Questions answered

We have had so many questions over the past 5+ months. How will we move an an infant and toddler to Japan? How will we leave all that we know and all the people we love? Where will we live? Will we have what we need to live for 3-4 years on this tiny island in the Pacific? The list goes on and on. So much of everyday has been spent finding answers that solving problems has become the norm.

I just had a wonderful conversation with my parents. They asked lots of questions. After I got off the phone I thought about what they had asked. It hit me that what we are doing is not normal and that not everyone is experiencing all of these daily roadblocks. That may seem obvious but I have been so wrapped up in problem solving that I forgot that this was abnormal. Here are some of the big questions and their answers.
Where will we live? We live in a beautiful 1000 sp ft. 4th floor apartment. We have 3 bedrooms (one for the boys, one for Duane and I, and one for you when you come to visit. The last is being used as an office/toy room.) We have 2 bathrooms, a utility room and a large open room where we have our kitchen, dining room and living room. I love this open format and will want it again when we move back to the states. We have all tile floors, neutral and beautiful wallpaper on the walls, and lots of little things here and there that make it a nice place to live. It is a small but pretty apartment. The kicker for us is that is in ON the ocean. We could throw bread to the fish from our balcony. We live on the seawall so it is not a beach but it is beautiful clear blue warm water and lots of Japanese fishermen.
How will we call home? We got a "Magic Jack" in the mail yesterday. We plugged it in and got a Minneapolis number. Very easy and very cheep. If you ever want to call us, it is just like calling Minneapolis except for the time change. Note the clocks on the left of this screen if you want to know what time it is here. Our number is: 612-353-9636.
Will we have what we need? Yes, There are over a million people in this island that is 3-6 miles wide and about 60 miles long. There is lots here and anything that we can not find, we can order through the Internet since we have a stateside mailing address. Our address is:
PSC 557 Box 1013
FPO, AP 96379-1013
US postage rates apply and it only takes a few more days to get here than in the US.
How will we move an infant and a toddler? They are doing well. I think they appreciate the fact that this week we have had a home for the first time in almost a month. There are a lot of things about this island that they have never seen before. We are focusing on the beaches and friendly people and exciting adventures we experience everyday. We are having fun and the kids will benefit in numerous ways from our adventure.
How will we leave the people we love? I don't know. We miss our friends and family a lot. We talk about you all the time. We will use technology to keep in touch and try to find a way home once or twice if we can. This will be the hardest part.

Smaller questions:
What is it like here? On base there is lots of open space and buildings that look alike, everything is in English, and there are places to buy and eat and feel like you are in America. It is like a very big college campus. Once you get outside the gate, the roads are narrower, everything is in Japanese and you know you are in Japan. The gate marks the difference and it is a big difference. There is a lot of people crowded into the space that is not occupied by the bases so it is very crowded. It is also very exciting. Think Tokyo, it is kind of like that. The beaches are fabulous. Crystal blue warm water, white sand, not crowded.
What will the hardest parts about life here? In general the Japaneese are very good enginers and things make since and work well. There are two exceptions. Roads and phones. Roads and parking spaces are tiny and seem to be a forethought. Phones seem to have a secret numeric code system that I will never be able to memorize or even figure out. There is one system for land lines on base, one for land lines off base and one for cell phones. I do not know how to call anyone that does not have a cell phone including 911. The last thing that is hard is the humidity. It is always a sauna outside. Glasses fog when you walk outside and mold will grow in a bathroom in two days if you do not leave the door open (whoops).

We are all happy, healthy and well. Keep the questions coming. It helps remind me that this is not normal and I should appreciate the adventure that it is. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Love,
Sandy