Rainy day in Sasebo!

My first weekend in Sasebo, a few weeks ago, was made delightful by the finding of Starbucks. Well the day after I discovered it and all the fun people watching that went on there, I decided to head back. However, instead of seeing American sailors hitting on Japanese women (which can be hysterical) there were women in Kimonos and flower hats hanging out in Starbucks. After they were done with their drinks they then headed outside to the covered arcade to do a dance. I am not quite sure why they were doing this but I do know that it was entertaining to both me and the Japanese.








After that I walked around for a bit in the rain and discovered a park that had a bonsai competition going on. On a dark, dreary day it was lovely to see some beautiful flowers.







When you leave the Navy base and are walking to the ginza you walk thru Nimitz Park. Nimitz park (aka the American park) is actually owned and run by the Navy it has soccer fields, a baseball diamond, volleyball court, and some picnic area. You walk thru that and cross Albuquerque bridge and then you are in town.




Another fun weekend in Sasebo! It is a good thing I like it since I am there every other week!

The Road to Stardom Take 2

Yeah!!!! I survived an hour on AFN Radio! It was an hour of music and chat that is called the Commander's Corner. They just asked me questions about different VA Benefits. I am very thankful that a) I couldn't hear myself b) I don't really know anyone here (here is Iwakuni this week) and c) it is not caught on tape (like that awful newsclip of me working out - if you don't know what I am talking about I am very happy!).

Shrines, Views, and Dome Umbrellas ahhhhhh Shinjuku

When we were in Tokyo Bridget and I decided to go to Shinjuku. Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative center (government of Tokyo is here) and is a great place to walk around and stop into stores. It also has the busiest train station in the world. One of the nice things about Shinjuku is that they have a Citibank ATM, they are rare and one of the only places where you can get cash as a foreginer. As we were leaving a few other tourists were walking up to it and we all broke out in laughter.

As soon as we got out of the train station it started to pour so we traded our mini umbrellas in for one of the most amazing things ever, a clear dome umbrella. These umbrellas are EVERYWHERE and I knew there had to be something special about them and boy was I right. You are in like a 4 foot bubble of dryness, these might be the greatest thing ever. Unfortunately, both Bridget and I had to leave ours behind in Tokyo, I had no way of getting it down to Iwakuni but don't you fret I will get another one.




We also went to:

Takashiyma Times Square: 15 story department store



Starbucks: awful picture but showing that they go one size smaller then we do, they do a short - which is very popular!



We walked around and saw the Hanazano Shrine. The best part about this shrine is when an older Japanese man ran up to me and just started saying thank you over and over and over again while handing me his camera. After I took the picture and he reviewed it, which is a big thing for them to do here it kind of makes you feel like they are judging your camera skills, he continued with the thank yous and the bow.








Views from the Tokyo Government Building:

Sumo Time

Now given the opportunity to be the skinny person in the room anyone would take it and sumo is that perfect opportunity. It is not a well known fact but sumo matches are not all year round. Instead, there are six major tournaments throughout the year and they are held bi-monthly in four locations: Tokyo in January, May, and September; Osaka in March, Nagoya in July, and Fukuoka in November. Bridget and I were very fortunate to be in town during the first week of the two week sumo tournament in Tokyo, we were also very fortunate that our hotel arranged for our tickets before we got there. For some reason we thought sumo would be at nite, I am not quite sure why we thought this but I guess that is because we are used to nighttime sporting events. However, we were wrong. The tournament is all day with the main competitiors being on from 4 to 6.

When we are the sumo match we had no clue what was going on since nothing was in English; which was slightly weird since they did have people working there who spoke English in order to direct the English speakers to their seats. So instead we tried to figure it out ourselves and even though we only had a slight idea of what was going on we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was extremely entertaining, so much that after work I would come home and catch the last hour of the tournament and the best part was that I found a channel with English commentary. According to that commentary, 1/3 of the top sumos are from outside Japan and many are from Estonia. During the matches the crowd gets into it and cheers along. Even being during the day it was very busy. The sumo wrestlers are very agile and flexible which surprised us because of their size.

Another thing that we loved about the sumo tournament was that we were able to get some good food!! (More about food in general to come later). However, as our french fry container depicted if you eat too many you will look like a sumo!


















The judges conferring


The french fry container telling you that if you eat too many you too will look like a sumo!

Where does the time go?

WOW! I have officially been in Japan for a month and at work for 3 weeks! I cannot believe how quickly it is going, sorry 636 I will be back before you know it! Though I have been in Japan for a month I am still learning and getting used to things both in Japan and on base; instead of one new culture it really is two. Here are things that I am getting used to:

In Japan:



- Heels: seriously heels, the bigger the better, are worn everywhere! I mean everywhere; hiking up mountains I saw 4 to 6 inch stilettos. There is no place where heels can't be worn.

- Clothes: it kind of goes along with the heels but anything goes anywhere. Super short shorts are also extremely popular, don't forget to pair them with the heels. There is also no pairing the clothes with the activity, yet again super tight booty shorts and heels going up the mountain!

- Smoking: you can't smoke out on the streets instead, there are smoking areas. However, these smoking areas or rooms are super tiny and filled with smoke and no ventilation. Also, you can smoke in restaurants. I just don't get it, you can smoke where there is no air but you can't smoke in the fresh open air!?!?

