1. 100 Yen stores. I went in the store last week and spent almost $75 on things that I'm sure I could find in the states, but never for so cheap and never all in one place. Yeah, we have dollar stores in America, but the 100 yen stores actually have quality items. Things that you use every day and are so useful and ingenious half the time. The other half the time, they are just fun.
2. Not working. Or according to Glenn, the 5 minute drive to work. I guess I'll have to get a job when we get back to wherever we are going. Not sure what I'll do, but once we get settled, a job will have to happen.
3. The food. The sushi, ramen and yummy veggies will be hard to replace in America. They are just so fresh and delicious.
4. Trains. Not only the super fast and convenient mode of transportation, but all so the entertainment that it provided. Everything from the random old men passing out on your shoulder to the speaking blatantly about the lady next to you's crazy outfit, but knowing she doesn't understand a word you said.
5. Generally polite people everywhere. Minus that one guy who got out of his car at a stop light to yell and me in Japanese about honking at him. Everyone else though. They're so polite and aware of their surroundings. I guess that happens when you have 130 million people crammed in to an area the size of California.
6. CVW-5. Japan is the only airwing where all of the squadrons are stationed in the same place. For future deployments that Glenn will go on, the airwing will be comprised of squadrons from many different states. For me that means, fewer spouses in the same situation as me. And those of us that there are will be spread among many cities and neighborhoods. Here, we are all together- jet wives, helicopter spouses, E2s, C2s, prowlers and others. We can all get through the deployment together- usually at the O'Club.
7. The O'Club. Atsugi base has one of the last remaining true Officer's Club. I like to call it my Cheers because the bartenders- Tommy and Maki- know my name, they know my drink and they get it right every time.
8. My students. I feel like I've learned as much from them as they have from me throughout the last couple years. They've shared their culture and shared new experiences with me that I never would have had if I hadn't been an English teacher. I've also told Glenn that I'm going to put "Conversationalist" on my resume when we get back to the states. I'm also going to miss getting paid to talk, have coffee and eat lunch. I'm pretty sure I could talk to anyone for an hour. I've got some serious talking skills. :)
9. Responsibility-free housing. Last week, my light went out in the bathroom and public works came and changed the light bulb. Enough said. (Well, I should mention that it is this crazy circle fluorescent light that they don't sell on base so it wasn't so easy to replace myself).
10. The Liberty Bells. I've been so lucky while in Japan to have made great friends within our own squadron. We've helped each other through deployments, babies being born, dog attacks, earthquakes and everything you can imagine. They are my Japan family.
