127 Million Packed into Cali

This week I've been keeping busy in an official orientation to Japan. The military requires this four day class for everyone that is staying in Japan. The first day was so dry--mostly admin stuff regarding the process/procedures/policies of the base. Today was so much better. It was all about the Japanese people, culture, cuisine, sports, religion, holidays, money and language. You name it, we talked about it. Here are some fun facts I thought I'd share to give you a better idea of the country profile. Japan is approximately the size of California but holds a population 1/3 the United States at 127+ million people. Out of the country's total land, a relatively small percentage is able to be urbanized, only 19% is used for industry and residential purposes (67% is mountainous forest and 11% is used for farming). This means that 2/3rd the population is crammed into 1/3 of the country! No wonder I couldn't find any green space when I took the train up to Tokyo. There are 422 thousand people in Yokosuka alone, which is only 32 square miles itself. This means there are 10,830 people per square mile. Tokyo is even more crowded with 12.37 million in 844 square miles. That's 14.6 thousand people per square mile! People aren't the only things crowded together. We learned that there are 1 of those crazy vending machines for every 20 people in Japan- i'm telling you they're everywhere (515 alone on base). AND, get this! During rush hours there actually 'train pushers' (I can't wait to get a pic). Platform workers wearing white gloves help individuals squeeze onto their train by stuffing/pushing body parts! The gentleman giving the seminar today touched on something that I've experienced myself when coming back from a crazy adventure. When you try to convey the experience with those who haven't experienced the same thing, you just can't do it justice. So do us a favor come on over and see Japan for yourself.

pics of imperial palace and department store

Walking around Tokyo

I cannot wait for the Cowpens to pull into port. Although I'm enjoying the new adventure, it will be so much better with Mark. Yesterday I took advantage of the break in rainy weather and out in town and up again to Tokyo to discover neighborhood in the city. The first pictures here are of markets outside of base in Yokosuka. I can't wait to buy the local delicacies and practice cooking for those who visit. Who knows, with a little soy souce and wasabi, the items I discovered in the fish market could be great. I will have to look elsewhere for shoes though. These puppies were LL, the largest size the store carried. After getting to Tokyo I was hungry for lunch so went in to a small store and pointed to something on the menu. It ended up being some fried crab, a bowl of rice, some greens, and tofu soup or something. Everything but the soup was great. After lunch I headed for some more touristy things. The Imperial Palace was hard to get a glimpse of with the high rock wall around it, but you can get a sense of the residency. The 8 story department store I hit up was comprable to Saks or Macy's in NYC. Taking pictures of these high roller stores is as close as I'm willing to get.

Top No No's in Japan

I was supposed to hit up some hot springs and waterfalls on Sunday, but unfortunately they've canceled it due to the cold and wet weather forecast. I mean, in my opinion, we'll be in HOT springs, so does it really matter. It would be just like that time a bunch of us were all toasty in the hot tub while snow flakes froze in our hair. Oh well...can't keep me down. I went to the library and checked out some guidebooks. So it will be me, my camera, extra batteries and Footloose in Tokyo this weekend. Just so you are familiar with some ground rules if you do the right thing and visit Mark and me in Japan, here's a quick lesson.

1) Do not blow your nose in public (i guess the sleeve will have to do)
2) Do not wear shoes in the house
3) Do not say your mom is pretty (you should actually refute this and say no, she's not!) Actually the rule of the thumb is to deny all compliments. It can't wait to test this one out. I'll compliment some random people on the train tomorrow and report back on their responses. Just for the record, Mom, you are very pretty.
4) Never use soap in the bathtub, it is for soaking only. Oh, and save the water so more than one person can use it (ha, that seems oddly familiar). You wash in the shower.
5) Get a room! No PDA in this country
6) When you offer someone something and they say no thanks, offer them again! Japanese always say no thanks to be polite but will accept it after the second or third offer. (& visa versa)
7) Never start eating w/o first saying Itadakimasu [ee tah dah kee mah soo] which means, 'I humbly recieve this food'
8) When finished eating always say Gochisosama [goh chee suhh sah mah] 'it was a great feast' to neglect either of the two statements is considered very rude

Now that you've been properly schooled in how not to look like a that American you're ready to experience the land of bicycles, scooters, and crazy vending machines..i'm not lying check it out. you can get hot and cold beverages!

The Meiji Shrine (may-jee)

I finally got a good taste of the Japanese culture. To commemorate Veteran's Day I decided to head to a Shinto Shrine to give thanks for those in my family who fought/ are fighting for the freedom to be in Japan as an American. The Meiji Shrine was established by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken during their reign from 1852-1914. The Shinto religion values harmony with nature and other virtues. This particular shrine pays respect to "Magokoro" or sincere heart. As I walked through the gardens and under the Torii (gates) I focused on the sentiment, 'thy will be done'. Although I've got many goals and aspirations (not to mention business ideas and ways to make money) I always ask the Lord to use me as he sees fit. When things are not going my way, I have faith that life is progressing as it is because, "thy will be done". There is a purpose for the experiences we have, the struggles we face, the losses we overcome. Free will is alive and flourishing for all individuals, but the things we cannot control is because 'thy will be done'. So with a sincere heart I payed my respect to this beautiful place.

