Mom & Dad Visit: Day 2

Mom and Dad had barely been in the country for 24 hours and we had a full day planned for Day #2. We headed south along the coast to Miyajima Island. A famous sightseeing spot for the floating torii gate and beautiful views.

We spent almost the entire day at the island: checking out the torii gate, the shrine, Mount Misen and the torii gate again at low tide. We weren't exactly expecting to hike up an entire mountain, but when we realized the cable car only took you part way, we had to hike a bit further to check out the view.

It was definitely worth it!

Last time that Glenn and I had been at Miyajima, it was high tide and we weren't there long enough to see the tide go out. It really gave a perspective just how BIG the torii gates are! After a long, hot, sweaty day at Miyajima, we headed back to the hotel, grabbed our bags and hopped on the train for our next stop- Kyoto!

Orders! For real!

After getting our departure delayed for several reasons, I wasn't expecting orders til the new fiscal year in October. Once I had wrapped my head around that concept and developed a new time line for several upcoming events/moving/painting/packing/etc, what does the Navy do? Gives us orders today!

Exciting of course, but now all those lists and plans I had made must change and then be implemented. What a crazy life this is? I stress, I bitch, I complain, but it's pretty exciting. We're moving to America! Sometimes I worry though. Am I going to be bored? Will I be able to find a job? (This article, btdub, didn't help in that regard).

We are officially headed to Norfolk so you may begin planning your 2012 visit! All of you who said that Japan was too expensive, but you would visit us in the states? Well, here's your chance. You can fly in to Norfolk or Newport News, VA. Please notify us of your travel plans. We expect visitors. I'm done taking 12 hour flights for awhile. My next several months might include up to 5 of those. FIVE. One. Two. Three. Four. FIVE.

Like I mentioned before, we are delayed a few months longer than we were expecting. Glenn will check out of VAW-115 in November and will report to VAW-120 NTL December 1. Not ideal, but it will work out nicely with Blair's wedding and nothing is ever perfect I suppose. Something I struggle to grasp at, but as Glenn's email to me tonight said, "sometimes we don't get everything we want...". I try hard to make everything work, but then I get sick and my dog forgets who I am. How did he get so practical?

The list making, planning, cleaning, painting, scheduling and packing commences now!

Yamato Awa Odori Festival

I am muchos behind on my blogging, but I was out of town all week in Taiwan! Here are a few pictures from the festival one town over that took place last Saturday. Nights like this are why I love Japan so much! The color, the friends, the culture, the dedication.

 

Glenn at Work

I finally got a few pictures from Glenn at work. Here he is with his LSO (Landing Signal Officer) team helping bring the planes on board. They grade each airplane as it passes/lands which is why they all look rather intense. Although, I'm sure in the sunshine with blue skies and few clouds like this day, they weren't so stressed. I'm not sure how they get a guy on board in the pitch black, with low clouds and he's already boltered (failed attempt to get on board) twice! Better you than me, Mr!

There he is! And the E2 too!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Summer!

Tuesday 10: Eating in Takayama

My parents are pretty good sports when it comes to trying new things. They were very good sports when it came to the ryokan (J hotel) that we stayed at during our last two nights traveling. There were somethings that after 3 years living here that seem normal to me, but there were definitely some new things. I just shrugged my shoulders and took a bite. Here are a few:

1. Tiny crab!

2. Cold mystery vegetable goo with slimy sauce. Despite the name, not so bad.

 

3. Salt baked fish. Before. After.

 4. Tempura. Delicious minus the fish guy.

5. Lots and lots of pickles, rice and soup!

6. Breakfast!

 7. Dinner on the second night was shabu-shabu. It was delicious! It was lots of veggies and beef soup essentially.

 

8. Cherries for dessert.

9. I think this was breakfast. I can only tell because of the orange though.

10. We also had pickle omelet for breakfast.

Mom & Dad Visit: Day 1

Recently, the domestic airport in Japan added an international terminal that flies to select cities in the States. That means a cheaper flight and shorter commute time from my house to the airport (Haneda). Bonus! That also means crazy flight times which was truly felt when my alarm clock went off at 3:45 am so that I could catch the first train at 4:50 am. Mom and Dad's flight arrived at 4:55 am and I arrived at the airport at 5:52 am with my suitcases in tow as well!

We started our trip from there! No wasting time. We caught the train to the shinkansen (bullet train) terminal and we were off to our first stop, Hiroshima!
 
We dropped our bags at the hotel and took a taxi over to the Peace Park Museum before it closed. Glenn and I had been there in Spring 2009, but it's a must-see in Hiroshima.

Something everyone should see in their lifetime.

I think Dad is liking this vacation thing. What is this? Vacation number 4 this summer? I'm not sure what you are going to do in retirement. You already act like it now. ;)

After the Peace Park and A-bomb Dome, we headed to the Hiroshima Carp game. Unlike last time Glenn and I went, I knew to buy balloons this time!

Dad started to fall asleep during the 7th or 8th inning so it was a good thing that it was a fast game- 0-1. We jammed a lot in to their first day in the country, I think. We all fell asleep hard by 10:00 pm. We had much more sightseeing to do the next day!

Sometimes it feels good to get dressed up.

Even if my hubby isn't here to enjoy it! What a fun time getting dressed up and dining like a royal!

Farewell Keita, Hatsuki & Mariko!

I've been teaching my Tuesday night class for over two years and we had our final class the week before my parents came. As Keita put it, "little progress, but good friendship and always enjoy time." So I'm not the greatest teacher, but we always had good conversation and a nice time.

I got Keita a flight jacket with his own name patch and Liberty Bell gear. He was SO cute about it and called it his "treasure". He didn't even want to try it on at first and just kept smiling and smiling.

Around 8:00 every Tuesday night after class ended, Stella would jump up on the back of the couch to say goodbye. My students loved Stella and they would bring her treats and rub her belly throughout class. Keita said goodbye to Stella as he walked out the door every Tuesday.

 

Good-bye!

GNO Tokyo!

When the boys are gone, the girls will play! I headed to Tokyo a few weekend ago with some very fun girlfriends to Gonpachi restaurant. We got there a little early so we stopped for some drinks at the Mexican restaurant across the street.

Sadly, no one ordered the Appli Pie.

Dericious.

We ordered the course menu and it didn't disappoint. Yummy food course after course!

An hour long train ride didn't deter us. We were off to Karaoke once we got back close to base!

I'm excited to get back to America, but nights like this are going to make me miss this place SO much. Good friends, no jobs, a fabulous city out our back door. It can't be beat!