Japan has been such a wild ride for us so far. Ever since we stepped off that plane, we have been rushed off to so many different adventures. Here is a little taste of what you will experience when you come to visit us:
Island Time- Many of you have been wondering..."why haven't we heard from Erik & Becky for awhile?" The answer is a very simple and frustrating one(for you). We are on island time. The time just floats away from you, like a warm summers breeze. Often I don't even know what day it is. People here are known for their lack of hurry. Even the coffee shops take loads of time to make you even the most simple of drinks.
Bats- The bats here are incredibly BIG. Just the other day, Erik & I were walking the dog and we saw two bats (the size of large cats) hanging upside down flapping their wings and squeaking. Very cool!
Snails- You will find gigantic snails all over the place. Usually suctioned onto your house. The shells are bigger than my hand and very beautiful. They have a poisonous element so picking them up isn't the smartest. You won't die, just wash your hands. Remember if it looks pretty, ugly, or scary, DON'T TOUCH IT!
Driving- We drive on the left side of the road here. The steering wheel is on the right. Driving here actually is pretty natural. The hardest thing to remember is to walk to the correct side of the car when you are driving because you feel very dumb when you get into your car, fasten your seat belt, and realize that the steering wheel is in the other seat. (That did not just happen to me today;)) Sometimes when I realize the mistake before I open the door, I pretend that I'm just checking out a dent or something in my car;) Awkward! Also the blinker is operated by your left hand. You probably would have never thought about which hand you were using before, but when you go back to old habits in Okinawa, then you end up activating your windshield wipers. They call this the 'Okinawa Wave.' Silly Americans!
Manners- People here are extremely apologetic and find it incredibly hard to say the word "no". Although mastered by any two year old, here in Okinawa, they find the most creative ways of getting out of saying this two letter word. Also you take your shoes off everywhere you go, wash your hands before every meal, and say argato all the time.
Vending Machines- Did you know that you can order food from a vending machine here? Like real meals? In fact there is a vending machine for every block. All done up in lights...you can't miss them, and as long as you have some change, you will never go thirsty.
Well this is just a little taste of what we are experiencing over here in Japan. Much, much more to come.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Onward Christian Soldiers
Leading up to the big move, we were blessed with many days with friends and family. We sure did have a blast. We spent a few days at the lake with Jimmy & Cat... raspberry shakes, bocce, horseshoes, and starlight nights by the campfire. Then we headed over to Logan for an early Cinco de Mayo with the Matousek/Dixon group. Memories always.
From there on, it was Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Missoula, White Fish, Glacier National Park, Spokane, and then Seattle. What an opportunity to see some of God's country. Erik dreams on a daily basis of our retirement home in White Fish, Montana. I have to admit that it actually helps me out quite a bit...being that he is a man of many wants.
Erik: "I want this beer _____ (fill in the blank...ex. kit, aerator, fridge)"
Becky:"Well I guess we will have to wait longer for that White Fish house Love."
Erik: "Never mind."
I have to admit that White Fish is an extremely beautiful area, and if they can just get rid of their miserable winters, then I am sold. Erik is going to work on it for me...or work on me for it.
If you ever get up there, we found a really neat mercantile inside Glacier Park that makes huckleberry turnovers worth dying over. You must go!
Finally the night came for us to get our whole 3 hours of sleep before heading to the airport. It's funny how when you couldn't be more stressed, how it makes your brain stop functioning. It would be nice if it was the other way around. We could have done with a little more brain function when it came to getting all of our things together. I think we had a melt down or two over some pretty small potatoes. Unbelievable I know!
When we arrived to the airport, it was a scene of lines of people, kids, dogs...and loads of stuff scattered amongst various lines. I was pretty surprised that they had people waiting in line since midnight, when our flight wasn't until 8. What a way to start an already very long day. Our biggest worry was our sweet Millie. A nine month process of getting her cleared to move to Japan all hedged on this moment. This had been the real source of our stress with this move. Luckily it all went very smoothly. Poor dog had a good 13 hours + before we could see her again. I was so worried when they clumsily picked up her crate and pushed her away.
When we boarded the plane, we were surprised that we had been too tired to notice that we were in front of the exit row. (For all of you other rookies: sitting in front of an exit row hinders your ability to recline. In addition to this, your front neighbors can recline on you, resulting in a complete lack of space.) Rookie mistake...luckily it was survivable. There we were...moving to Japan. How crazy is that!
From there on, it was Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Missoula, White Fish, Glacier National Park, Spokane, and then Seattle. What an opportunity to see some of God's country. Erik dreams on a daily basis of our retirement home in White Fish, Montana. I have to admit that it actually helps me out quite a bit...being that he is a man of many wants.
Erik: "I want this beer _____ (fill in the blank...ex. kit, aerator, fridge)"
Becky:"Well I guess we will have to wait longer for that White Fish house Love."
Erik: "Never mind."
I have to admit that White Fish is an extremely beautiful area, and if they can just get rid of their miserable winters, then I am sold. Erik is going to work on it for me...or work on me for it.
If you ever get up there, we found a really neat mercantile inside Glacier Park that makes huckleberry turnovers worth dying over. You must go!
Finally the night came for us to get our whole 3 hours of sleep before heading to the airport. It's funny how when you couldn't be more stressed, how it makes your brain stop functioning. It would be nice if it was the other way around. We could have done with a little more brain function when it came to getting all of our things together. I think we had a melt down or two over some pretty small potatoes. Unbelievable I know!
