Thursday

Yesterday seemed to go by in a blur so I thought I would recount my busy day so that when I am bored and Glenn is gone, maybe it will give me some ideas :)

1. 9 am: Went to the VRO (Vehicle Registration Office) with my POA (Power of Attorney) in hand to purchase a friends car who is moving to Hawaii. Now we will have 2 cars and I won't have to get up at 6 to drive my hubby to work (unless of course I want to :) ).

2. 10 am: Met with the scholarship committee to decide on the essay questions for this years scholarship application. I joined AOSA (Atsugi Officer Spouses Association - so all the commands, not just 115).

3. 11:30 am: Got my hair cut. I got bangs! Still don't really know what I'm doing with them. Maybe I'll post pics later.

4. 12:30 pm: Went to lunch with Gizelle and Mike (our newest spouse, can't call it the wives club any more!) and then went to the frame shop at Camp Zama to get a new picture Glenn and I bought framed. 18" x 24" with a 3" matte and no-glare glass for only $80 - love the military frame shop!

5. 4:30 pm: Picked up Glenn from work.

6. 6:30 pm: Met the squadron at Otter Sushi (named for the otter in the bathtub logo on their sign, we can't read Japanese, people).

7. 9:30 pm: Went to bed.

So if you're curious what a housewife with no kids does all day, we go out to lunch together and go shopping. :) I am officially one of the Ladies who Lunches. Today I'm having brunch and then making meals for one of our Warrant Officers who is on bed rest after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Have a good weekend everyone, or Friday for those of you in the states :).

Wordless Wednesday - Me in Japan!

This is me at a Shinto shrine on New Years day:
Ok, not really of me, but this picture is taken from the flight line on base. See Mt Fuji? It's the flat topped mountain to the left of the tallest peak in the picture. It's covered with snow so it's kinda hard to see.

Happy New Year!
This is me on the deck of Glenn's aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington.

My Monday Class

Yesterday was my first solo English class. Every other Monday I teach 2 7-year old first graders. Yesterday I decided we would learn about clothes. We went through some handouts with pictures and the words to learn "jeans" "t-shirt" "bracelet" etc. Then I had them describe pictures I cut out of my US weekly magazines, do a few worksheets to work on hand writing and spelling and lastly we played dress up and asked eachother "What are you wearing?" and aswering using "I am" "She is" "You are" etc.
If I had a teaching background, this would be a piece of cake, but I don't so it will be interesting. There are lots of websites to help, but if any of you know a good set of workbooks that focus on reading and writing, that would be fabulous! Help me all you teacher friends! One of my students, Miyuu, is much more advanced than her friend, Yuuki. Miyuu can write and read and sound things out. Yuuki is still working on her letters and can't read very much so I'm thinking I'll need two different sets of books.
I think I'll enjoy teaching though cause I'll get to meet some Japanese people, see their homes and get to know them. Plus, making a minimum of $30/hr isn't so bad. I'm hoping to take over another girl's class when she leaves in May. That class makes 10,000 yen/90 minutes.
Since I'm not working here besides teaching and babysitting, it's nice to feel like I'm contributing some. In Norfolk and in the past, money wasn't so much an issue cause I was making as much as Glenn, but now we have to think about it a little bit more. Especially since when we do go out to eat or go shopping it is much more expensive. (I haven't bought shoes or any clothes since I moved here. Almost 2 months ago.) I thought it would be fabulous not working (don't get me wrong, at times it is!) but I think that will be my biggest adjustment living here- being a housewife. I guess we took for granted when we were DINKs and now we're just SINKs.
Speaking of sinks, back to the laundry....

Harajuku

Glenn and I went to a area of Tokyo called Harajuku on Sunday afternoon. Harajuku is known for being a young and trendy area of Tokyo and on Sundays, people dress up in cos-play (costumes) and stand around in this one park. It sounds kind of random, but it reminds me of street performers, but without talent really. They were neat to see and take pictures with though. Harajuku also has lots of fun shopping and we ended up doing some of that. We went in to Gap cause Glenn really wants a trench coat and they had things I couldn't even find on Gap.com. Now I'm mad I didn't buy them while I was there! Glenn bought some new brown boots and some snow boots that he will need for skiing in a couple weeks. Over the long Valentine's weekend we're headed to Nagano to go skiing and see the snow monkeys. We're really excited to go skiing again, it's been since last February.
Here is a picture of me with one of the crazy people in Harajuku:

Oh and Dad, this picture is for you, it must be Whitey's Japanese cousin, except this guy was over 3 feet long:

Driving in Japan

We took this video driving from Atsugi Base to Camp Zama, the Army base nearby. We call this road telephone pole road and you'll see why. I'm always afraid I'm going to hit one!

