Here's a video we took while we were driving from MCB Camp Courtney to Kadena AFB the day after Typhoon Mufia hit. Enjoy! And I hope you don't get sea sick.
It didn't take us nearly as long to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road as I thought it would. Because you're driving from the right side, it's only natural that your body is towards the inside lane. So it's easy to remember which lane to drive in. For me, the hard part to remember is that your blinker and windshield wipers are switched in Japanese cars. I am forever turning on the windshield wipers when I want to make a turn. Also parking lots can be tricky, because there's no real lane and especially if there is no one else around to remind you which side you should be on.
But by far the hardest part of driving in Okinawa is navigating the roads. Two things totally drive me insane-first, there are rarely any street names or signs. Some have numbers, and sometimes they are posted, but usually not. And secondly, the road numbers change for no reason. For example, if you start out on 74 and stay straight you'll end up on 85, with no idea how it happened, then 85 will turn into 23. I know! Completely confusing. But the island is small, and it IS an island, so if you go too far you'll just hit water and turn around. After five months I feel pretty confident that I can get almost anywhere on the island. I've been from one end to the other and back. It's only about 70-ish miles but takes several hours with all the winding, narrow roads and the speed limit of about 35 mph (50kmh). But getting lost and going exploring is so much fun!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Five Months Later...
My last post was written on March 12th, from the West Pac Lodge where we were staying until we got our house here in Japan. To say I've been slacking would be an understatement! So much has happened in the last five months we've been here, but somehow I managed to completely forget about this blog. Partially because our computer hard drive had to be replaced and I left my old laptop in the States. But no more excuses, we fixed David's laptop and I got a new one!
What's been happening since we landed here? Well, there's no way I could write about all of it, so I'll just make a list!
-Jodie
What's been happening since we landed here? Well, there's no way I could write about all of it, so I'll just make a list!
- Moved into our house on McT. I don't hate it, I don't love it.
- Bought my car, a Diahtsu Terious, complete with rhinestones on the steering wheel.
- Bought David's car, a Honda SMX.
- Crashed David's car, totalled it, but he's still going to drive it until the JCI is up in a couple years.
- Started new fertility meds and became serious about having a baby in the next year.
- David turned 27!!!!
- Celebrated 7 years of marriage. Seriously. I know. SEVEN years. Where did all that time go?
- David started and completed Sgt's Course with a GPA of 95!
- He also earned his green and brown Marine Corps Martial Arts belts!!
- Made tons of new friends, and love our new Church Branch.
- Went on a mini-vacation to Okuma
- Had 2 super typhoons (Songda and Mufia) and one not so super typhoon.
- David had a trip to Korea planned-but it was cancelled.
- David had a trip to San Antonio planned-but it was cancelled. (See a pattern here?)
- David was told he'll be going to Afghanistan soon.
- We're starting our Temple Prep classes on Thursday to be Sealed!!!
-Jodie
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Leavin' on a Jet Plane...(Part 2)
We made it!
But as we were driving to the West Pac in our sponsors car, we heard the news of the quake and tsunami that hit Tokyo. We were lucky enough to have left Tokyo about 5 hours before it hit, and the only affect on the island was a small tsunami that didn't do any damage. Please continue to pray for those affected, and those trying to rescue people.
First off, let me start by saying that our flight path and experience was completely different from our friends who PCSed here a few months ago, so please know that yours might be different too, but here is how our's went down:
We left Seattle at 215am and landed at Yokota AFB about 10 hours later. There, we got off the plane and went inside the passenger service center for 2 hours. Inside there were phone booths, although I don't know how much it would cost to call home, not many people were trying to. They had a charging station, restrooms, and a single restaurant. They also had a very small exchange counter where you could purchase snacks and a few travel needs. If you left the seating area to go get food, you had to go through security to come back in, but it was easy and quick. No yen was needed here, as we were on base. They did tell us that the next stop would be Iwakuni and that the layover would be 2 hours and we would NOT deplane, so you might want to plan accordingly and purchase some snacks and drink from the vending machines before getting back on the plane.