Before entering the Shrine it is appropriate to cleanse your person and to put your mind at ease. This is done by using the dipper to first rinse your left hand, then rinse your right hand, then rinse your mouth from water in your hand. Then raise the dipper so the rest of the water drizzles down the handle, ready it for the next person.

The other ritual that was very specific was how to pray inside the main shrine. When you approach the fence it is customary to throw coins into the offering tray. I saw one very distraught, grieving girl pour in what looked like her entire piggy bank while wiping back tears. I hope that her heart feels better after lifting up her prayers to the Shinto divinity. After tossing in coins you are to then stand facing the alter area (don't know the real name of it) and bow twice while saying your prayer. Clap twice to show your prayer is finished and bow once more. It was very moving to watch men and women, young and old carry out this ritual. Every individual in this life has struggles, needs strength in tough times and has things for which to be thankful. Seeing how another culture shows their respect reminds me that there is more than one way to do this. There is no one right way, one right religion. We all ask for courage and strength throughout our lives despite the corner of earth we inhabit.

I hope your Veterans day was as peaceful as mine. Love to all.

Check out our new diggs!!

Oh yea, oh yea, oh yea---if you can't tell, I'm doing the, We got ourselves a house, dance. That's right- a cute 2 or 3 bedroom (depending on what we want to make the third room) Japanese styled house about a 15 minute train ride from base. I took this picture from a picture so the quality isn't great. You can't really see the bottom floor but there is a little garden area with a patio that goes into the downstairs behind the wall. The yard isn't very wide (like all things Japanese) but has great landscaping with a pagoda statue and some fruit trees. We've even got our own driveway which is a huge plus since the streets are so narrow. There is no way the truck would have fared very well. It is in a quiet and safe neighborhood on the top of a hill in Ikedacho. Mark's trek will be very short to the Kitakurihama train station (it's a pretty steep slope so he won't even have to pedal if he uses a bike). Coming home will be a different story all uphill, but it's not far at all. The scooter will surely come in handy. We move in on the 24th, just in time for Thanksgiving. Instead of the first month's rent and security deposit given up front, it is standard in Japan to provide the first months rent, the security deposit of equal value, an owners fee and an agent's fee. Good thing we're thrifty spenders cause I'll have to hand over $7,490 dollars cash (749,000 Yen) as soon as the paperwork is signed. Don't worry we'll get this back in moving allowance. We could have taken out an interest free loan from Mark's command but it would have added weeks to the process. So what do you think? Ready to book your flight? The stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer can be rented from the base for the duration of our stay at no cost. They also provide beds and other furniture for the first 90 days while we find our own furnishings. I'm looking forward to picking up some authentic pieces for decorating. Although, the old standard Ikea down the highway is tempting.

Not much else has gone on today. I did meet up with another wife from the ship, Nicole. She and her husband have been here for three months. She picked me up to go to Starbucks but before we even got 200 yards from the lodge we got pulled over for going 33km in a 25km. I'm proud to say it wasn't my fault. They're very strict. To top it off when she moved the car from drive to park it made a horrible sound. One I heard before, not too long ago on a dirt road in Aruba. I was like, uh oh, that sounded like the transmission. Sure enough, that puppy was done. Good times- always interesting. Tomorrow everything is closed to celebrate Veterans day so I will be headed off base to check out more sights. Miss you all.

In the minority

I think I can imagine how a Tampa Bay Ray's fan might have felt in Citizen's Bank during the World Series. A quick and subtle YES whenever their team scored a run or the Phillies made an error. That's how election day was for me on base. With every blue state added to the board I could feel the tension rise for those McCain fans out there. Well, I heard it too. There is a court yard with a playground outside the entrance of the Lodge. I'll go out there once and a while to check out who's who and see if any connections can be made. Wednesday mornings conversations were full of frustrations, intolerance, and contradictions. One lady can't stand elitism and doesn't understand how people don't see through Obama. I didn't get into it that McCain was born into a family of Admirals and Naval Academy grads with money and power galore. Nor did I correct her when she stated that Al-Qaeda and Saddam were in cahoots long before 9/11. Again, I didn't have the patience to explain that Saddam was a secular ruler who gased the Shiite population (the more fundamentalist crowd that Osama was sympathetic toward). Needless to say, I'm looking forward to living off base so I can explore another way of life, another way of thinking, another way of looking at America. Talking with the Japanese real estate agent the other day made me realize how much ordinary citizens in other countries look to the United States to lead. He said, hopefully Japan can accept change and move forward like the Americans. We needed the victory of Obama to reestablish ourselves as a strong, resilient, and rational people. We needed to show the world that we are not stuck in ways of the past and we can be the change for the future when the world needs it.

