One week....

I have now been a "resident" of Okinawa for one week! Much has happened in this last week, too. I passed my driver's test and just yesterday, I drove for the first time. I didn't leave the parking lot, so don't know that many would actually consider that driving, but it's a start! I only turned on the wipers one time when trying to turn on the turn signal. ;-) We also purchased a Toyota Funcargo. We'll pick it up on Monday and I'll get pictures to post. You can Google it to see how cute it is! (Be prepared to see a page full of Japaneses characters, tho!)

We have finally gotten housing squared away, but unfortunately it ended up being further away from Rodney's work than we were hoping. We'll be housed on Camp Courtney and his work is on MCAS Futenma and Camp Foster. It will be bit of a commute for him only due to all the traffic lights between here and there. But, he's been given some clues as to a couple of short-cuts, so hopefully that will help. One advantage to being on one of the smaller bases could be that we'll get the opportunity to take advantage of the native community off-base more than some people would on the bigger bases. It will be nice to get into our own "home" with our own stuff!!! All of our stuff has arrived and will be delivered to our new 5th floor apartment on Tuesday!!! I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed with my own pillow and getting the rest of my clothes!! This one-suitcase wardrobe is getting a little old after two months.... Also, looking forward to getting cable hooked up to have more than one English channel to watch!!

We'll be off-line for about a week after we move in, tho, because they can't get our internet connection hooked up until November 4!! That kinda stinks, but what are you gonna do.... I'm hoping that will give me time to focus on getting the house together and set up to be able to post pictures soon after that! I'll try to get one more post in before our move, but if not, I'll have plenty to tell you about then!!

Konichiwa!!

Greetings from Okinawa, Japan!!! I have now been here about 48 hours..... Truman and I had an uneventful but LONG journey. Truman would probably tell you differently having been cooped up in his carrier all that time, but he did live to tell the tale :)

We had a nice little welcoming committee waiting for us--a few of the Chaplains and wives, plus, of course, Rodney! The Command Chaplain's wife brought me a basket of goodies from the Chaplain Spouses Group and the wife of the outgoing Chaplain brought me a little bag of Okinawa goodies. I'll be getting pictures and post them soon.

Right now we are once again in temporary housing, but instead of a hotel room as I was expecting, we have a 3 bedroom apartment! It's nice to have the space and to be under the same roof as Rodney once again. Truman and I are trying to get our days and nights adjusted, not to mention just trying to catch up on sleep from the trip.

Rodney's gotten me out the last couple of days for a bit, so I've already seen his office, been on three different bases and to a couple of different commissaries and exchanges.

If all goes well, with the XO's help, we'll have the housing issue sorted out this week!! Looks like I'll be taking my written driving test on Tuesday. Still not sure I'm ready to be driving on the LEFT side of the road!! If I have an automatic, that will sure make it easier. It also helps that the highest speed is about 50-60km (about 30-40mph).  But, here's the pressure--Americans are viewed as "professional" drivers. So, if you're in an accident, doesn't matter who is truly at fault, its your fault since you, the American, are the professional driver!!!

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers during this long transition! I'll let you know as housing develops and if I qualify as a "professional" driver!!

Ja mata nee!

(Jah mah-tah nay)

Later :)

12 more hours :)

God is good!! My last two BIG loose ends have been tied off :) After a trip to LA yesterday with Truman's paperwork, he is now USDA Approved and is eligible to leave the country! AND I just got back from dropping off the car for storage!....really strange to think I won't see it again for three years... Anyway, all that is left now is to complete another "pack out" and get to the airport in about 12 hours!!! Then there's just the actual travel...about 20 hours of it. That will NOT be the fun part, but the reunion on the end will be worth it all :)

Please pray for both Truman and me on the trip, especially Truman. Sitting on a plane all those hours is bad enough for people, but poor Truman will be stuck in his carrier (which he really does NOT like) down in cargo for that whole time. Hopefully, in Tokyo I will be able to take him out and spend some time with him before the last jump down to Okinawa.

Keep an eye here and on Facebook and I'll let you know as soon as possible how the reunion goes:)

THREE more days!!!

I do apologize for not keeping this up-to-date, but I was really didn't want to use this as a "venting" session. We've had some real issues with this whole transition (which we'd been warned about), but we should be just about finished with the road bumps. See, I was staying behind to fly with Truman, who couldn't fly before Sept. 30 due to the heat embargo for short-nosed dogs. Turns out it may have been a blessing in disguise because Rodney discovered quickly that my paperwork had not been processed and I was not approved to enter the country!! I'm not sure what they would have done if I had traveled over with Rodney....hhhmmmm... Anyway, that was rapidly taken care of and now we are simply waiting on one last stamp on Truman's paperwork and we will be set to go!!

A reminder lesson I've had in this process-- God IS bigger than paperwork and red tape :) We were to notify Japan that we were importing a dog 30-40 days ahead of time. But since I didn't have my flight info, how could I?? As soon as I had my flight info, though, I completed the form and (despite the WRONG email address on the information from the Marine website!) Rodney was able to get the correct email and we had approval in 36 hours!! Now, I'm looking forward to see how he works through getting the final stamp from the USDA in a very short time since we have flight reservations for Oct. 14 and to see how he works through getting us housing!!

Navy Life Chapter 3!!

It has begun---Rodney has officially started our new chapter of Navy Life!! He is now safely in Okinawa! After a long, but uneventful 20 or so hours of travel, he was greeted by a group of his fellow Chaplains and wives!! He is already excited about the next three years :)

He is currently in the Bachelor Officers' Quarters (BOQ) which are basically bare bones, so one of the wives had stocked it with a few lunchables, snacks, drinks, and towels. He says their wives group is (obviously) very involved and they are anxious to meet me! His Command Chaplain has given him his initial directives-- take care of: housing, a car, and getting me there!! He is so excited that his job will be mostly out and about with the Marines, not sitting in an office all the time.

As of yet, I still don't have arrangements, but I know that will come soon. (If not, Rodney's going to be sitting on some heads :) I'll keep you posted!!

Still transitioning.....

An update of where we are in our relocation:

We had a great visit home, but of course not at all long enough to see all the people we would love to see!! We arrived back in SD Sunday evening. Yesterday, Rodney had a follow-up CT scan for his kidney stone and it would appear he is still cleared for travel TOMORROW!! Today we are sitting in our hotel in Chula Vista just hanging out and relaxing, enjoying just being together before his departure. 

We've had a little hiccup with my paperwork, so as yet, I don't have flight arrangements in hand.....welcome to government life.... :-} But, we do have an advocate on this end who's going to do what he can. Also, once Rodney is over there, he'll be able to really "sit on" the necessary individual(s) to get things taken care of on that end!

In the meantime, Truman and I are going to be hanging at a friend's house, finding ways to keep ourselves busy and tying up the final loose ends.......

Prayers for safe travels for Rodney!!

San Diego Zoo

For our next adventure, we went to the zoo!

Since it was a nice cool morning, the animals were active and entertaining!!

This little guy put on quite a show!!

Have you ever seen an active koala?!?!? WAY too cute!!

A. came face to face with a nice polar bear :)

We came around the lion's exhibit just in time to get to see a training session! The guy was really big standing up against that fence!

A. got to see his favorite animal enjoying a family dinner :)