It took us another hour to get to Iwakuni, where they said we'd have the 2 hour layover. We were actually there for only about an hour. From there, we flew another 2 hours and finally landed at Kadena AFB on Okinawa at 2:30pm, local time.
The process from here was much easier then I had anticipated. We deplaned and went through customs, which was basically just getting our passports stamped. Once again, make sure you have your passport!!! We then got our luggage (we waited at the claim for about 45 minutes before ours came out!) and found our sponsor. Luckily ours was a Marine that David was friends with years ago at Camp Lejeune so we found him right away. If you don't know your sponsor there are people there to help you. We loaded up in the Marine's car and came here to the Westpac to check it.
All in all, it was so much easier and smoother then I thought it would be. After talking to my friend who came here on a commercial flight, I can safely say that the AMC flight was much more hassle free. And we didn't need yen until we got here, so I'd get some just in case, but it's not a huge issue if you don't get any in Seattle. I'll make a post about the Westpac and the first few days of being on the island later. Until then, take care!
But as we were driving to the West Pac in our sponsors car, we heard the news of the quake and tsunami that hit Tokyo. We were lucky enough to have left Tokyo about 5 hours before it hit, and the only affect on the island was a small tsunami that didn't do any damage. Please continue to pray for those affected, and those trying to rescue people.
First off, let me start by saying that our flight path and experience was completely different from our friends who PCSed here a few months ago, so please know that yours might be different too, but here is how our's went down:
We left Seattle at 215am and landed at Yokota AFB about 10 hours later. There, we got off the plane and went inside the passenger service center for 2 hours. Inside there were phone booths, although I don't know how much it would cost to call home, not many people were trying to. They had a charging station, restrooms, and a single restaurant. They also had a very small exchange counter where you could purchase snacks and a few travel needs. If you left the seating area to go get food, you had to go through security to come back in, but it was easy and quick. No yen was needed here, as we were on base. They did tell us that the next stop would be Iwakuni and that the layover would be 2 hours and we would NOT deplane, so you might want to plan accordingly and purchase some snacks and drink from the vending machines before getting back on the plane.
It took us another hour to get to Iwakuni, where they said we'd have the 2 hour layover. We were actually there for only about an hour. From there, we flew another 2 hours and finally landed at Kadena AFB on Okinawa at 2:30pm, local time.
The process from here was much easier then I had anticipated. We deplaned and went through customs, which was basically just getting our passports stamped. Once again, make sure you have your passport!!! We then got our luggage (we waited at the claim for about 45 minutes before ours came out!) and found our sponsor. Luckily ours was a Marine that David was friends with years ago at Camp Lejeune so we found him right away. If you don't know your sponsor there are people there to help you. We loaded up in the Marine's car and came here to the Westpac to check it.
All in all, it was so much easier and smoother then I thought it would be. After talking to my friend who came here on a commercial flight, I can safely say that the AMC flight was much more hassle free. And we didn't need yen until we got here, so I'd get some just in case, but it's not a huge issue if you don't get any in Seattle. I'll make a post about the Westpac and the first few days of being on the island later. Until then, take care!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Leavin' on a Jet Plane...(Part 1)
Yep, we are FINALLY on our way to Okinawa. Only two months late, but what PCS isn't complete without some sort of set back. It's 1:20am and I'm writing this from a bench in SeaTac airport. Our plane boards in just less then an hour. So far, the trip from Northwest Florida to Seattle, WA has gone very smoothly. (Knock on wood!) We were able to fly from New Orleans to SeaTac on Monday and site see around the Seattle area for the last two days. I have several pictures that I'll share in another post. I'm hoping to have time next week while waiting on a house to update more.