When we arrived to the airport, it was a scene of lines of people, kids, dogs...and loads of stuff scattered amongst various lines. I was pretty surprised that they had people waiting in line since midnight, when our flight wasn't until 8. What a way to start an already very long day. Our biggest worry was our sweet Millie. A nine month process of getting her cleared to move to Japan all hedged on this moment. This had been the real source of our stress with this move. Luckily it all went very smoothly. Poor dog had a good 13 hours + before we could see her again. I was so worried when they clumsily picked up her crate and pushed her away.
When we boarded the plane, we were surprised that we had been too tired to notice that we were in front of the exit row. (For all of you other rookies: sitting in front of an exit row hinders your ability to recline. In addition to this, your front neighbors can recline on you, resulting in a complete lack of space.) Rookie mistake...luckily it was survivable. There we were...moving to Japan. How crazy is that!
Glacier National Park
Best Huckleberry Turnovers
Beautiful!
No idea why this is upside down...but this is us being crazy on the plane
Just flip your screen upside down to view this normally;)
Sunday, June 2, 2013
A Crazy Ride
A year ago, at this time, you would have found Erik and I fretting and praying. Wondering and wishing. Puzzling and dreaming. What did God have for us next. Boy were we in for a surprise...
A hot Friday night in August 2012...we got our answer. We were going WEST...just way more west than we had bargained for. You are going to Kadena..."that's in Japan ya know" the commander leans over and points out to me. I wanted to punch him in the face. Japan?!?! They might as well have told us that we were moving to the moon.
I looked up at Erik standing in front of the crowd looking completely shocked.
Please don't cry, please don't cry, please just don't be one of the wives that cries. I looked over at the wife that was sitting next to me to see that she was bursting with tears of happiness for their next assignment...and then I just completely lost it.
So many questions, and worries, and fears rushed through my thoughts. We had just wanted to be closer to family...how could this have happened? Why was this happening to us? Hadn't we been through enough lately? This just wasn't fair.
But after the smoke of negativity cleared...we saw that the plan that laid ahead had been prayerfully chosen for us. Another challenge to trust in.
The months to follow were completely fun, crazy, lonely, complicated, boring, special. and full of hilarious occurrences. Unfortunately for you...I don't have the time, patience, or memory to share them with you...I can only promise to try to be better from this point on. Here are the Highlights:
September 2012
-We moved out of our Del Rio House
October
-I moved to Utah
-Erik went to survival school
-I started substitute teaching
November
-Ireland trip
December
-Erik moved to Altus, OK
January 2013
-Millie blew out her knee and had surgery
February
-I visit Erik in OK
March
-Another Millie Surgery
April
-Erik completes training
May
-The big move...
A hot Friday night in August 2012...we got our answer. We were going WEST...just way more west than we had bargained for. You are going to Kadena..."that's in Japan ya know" the commander leans over and points out to me. I wanted to punch him in the face. Japan?!?! They might as well have told us that we were moving to the moon.
I looked up at Erik standing in front of the crowd looking completely shocked.
Please don't cry, please don't cry, please just don't be one of the wives that cries. I looked over at the wife that was sitting next to me to see that she was bursting with tears of happiness for their next assignment...and then I just completely lost it.
So many questions, and worries, and fears rushed through my thoughts. We had just wanted to be closer to family...how could this have happened? Why was this happening to us? Hadn't we been through enough lately? This just wasn't fair.
But after the smoke of negativity cleared...we saw that the plan that laid ahead had been prayerfully chosen for us. Another challenge to trust in.
The months to follow were completely fun, crazy, lonely, complicated, boring, special. and full of hilarious occurrences. Unfortunately for you...I don't have the time, patience, or memory to share them with you...I can only promise to try to be better from this point on. Here are the Highlights:
September 2012
-We moved out of our Del Rio House
October
-I moved to Utah
-Erik went to survival school
-I started substitute teaching
November
-Ireland trip
December
-Erik moved to Altus, OK
January 2013
-Millie blew out her knee and had surgery
February
-I visit Erik in OK
March
-Another Millie Surgery
April
-Erik completes training
May
-The big move...
As Always...a lot of pictures...
Drop Night...Finally!
Welcome to your future!
Erik's graduation from pilot training
It was wonderful having family visit!
On the flight line. Time for some wings!
Breaking of the wings
Family on the flight line
Looking good
Don't mind if I do...
Time to Party! Wish you were here!
Erik being silly
Lucky & Millie bonding
Welcome to Jackson
Good looking couple
Teton National Park
Mom & Dad
Yellowstone
Shan at the Waterford Factory
Beautiful Ireland
Fishy Fishy = Best food ever!
Erik mastering the perfect pour
Feeling good!
Stealing kisses at the castle
Cliffs of Mohr
Hiking Mount Naomi
So Cute!
Ho Ho Ho
Oh Rider;)
Going for a ride
Sibling love
I'll take that one;)
Brandy Alexander time!
Twinners
The Boyz
Snow Shoeing
Another round of torture for the Millie
Happy Valentines Day!
Visiting my hubby in Altus, OK
Oakley & Millie fighting for attention
This pillow isn't big enough for the two of us...
Our baby
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