Oh the Joys of learning things we need to do/get. Athena needs a special travel crate, and in order for Jason and me to be able to go visit other countries while we are in Japan we both need to get our passports out in town cause while we are eligible for a free passport it only allows us to go to Japan and America. We've found out that we will have three "pick ups" from the military moving companies. The first being what we absolutly need can't live without. While the second being what we would like to have with us and the third and final pick up will be sent to storage. What stinks is we don't get Jason's reenlistment bonus until he is checked into Japan, soo we are going to have to figure something out with selling the vibe cause we are going to have to bite a couple grand to get out from under it. But we've started getting our banks changed to the main Military bank branch that is also located over in Okinawa. We hope to have that all taken care of within the next month.
We found out which "Camp" Base we will be going to. Camp Foster which is more southern Okinawa. Soo while we may need some warm clothes we will mostly be wearing nothing but summer type clothing. Hopefully I really will look like an indian if and when I have to come home to the states. I've started to go through some things, mainly I have a box of stuffed animals and some special figurines I've saved packed that will be going to my parents place to store it so the stuffed animals don't get ruined.
Athena's not liking her quaranteen to much. She's been rather restless and very "vocal" about wanting to go outside just to play. I've been afraid to take her for the walks that she desperately needs cause I dont want to run the chance of her coming into contact with another animal but I'm thinking thats what I'm going to have to do here soon.
Oh and Jason and I have started trying out some Japanese food! We went to the local Japanese steakhouse for his birthday and tried a garlic tuna sushi. It was really good and we both agreed that we will have to try some other types of Sushi now. Well that all of an update tha I have for now.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
WE HAVE ORDERS!!!
Jason just called me and we finally got our orders! Jason reports to school July 4th weekend and He is supposed to report to Okinawa Japan just before Thanksgiving. So in an ironic twist.. we will be thankful that we made it to the island safely, with our dog and all our possessions. Now he's going to get in touch with TMO (the military moving people) and find out what we can bring and what needs to stay, and if they will store the stuff that we won't be able to take with us. WOOOHOO!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Phase 1- Research
SO what is the first thing you would do if you found out that you were being sent to a new country for three years? Research it right? Yea that's what we started doing. We started researching Okinawa's culture, the language, and what we need to do in order to get "prepared." I made certain that we both started learning a bit about the language because 1. the Okinawa website says not to expect the locals to speak any English due to harsh feelings between them and the military whose presence on the island. and 2 because in my opinion its kinda rude to go to a foreign country and expect them to speak your language. And with thanks to My pastor and his wife, and a co-worker whose background is Japanese as well as the Japanese/English dictionary from the library, I have now learned the Japanese translation for Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good evening.
As far as learning about the Culture.. We are going to see more of that once we get there. However I have learned to just always remain respectful, And never to show them the bottom of our feet cause that would be letting them think that we think they are beneath us.
Now as for what all we have to do.. we are still learning. The first thing we have learned is about Athena. As I said in the last post she can come with us. We had to get her second rabies shot and get some blood work to test the rabies antibodies in her blood. Then once the blood work is started she has to go under a quaranteen/isolation for 180 days (6 months) where she is only allowed outside to go potty and to go for walks and she is not allowed any contact with any other animals. Which if you know our dog, she is a VERY social animal, and still being a 11 month old puppy she is still very curious. I.E. she likes to run after birds and squirrls.
Other than that we need to both get our passports, sell one of our vehicles (cause Japanese Law prohibits any American vehicles made from 1974 to now.) and decide what we want to take to Japan and what gets put into storage.
Needless to say we are waiting on Jason's orders to school, and then once he finishes school then we will get the official orders to Japan. Until then, research and planning.
As far as learning about the Culture.. We are going to see more of that once we get there. However I have learned to just always remain respectful, And never to show them the bottom of our feet cause that would be letting them think that we think they are beneath us.
Now as for what all we have to do.. we are still learning. The first thing we have learned is about Athena. As I said in the last post she can come with us. We had to get her second rabies shot and get some blood work to test the rabies antibodies in her blood. Then once the blood work is started she has to go under a quaranteen/isolation for 180 days (6 months) where she is only allowed outside to go potty and to go for walks and she is not allowed any contact with any other animals. Which if you know our dog, she is a VERY social animal, and still being a 11 month old puppy she is still very curious. I.E. she likes to run after birds and squirrls.
Other than that we need to both get our passports, sell one of our vehicles (cause Japanese Law prohibits any American vehicles made from 1974 to now.) and decide what we want to take to Japan and what gets put into storage.
Needless to say we are waiting on Jason's orders to school, and then once he finishes school then we will get the official orders to Japan. Until then, research and planning.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
JAPAN!!!!
A couple weeks ago Jason and I got a call from a Master Sgt. telling us that he was going to give Jason orders to be on an accompanied deployment, stationed in Okinawa Japan for three years! My first response is OMG JAPAN!! I won't get to see my mom for three years.. Xander will be 5 by the time we come home... What about Athena? Do we get to take her or do we have to find someone to keep her for three years? Luckily as I started telling people about the possible "duty station" I started to calm down. I had a co-worker/friend tell me "think of it as an adventure" and I had the bible verse from the old testament that says "I have plans for you plans to prosper and not to harm you" pop in to my head. Like God was saying it's OK I have a purpose for you over there.
Then we started researching what we have to do. Athena is allowed to go with us, she just has to be in isolation for 6 months, her rabies shot done with blood work, and obviously shots. Yesterday we managed to get her started on that process to get the isolation time over in Japan lessened.
The only problem now is we are waiting for the official orders. The Master Sgt said he would email them last Wednesday when we just happened to be on Vacation visiting family. Needless to say he didn't do it. So Jason has emailed this guy and his current Master Sgt is on someone elses behind who is supposed to be taking care of this stuff to see that it gets done. Which really needs to get done otherwise Jason would end up going to Iraq with the current squadron rather than going to school and then to Japan.. We are really praying that the latter happens.
I decided that I would Blog about the entire process to getting ready for Japan and the entire experience of "culture shock" that we are obviously going to be going through. This way all Family, and Friends who want to have an update on us and our situation can just check here!
So keep an eye out and I will be updating everytime something new happens.
Then we started researching what we have to do. Athena is allowed to go with us, she just has to be in isolation for 6 months, her rabies shot done with blood work, and obviously shots. Yesterday we managed to get her started on that process to get the isolation time over in Japan lessened.
The only problem now is we are waiting for the official orders. The Master Sgt said he would email them last Wednesday when we just happened to be on Vacation visiting family. Needless to say he didn't do it. So Jason has emailed this guy and his current Master Sgt is on someone elses behind who is supposed to be taking care of this stuff to see that it gets done. Which really needs to get done otherwise Jason would end up going to Iraq with the current squadron rather than going to school and then to Japan.. We are really praying that the latter happens.
I decided that I would Blog about the entire process to getting ready for Japan and the entire experience of "culture shock" that we are obviously going to be going through. This way all Family, and Friends who want to have an update on us and our situation can just check here!
So keep an eye out and I will be updating everytime something new happens.
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