But now we're here, and in less 18 hours we'll be in Okinawa. It seems surreal. We found out about this PCS over 7 months ago, but that fact that we're down to mere hours is a bit overwhelming. Here's a little about how the entire process works:
When you arrive, you'll check in at AMC counter (Air Mobility Command). It was on the 4th floor and very easy to find, just follow all the young men with buzz cuts and seabags! As far as luggage goes, we had a slight ordeal, but nothing major. You're allowed 2 checked bags and 1 carry on each. The checked bags can be up to 70 pounds, but anything from 71-100 pounds will cost you an extra $112. Anything over 100 pounds isn't allowed at all. Unfortunately David's seabag was 96 pounds, but the wonderful lady at the counter let us rearrange some bags and get them all under the allowed weight. At this point make sure you have your orders, military ID, and passport. As I was researching I'd heard conflicting things. Some say passports aren't necessary unless you plan to travel off the island while there, and others say they are. They did ask for mine, so I was glad I forked over the $150 to get one. You'll get a sheet of paperwork to fill out with the service member and dependents name, social, date of birth, and rank. I should also add that David had a garment bag that they let him carry on in addiction to his backpack.
Once the bags were checked, we went through security, which was exactly like any other security screening at the airport. After that we went on the search for yen. But wouldn't you know the exchange hours are 5am-5pm. There may be other currency exchanges in SeaTac, but we never did find one. I suggest getting yen as soon as possible, since know we'll have to wait until we arrive in Okinawa to get any. My friend who just got there said she didn't "need" any yen, but it's convenient to have for the layover.
I'm still not sure where we're sitting on the plane or even how long the flight will be. (I'll update that in the second post.)
So...that's about it until we get one plane. Next time you hear from me I'll be an Okinawa resident!
But now we're here, and in less 18 hours we'll be in Okinawa. It seems surreal. We found out about this PCS over 7 months ago, but that fact that we're down to mere hours is a bit overwhelming. Here's a little about how the entire process works:
When you arrive, you'll check in at AMC counter (Air Mobility Command). It was on the 4th floor and very easy to find, just follow all the young men with buzz cuts and seabags! As far as luggage goes, we had a slight ordeal, but nothing major. You're allowed 2 checked bags and 1 carry on each. The checked bags can be up to 70 pounds, but anything from 71-100 pounds will cost you an extra $112. Anything over 100 pounds isn't allowed at all. Unfortunately David's seabag was 96 pounds, but the wonderful lady at the counter let us rearrange some bags and get them all under the allowed weight. At this point make sure you have your orders, military ID, and passport. As I was researching I'd heard conflicting things. Some say passports aren't necessary unless you plan to travel off the island while there, and others say they are. They did ask for mine, so I was glad I forked over the $150 to get one. You'll get a sheet of paperwork to fill out with the service member and dependents name, social, date of birth, and rank. I should also add that David had a garment bag that they let him carry on in addiction to his backpack.
Once the bags were checked, we went through security, which was exactly like any other security screening at the airport. After that we went on the search for yen. But wouldn't you know the exchange hours are 5am-5pm. There may be other currency exchanges in SeaTac, but we never did find one. I suggest getting yen as soon as possible, since know we'll have to wait until we arrive in Okinawa to get any. My friend who just got there said she didn't "need" any yen, but it's convenient to have for the layover.
I'm still not sure where we're sitting on the plane or even how long the flight will be. (I'll update that in the second post.)
So...that's about it until we get one plane. Next time you hear from me I'll be an Okinawa resident!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Aktau, Kazakhstan
David spent 5 weeks in Aktau, Kazakstan this summer. Here are some pictures he took while he was there.
The Caspian Sea:
This is called Ploff, and it's very common in the Soviet Region. David said it was "pretty good".
And a Camel, of course:
Statues on the way to the airport is Aktau:
The balcony of his hotel, complete with his homemade clothes line:
And the airport in India:
Jodie's 25th Birthday!
First off, let me just say that I can NOT believe I am already 25 years old! That quarter century flew by.
As luck would have it, David flew in from his trip at 2pm on my birthday. I picked him up at the airport in New Orleans and then we headed over to the French Quarter for lunch at Bubba Gump's.
We had a great time. There is a gift shop with all kinds of funny and cute things from the movie, and the dining room is decorated with lots of posters and memorablia, including the actual clothes they wore. The food was AMAZING.