After the housing brief the other day I decided to venture out and see what Mark will face daily when we live off base. Everyone talks about the heavy traffic-- even living as close as 10 miles from base can turn into an hour trek in a vehicle (which we might end up getting). If it weren't for the year waiting list to get on base- I was almost tempted to be even closer to Uncle Sam. Then I came to my senses- the train! It could be a place to catch a few more shut eyes for my man as he ventures out in the early morning, as long as he doesn't get caught up in one of his daredevil dreams and miss his stop (anyone see this happening?). The trains are really efficient in Japan--that is if you know what you're doing. With my adventurous spirit and sense of humor in tow, I decided to try them out.

It went something like this. Ah, Americans, yes! "Excuse me can you tell me where the train station is?" Oh sure, take a left at the Gulf Gas Station and just keep going til you hit the overpass, you can't miss it. As i walked down the street the only thing i understood was a sign for a Coach store- dude, what were we thinking, Japan!! After about a half mile I got to the station. I climbed the stairs like a champ and then froze. Again, what were we thinking! Oh get over it I actually said out loud- if others do it so can I. So in that moment I cautiously approached the ticketing machines and busted out my trusty map. I looked for a town up north and then tried to find it on the train schedule. I glanced down at the map and up again at the schedule-- Aunt weeze, you know that face you make when you're trying hard to find something or read something that you can't quite get- you know, when you pucker your lips and crunch your nose and squint your eyes-- that was me:). I think I laughed at myself a few times during this, how difficult can it be stage. I consulted this map and that map for a good 10 minutes before I saw him- Yes, another American!

Thank goodness for Brenden. A dead give away was his navy shirt so I knew i was in the clear. "hey buddy! Can you help me out-how does this ticket thing work?" 'Well, where you headed,' he asked. "Uh, where you going.' I replied. He looked confused. "it's my first day off base, i just got here on monday night" i quickly added. He smiled.

So Brenden bought me a ticket and gave me the lowdown and I jumped on his train. we were headed north. Good enough for me. He transfered at the second station but made sure I had the name of the station where I would exit. I ended up going up to Tokyo and transferring to another train- another adventure in itself. But the sights were awesome and I got a better idea of how Mark may fare by using the train. A couple hours later I was on my way back down to Yokosuka. Of course I accidentally took a different train than I was planning on getting-- another scenic route. But I ended up getting back at the Station nonetheless. A day of riding trains and taking in the sights was a great way to stay awake and not give in to the jet lag demon. So check out the video..its a quick glimpse of how slender and close the houses are....its like this as far as you can see for as long as i was on the train. Enjoy and hopefully you'll see this for yourself when you visit-ahem, Marrianne :)

San Diego is so last week!

So after a short 11 hours on a plane, we're now in the land of sushi, crazy vending machines, Mt. Fuji and bicycles. Konichiwa, Japan!! Mark has gone on to meet the USS COWPENS in Guam and I'm staying at the Navy Lodge on base t0 go through some housing briefs to get situated. Jet lag has been a pain, but I have to admit, I give into it like that mom with the annoying kid at the grocery store that throws something off the shelf into the kids mouth to shut him or her up. A five hour nap yesterday could be the reason why I've been wide awake since 2am. Nonetheless, I am enjoying every minute of new discoveries. Its almost like having the innocence of a child again. Everything is new and exciting. I got my first Konichiwa from the Japanese bus driver as I boarded the Clockwise bus going to Purdy Fitness Center. I smiled pretty big, you know that one where my cheeks get like a chipmunk. Even though I increased my bus ride by 30 minutes (the counterclockwise route would have been faster to the gym) I got to see the whole base. It's got a very tight community feel to it. More pics to come on that. I grabbed some groceries after the gym and threw them in my bookbag for the walk back to the Lodge. It's so cool to see all the bikes lined up at the different buildings and there are scooters galore- score, we made a good call on that one! The base is pretty hilly and very green. The water is pretty clear but cold. I saw some fish jump on my 6am discovery walk yesterday. The MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) office offers tons of tours and activities to do while we're here. Mark would be disappointed to know we just missed a international fishing tournament- but i'm sure there'll be more. I'm hoping to get into some aerobics classes, language classes, and some kind of marital arts- if only for the social aspect of it. There are so many cool sights and sounds, it's hard to fit them all on one post, so more to come in the days and months ahead. Stay tuned. Miss you all and keep in touch!!

Sayonara USA

I've watched some peaceful sunrises creep into the sky over the Atlantic, but watching the sun setting into the sea brings out colors that soothes the soul to the core. Since the last post Mark and I conquered the seals during our deep sea fishing trip (if you're not quick enough pulling up your fish, they will make sure you only reel in a fish head), checked out the animals at the zoo, petted some stingrays at Sea World, and watched the Phillies win the World Series!! Oh yea, we even paid to smash plates, vases, and mugs at Sara's Smash Shack (an angry broad who channeled her energy and now gets others to break stuff too). Don't worry, there's hardly any waste in this, the shards of pottery are used in mosaic projects for elementary schools. AND I was able to meet up with some great friends in LA for a few days. Thanks Jonathan and Natalie...keep on living the dream!