-Kindness: Even if they don't speak English people are so friendly and I am always getting a smile. When I went to a restaurant in Sasebo there was a unison hello (in Japanese of course) from the entire staff and also a unison goodbye from the entire staff. Also, at the same restaurant they came around to every table to tell them they were going to turn off the lights; after some confusion of why we realized it was because they were bringing a cake and signing happy birthday to a fellow patron.

- Bowing: They love to bow. I have been followed out of restaurants by a bowing staff. Also, on the train whenever any staff leaves the car they turn and bow to the entire train car. Now, do we think Metro or Amtrak employees are going to start bowing.

- Tourists: There are lots of tourists; however, they are not Westerners they are Asians. Therefore, when I am out and about most people will say "konichwa" or smile and then just leave me alone.

- Crosswalks: I am a NYer and therefore, I just walk and don't pay attention to the crosswalk signals; however, in Japan that will get me fined. Therefore, even if there are no cars coming I will just stand and wait (semi) patiently until I can walk. (Let's talk about testing my patience).

- Umbrellas: There are two different type of umbrellas here: rain umbrellas and sun umbrellas. They LOVE their sun umbrellas, which cracks me up because even on hot days they wear long sleeves, tights or pants, and gloves.

- On time: They are on an on time people: buses, trains, repair men! Seriously noon means 11:59 and not 12-4 like Comcast!

- Masks: No rhyme or reason to where, who, and when wears them!





On Base:

- Pennies: I live in a world without pennies. They will round up or down but they do not give pennies out on base.

- Colors: If you are outside walking or driving at 8 am or sundown on a base be prepared to stop and stand still (or sit in your car) as the American and Japanese National Anthems play (in the morning) or the retreat music (at sundown) plays.

- ID: I have to show my ID card everywhere on base (more the Marine base then the Navy base); buying a trashy gossip magazine don't forget your military ID card!

- Crosswalks: This is more geared toward the Marine base but there is no just random walking across the street you must use the crosswalks. Also, cars will stop and wait for you, even if you are not at the intersection yet and they are. This has been interesting to get used to.

- iPods: I am trying to get used to walking around base without headphones. I was told by a coworker that she was running around base at 5am and got pulled over (lights and all) by the MPs since she was listening to her iPod and that is a no no.

- M'am: This is also geared more to the Marines, walking along the street and the young Marines addressing me as M'am. I know I am approaching 30 but wow nothing making you feel older then a young Marine saying M'am........

- Kindness: Also on the Marine base (more people live on that base), I am getting used to strangers pulling up along side me to ask me if I need a ride and then double checking when I say no if I have groceries or packages in my hand.

- ATM: I love the fact that the ATMs on base dispense both cash and yen; seriously, how cool is that!

- Movies: The movies on the Marine base are $2.50 and on the Navy base they are $3!?!?!? Also, after you are all comfy in your seat you have to stand as they play the National Anthem; on the Navy base it is only the music, no words, accompanied by pictures of the Navy.

- The bases: the bases themselves are different. The Navy base is more relaxed and less people live on base while the Marine base is bigger, has a lot more families and accompanied marines living on the base. I am also getting used to seeing no hats indoors when on the Marine base.

- AFN (armed forces network): It is a random selection of channels and shows, can't figure out the rhyme and reason to it. There are also no real commercials and the "commercials" they do play are all geared to the military like learning Japanese, giving them military rules, and other topics that pertain to them.

Can't wait to see how the rest of my time plays out!!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmm

When Bridget and I were in Tokyo we had some issues with food. Being a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish makes things difficult over here and add that to Bridget not liking tempura and neither of us liking Sushi meal time was stressful. We always ate and with the exception of one meal we always ate well, it just took time. One of the annoying things is that our guidebooks would suggest places; however, the names would be in English but at the restaurant itself they would be in Kanji so we could never actually find the restaurant. We had some wonderful snacks, sweet potato ice cream was delicious. Our favorite meal was one from our tour, it was Japanese BBQ. We tended to eat more Korean and Chinese food then Japanese but we decided it was okay because we were still eating Asian and at one of the Korean places it was Japanese beef.

YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

It is truly the little things that make me happy and today's little thing is my internet now works at home! I pay a ridiculous amount of money for internet at home and for 2 weeks (which is the same as a month since they don't prorate here) my internet hasn't worked! I had to leave work twice today ( 1/2 mile walk each way) to get it fixed and I did and it was totally worth it!!! An awesome part about getting my internet fixed is that the internet is run by a Japanese company and when they say they will be there at 12they mean 12, actually maybe even 11:59, this is no RCN/Comcast 12-6 window! The second time I got back to my apartment at like 1:58 for my 2 pm slot and he was just waiting for me on my balcony (my apartment is that open motel type where the doors open to w walk way). How amazing is it that they come when they say they will! ASTONISHING!

Now I can email and skype, actually I only use skype to receive phone calls off my local Washington DC number (if you need it email me) (trust me you don't want to see this over skype)when at home in Iwakuni! Side note: when I am in Sasebo I have internet at my apartment and wifi at work so I can receive phone calls during the day (if I have no meetings). This 13 hour times difference makes it a little difficult to call people but it is a little bit easier in Sasebo!



I am also writting to you on my new laptop mini. This is because on Saturday morning I went to go plug my computer in and when I did it fizzled and died! After calls to my Remote Support (aka my cousin's husband) it was determined that my computer can not be fixed when I am here so I went over to the exchange (yeah military base privileges!!) and am now the owner of a mini. My other big accomplishment was making it into the cardio room at the Marine's gym (couldn't find it the first time I went); however, I still need to get the courage to get into the weight room with them!