I had Mama Blue's Fried Shrimp:
We did a little shopping in New Orleans and then came home. As we were pulling into our subdivision I noticed all my friends were outside, and then as we rounded the corner I saw why. This is what our front yard looked like!
I got FORKED!!! As I was standing in the yard laughing with all my friends (who were the culprits!) I remembered that one on them had a key to my house! About the time I realized this, David opened the front door and this is what we found inside...
I love my neighbors! These girls crack me up. I was finding new surprises for days, like the bows in the microwave, or that the confetti was TAPED to the floor. Or the most surprising, that the veggie sprayer at the sink was taped, so that it sprayed water all over me when I tried to wash my hands. Gotta love the "Nickel Loop Laides"!!!
And the sweetest part was that David had asked Andrea to have flowers waiting for me when we got back. It was so sweet that even though he was flying home from a foreign country, he was thoughtful enough to have flowers for me on my brithday!
It was a great birthday! Thanks to all those who made it wonderful!! And especailly David, I love you!!
As luck would have it, David flew in from his trip at 2pm on my birthday. I picked him up at the airport in New Orleans and then we headed over to the French Quarter for lunch at Bubba Gump's.
I had Mama Blue's Fried Shrimp:
And David had Lt Dan's Drunken Shrimp:
We did a little shopping in New Orleans and then came home. As we were pulling into our subdivision I noticed all my friends were outside, and then as we rounded the corner I saw why. This is what our front yard looked like!
I got FORKED!!! As I was standing in the yard laughing with all my friends (who were the culprits!) I remembered that one on them had a key to my house! About the time I realized this, David opened the front door and this is what we found inside...
And the sweetest part was that David had asked Andrea to have flowers waiting for me when we got back. It was so sweet that even though he was flying home from a foreign country, he was thoughtful enough to have flowers for me on my brithday!
It was a great birthday! Thanks to all those who made it wonderful!! And especailly David, I love you!!
78 Days until the movers come!
Our progress on the move has been fairly slow the last few weeks. David was out of the country for a month, and I went home to visit family. But we're both back now, and David is on leave all next week so it's time to get cracking. We've planned our yard sale for October 9th, and next week will be devoted to getting things sorted and priced for that. Once all of the yard sale items are out of the house, it'll be easier to see what we're working with. We've pretty much decided not to take any of our furniture. We'll be taking our mattresses, but not the frame, a computer hutch, desk chair, and bookshelf. For everything else we'll be using the government provided furnishing.
Our friends who are moving with us left yesterday to spend a month with family up north. They'll be headed to Japan in October! We're going to miss them for the next 3 months until we get there. But it does make us realize that we are getting closer too, and still have a lot more to do.
We've also been playing around with the idea of spending a week in Seattle. When familes PCS to Okinawa, they fly to either California or Seattle and wait or a MAC (Military Space Available) flight out. If we fly through Seattle, we're thinking about flying out there 3 or 4 days before we fly to Japan and doing a mini-vacation. Neither of us has ever been to Washington, so we'd like to do a little site seeing while we're there. Plus, in January they'll probably be snow, which we don't see much of around here and we definietly won't see in Okinawa, so that will be a lot of fun!
Y'all take care!
Our friends who are moving with us left yesterday to spend a month with family up north. They'll be headed to Japan in October! We're going to miss them for the next 3 months until we get there. But it does make us realize that we are getting closer too, and still have a lot more to do.
We've also been playing around with the idea of spending a week in Seattle. When familes PCS to Okinawa, they fly to either California or Seattle and wait or a MAC (Military Space Available) flight out. If we fly through Seattle, we're thinking about flying out there 3 or 4 days before we fly to Japan and doing a mini-vacation. Neither of us has ever been to Washington, so we'd like to do a little site seeing while we're there. Plus, in January they'll probably be snow, which we don't see much of around here and we definietly won't see in Okinawa, so that will be a lot of fun!
Y'all take care!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)