After Pictures.

I finally finished painting on Saturday of the 3-day weekend so here are a few after pictures with a few new IKEA purchases from Sunday- new chair and plant. I like the new brown color so much better! Some day we will stop buying things from IKEA, but not today!














I also painted the bedroom. A white stripe and greyish purple walls. It's a little girly, but I love it! Are you impressed with the straightness of that paint job. I used paintable caulk to seal the tape so I had no paint bleed under. It is perfectly straight!



Lastly, we got new curtains in the office. The house is finally coming together. I'm eventually going to paint the office. Maybe when Glenn goes on cruise. I'm all painted out for now.

Back in the phone-calling business

Our vonage phone is working again. Not really sure what happened but all is better now and Glenn is happy cause his PS3 is now hooked up to the internet (the point of all the rearranging). Just wanted to let you all know! Laura Moore if you are reading this, you should call and tell me when you are getting here! That's right, our good friends from Kville and Norfolk are joining us in Atsugi! We can't wait for them to get here!

Here is a pic of Marcy, Laura and I at what I thought would be a farewell glass of wine, but we'll be seeing the Moores soon! Can't wait!

Megan and Nate

Since I moved the day after Megan and Nate's wedding, I never posted any pictures. They got their professional wedding pics back a few weeks ago and this is one of my favorites because it is very much Megan. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Schlueter!

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Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

Deliciousness

Today I went to a FFSC (Fleet and Family Service Center) class at the Japanese grocery store. We basically just walked around and could ask questions like "What is this stuff?". So helpful since the commissary only carries so many things. I bought some things that we have been looking for and a few things my guide recommended. My new favorite obsession though. Flavored KitKats. Apparently they are seasonal so this time of year it is strawberry but they have watermelon and all sorts of flavors. So good! They look just like regular KitKats but I think the wafer part is watermelon flavored. Why don't they have these in the states?

I'm 16 again!

Ha, yeah right, but I do feel like I'm 16 again this week. Last night I drove off base for the first time! It's not as difficult as I thought it would be but it does require some extra thinking like "which side of the road am I going to turn on to?". I did lots of silly things like look over my left should for the seatbelt (nothing there!) and look over my shoulder when passing stopped cars when really I should be looking at the oncoming traffic! Hopefully I'll get the hang of it since I have to drive by myself tonight to an English class that I am subbing for tonight. 8 elementary school kids, hopefully I know what I'm doing :). I don't, but I'll figure it out I guess.

I drove last night to the hardware/bed bath & beyond/pet/liquor store (one stop shopping I guess) to get more paint. It's going to take 2 coats to cover the living room and dining room, but I really like how it's turning out. I'll post new pics once I'm finished and have put the apartment back together.

Oh Happy Day!

So yesterday I bought a computer program from a website called Witopia.net and it is making me the happiest person! It is a personal VPN program recommended by my brother and a girl I met in my AOB/ICR class which means....I can watch my TV shows online!
I spent yesterday morning watching the last 4 episodes of The Hills that I had missed after moving. If I wasn't painting all week, I would be catching up on The Office, Grey's, 30 Rock, One Tree and all the wonderfulness that is my favorite shows.
PS. The program only cost $39.99 a year!
So excited!

Change of Command

The change of command party was so much fun on Friday night! Part of me felt like I was at a college sorority function because each squadron there had matching shirts or themed outfits. VAW-115 looked quite classy in their black and green striped rugby shirts. There were games and tournaments of beer pong, flip cup (note: Iowa Staters, Glenn and I represented in a fashion you would be proud of :)), shuffle board, darts, etc.
Each squadron also did their Role Call. Each squadron or a representative of each squadron, introduced themselves with either a Top Ten list, limmerick, interperative dance, skit, etc. Some of them were hilarious! Those that weren't got the gong and the boot off stage. The Navy truly understands how to throw a party. Thanks to all the Skipper's for the $13,000 tab! Free grey goose and tonics for me all night!
Yesterday Glenn and I lounged, picked up the car, did some grocery shopping, went to sushi with some friends and played Rock Band. A nice little Saturday. :) Something interesting I didn't realize til yesterday though. Sushi rolls (ala Rainbow Roll, Dragon Roll, Spider Roll, etc) do not exist in Japan. That is an American thing. Most of the sushi the Japanese eat are what you know as Nigiri. There are california rolls and a few simple rolls, but none of the fancy rolls we have in the states. For those of you planning on coming to visit, practice your chopstick skills. No forks around here. A good practice would be eating noodle soup with chopsticks. Then you'll be ready!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

