man in the seat in front of me. I have been on some rough flights but NOTHING has ever compared to that last 30 minutes of that flight. Next time a pilot asks if anyone is interested in getting off the plane due to weather I will stand up and walk off.
I was so excited to be home I didn't care that my luggage was lost. Until the next morning when I realized our Halloween costumes and my ball dress were in my luggage.
The typhoon kept us in doors for two days. Literally the island shut down no stores were open and no one was allowed outside until the storm was over and the authorities had checked out the damage. So on Saturday morning David and I got up early with a list of things to do to prepare for our Halloween party that night. My luggage arrived at 9am and even though there was a miscommunication with the man who brought it (I said " Oh you have my luggage thank you" and he said "No sorry". I was confused then he said "I only have suitcase" Ok - luggage or suitcase you have my stuff YAY!!! LOL
Our Halloween party was a blast. 48 people attended, which is pretty good when you tell a bunch of Marines they are invited but they have to wear a costume. Everyone had fun and we will continue our Halloween tradition here in Okinawa.
The next week was a crazy work week for David. He had duty so he had to spend a few nights up at work. I spent the week applying for jobs and getting registered for the Spring semester of school.
The following weekend we attended the Marine Corps. Birthday Ball. It is always fun to dress up and spend an evening with friends dancing, drinking and celebrating something that at times makes our lives complicated and takes us away from our loved ones. This year was no exception we had a wonderful time.
Side note : The thing I find the most amazing about the birthday ball is that for one night a year everyone seems to forget the struggles and the sacrifices they have gone through. The Marines who attend the ball are filled with honor and pride to be serving the country they love. No one complains about deployments,long hours, PT or being in a foreign country for one night everyone is proud to be there and to belong to such an amazing "fraternity" - as the guys like to call it.
Ok sorry about the side note. Anyways I have a bunch of random pictures to post and a lot of ball and party pictures. I will post the random pictures tonight and hopefully the other pictures later in the week.
This evening we are going to a homecoming celebration. We will be welcoming Marines back that have been gone to Afghanistan since February. Their families can hardly stand it but in four hours they will be together again.
Although I am not allowed to give details. I will ask that everyone keep the Marines in Davids unit in their thoughts and prayers there have been several close calls lately. :(
David doesn't have to work the rest of the week. We are going to explore the island and hopefully do some Christmas shopping. It was wonderful to see everyone while I was home last month and for those of you I didn't see I am SO SO sorry. You all will be my top priority next time. Going home made me miss it more. I have a feeling it will be that way every time. I asked David if we could be stationed in Albany GA next. :) He said we just got here. Oh well what can I say I am a planner.
Have a wonderful weekend! Love you guys!
The night I flew back into Okinawa the pilot in Tokyo announced to the passengers that if anyone was interested in getting off the plane the airline would refund their ticket or guarantee to have them on the first flight on Saturday. The pilot explained that a typhoon would be making landfall in Okinawa the following day and the island was already feeling the effects. This is when I should have stood up and exited the plane. Halloween party on Saturday or not. However none of the 20 passengers stood up so neither did I. Thirty minutes out of Okinawa I was saying prayers and mumbling about being an idiot and then the most amazing thing happened. I saw the runway. WE LANDED!!! I was so excited I hugged the man in the seat in front of me. I have been on some rough flights but NOTHING has ever compared to that last 30 minutes of that flight. Next time a pilot asks if anyone is interested in getting off the plane due to weather I will stand up and walk off.
I was so excited to be home I didn't care that my luggage was lost. Until the next morning when I realized our Halloween costumes and my ball dress were in my luggage.
The typhoon kept us in doors for two days. Literally the island shut down no stores were open and no one was allowed outside until the storm was over and the authorities had checked out the damage. So on Saturday morning David and I got up early with a list of things to do to prepare for our Halloween party that night. My luggage arrived at 9am and even though there was a miscommunication with the man who brought it (I said " Oh you have my luggage thank you" and he said "No sorry". I was confused then he said "I only have suitcase" Ok - luggage or suitcase you have my stuff YAY!!! LOL
Our Halloween party was a blast. 48 people attended, which is pretty good when you tell a bunch of Marines they are invited but they have to wear a costume. Everyone had fun and we will continue our Halloween tradition here in Okinawa.
The next week was a crazy work week for David. He had duty so he had to spend a few nights up at work. I spent the week applying for jobs and getting registered for the Spring semester of school.
The following weekend we attended the Marine Corps. Birthday Ball. It is always fun to dress up and spend an evening with friends dancing, drinking and celebrating something that at times makes our lives complicated and takes us away from our loved ones. This year was no exception we had a wonderful time.
Side note : The thing I find the most amazing about the birthday ball is that for one night a year everyone seems to forget the struggles and the sacrifices they have gone through. The Marines who attend the ball are filled with honor and pride to be serving the country they love. No one complains about deployments,long hours, PT or being in a foreign country for one night everyone is proud to be there and to belong to such an amazing "fraternity" - as the guys like to call it.
Ok sorry about the side note. Anyways I have a bunch of random pictures to post and a lot of ball and party pictures. I will post the random pictures tonight and hopefully the other pictures later in the week.
This evening we are going to a homecoming celebration. We will be welcoming Marines back that have been gone to Afghanistan since February. Their families can hardly stand it but in four hours they will be together again.
Although I am not allowed to give details. I will ask that everyone keep the Marines in Davids unit in their thoughts and prayers there have been several close calls lately. :(
David doesn't have to work the rest of the week. We are going to explore the island and hopefully do some Christmas shopping. It was wonderful to see everyone while I was home last month and for those of you I didn't see I am SO SO sorry. You all will be my top priority next time. Going home made me miss it more. I have a feeling it will be that way every time. I asked David if we could be stationed in Albany GA next. :) He said we just got here. Oh well what can I say I am a planner.
Have a wonderful weekend! Love you guys!
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