January

January has been a busy month so far, or I guess I should say a busy week. Glenn and I started our New Year in true Japanese fashion and visited a few Shinto shrines and buddist temples in Shinjuku (an area of Tokyo). New Years is the most important holiday for the Japanese, as you can tell by some of the crowds at the shrines and temples.
The Japanese get a fortune at the shrine that tells them if they are going to have Very Good, Good, Regular or Bad luck for the year. If they like the fortune, they keep the small piece of paper, if they don't like the fortune, they tie it to a place on the shrine so that the Kami (the 8 million Shinto gods, seriously 8M) can take the bad luck away.

As a part of my AOB/ICR class this week, on Thursday we take a field trip in order to learn how to use the trains, schedules, prepaid cards, etc. Myself and two other girls decided to go to the Ueno Zoo which is just north of Tokyo. I think it is interesting to go to zoos in other countries because they have animals we don't see in the US. I've also never been to a zoo in winter, and I highly recommend it! The animals were much more active because they weren't trying to cool off in the shade all day. I saw a few animals closer than I have ever seen before.

Here is an Okapis, it looks like a Donkey/Zebra love chile to me. Glenn thought it was a photoshopped picture. It was a fun day considering I only met my two travel companions on Monday.

Today is my last day of class and I'll be able to go in on Monday and get my driver's license!

Tonight is a big Change of Command party. There are 5 skippers each putting in over $2000 for the tab. I think the entire airwing will be there, but who wouldn't for $10,000 worth of free booze! I think we'll be walking home tonight! :)
PS. Japan has a 0.03% Drunk Driving Law. Not .08 like the States. For some people, that's like a sip of a drink. If you drink, you walk or take the trains. At least the O Club is only a 15 minute walk away. Have a good weekend everyone!

AOB/ICR

Today was my first day of my Area Orientation Briefing and Intercultural Relations Class. Today consisted of about 20 speakers giving 10 to 20 minute presentations on what they do on base. Everything from the base skipper to the NEX to the Chaplain and the Vehicle Registration Office. I learned some things I didn't know already and found out about other services that are available so overall it was beneficial. Just a long day- from 7:45 to 3. It was like I had to work, haha!

After I finish this class I'll finally be able to get my driver's license, yay! The base makes it mandatory to take this week long class to get your license. So on Monday I'll be driving on the other side of the road finally!

IKEA!

Glenn and I are going to IKEA today and I'm super excited! Hopefully I can find some cute curtains for the bedrooms.

Glenn and I also found a Home Depot like store yesterday after getting directions from another wife. They actually had a paint selections and paint cards (which you have to pay for here) but I found a color that will hopefully work. Now I just have to suck it up and spend 5000 Yen (about $50-$60) on 5 L of paint. So expensive! But that is Japan. I'll post new pics of the place after I paint and we get new stuff at IKEA. Fun!

Mystery Boxes

Glenn and I had a great time at the New Sanno for new years. The New Sanno is a fantastic deal for military families in Japan. The hotel is in a great area, only cost $48/night (for us, it is prorated based on rank), has a Navy Exchange, a couple restaurants, a spa, a pool, babysitters. The party was fun, would have been more fun if we had known more people there, but we had friendly people at our table. The food was excellent, we danced and toasted in 2009 in a "Night in Venice" themed party in Japan. That sounds confusing.
Today we went to an area of Tokyo called Skinjuku. On New Years day, most stores are closed, but the Japanese traditionally visit their neighborhood shrines to make their wishes for the coming year. We visited several shrines in the area and walked around. The few stores that were open sold what Glenn and I joked were mystery boxes, but it turns out they really are! From clothes to cameras to suits, they sold things in sealed bags or boxes for a set price. What you get is a mystery. Glenn and I bought a mystery box of wine from one store. I guess we'll see if it turns out to be a good deal or not.
It's only a few hours past midnight in the states, I hope you all are enjoying 2009! 2009 means visitors for Glenn and I! I'm excited for people to come visit our new country this year!