Misawa Tour, MOSC, PWOC...

Yesterday was really busy. Today may be busy too. I've decided to write ONE really LONG post about the day....

Thursday began bright and early in the conference room of the Misawa Inn. This was FINALLY the day the children and I would enjoy the city tour.

We began at a Buddhist temple, where we learned much about Buddhism. This is also where we nearly started an International Incident because we didn't understand the guide's directions about "proper shoe removal".

See the sticks by the tombs? They have the holy memorial name written on them. This name is given a Buddhist when they die.


Our guide said these cost about $95,000....and that most the big ones are owned by mafia????? We didn't know there WAS a Japanese mafia.





An array of gods


This touched me....I asked what the Winnie was...I'd not seen him as particularly Buddhist before. This is a shrine....and gods for "unborn children". She said for miscarriages...but then added that abortion is legal in Japan and so this is the shrine for many unborn babies. This made me sad....and contemplative.


Family altars
These two are guards for the cemetary, this guy with the open mouth, sucks in evil spirits....
This one, with a closed mouth, refuses to let them out into the cemetary.

We headed to an International Center. Here, we listened to two briefings/lectures on Japanese culture and the area. THIS would have been nice to know earlier in our Japanese adventure. ::snort::

This vending machine struck our fancy...hotdogs and french fries anyone?

We went to a Samurai Museum. I'll post photos of this when we visit again. As with many field trips, this one forced us to move much too fast and we didn't really catch what we were seeing....I have photos but no real understanding of what we were seeing. LOL

However, Jared learned again...DUCK!

Nolan was happy to finally see a rice paper wall.

We ate lunch at the Veedol Plaza.

I've mentioned the photo menus before...but this is GREAT. Plastic replicas of the dishes they serve....fairly realistic in a plastic sort of way. And of course you still don't know if the dumplings are chicken, octopus or squid. ::snort:: Doesn't that meal on the left...noodles and fries look like carb heaven? ::snort::

Jared eats his first Hashi only meal....and did fairly well. LOL

We turned in a request to be extended in TLF until the end of September. ::sigh:: We put yen down on the new home.

I began to realize I need to buy things I already own if I want to get math etc started. Still thinking it through. We'll do a credit of Japanese Culture this year....maybe we'll wait to start TOG until we are in our home.....but we need to begin phonics, math and science or Jared will be behind the 8 ball.

I created a brochure to be passed out at chapel with PWOC board selection procedure, qualifications for leadership and job descriptions listed. Melinda, I thought of you as I fully utilized the new Women's Ministry Manual. Thanks again for allowing your talents to be used in PWOC. What a great new resource the WMM is.

I attened my first MOSC (Misawa Officer's Spouse Club). OK, it's the first time I've attended any OSC in 12 years. ::snort:: I did enjoy myself. I'm trying to wrap my brain around the expensive dues to join...but I'm sure I will. We're simply cheap. ::snort:: Some ladies at our table were the explorer types. They gave me their numbers and names of spots to visit...like a place that sells used kimonos for Y500.

It was a full and busy day. The tour was great...but far to rushed. We prefered the Hachinohe tour.

Remember, there is a translation of military speak in the side bar.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

NOTE the list of military speak in the sidebar above my profile....hope it helps!

PRAY NOW, PLEASE LOL

Just heard from our realtor....someone new has looked at our home. They rate everything as "outstanding" instead of "above average" and they say that our home is on their "short list". We'd really like our home to be a blessing to new owners....and we'd like to sell soon. As always - God knows best...but those are the desires of my heart.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

New Foilage

Last week when we went to Shimoda Mall, I let the kids buy plants at the Y100 store. I thought it would be fun for them to have something for our new home. Nolan picked the smallest to see how big it will be when we move. The last thing we did in TX was give away the one plant we had. It seemed fitting to buy new plants right away...and you can't go wrong at the Y100 store.
They're also a little reminder to bloom in our new home.














Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Our Home?

No, this isn't another bathroom story. This is a house-hunting story. I've been told I need to write this down......because our adventure is so funny.

I wrote about the first house we looked at today earlier. Others have now told me that it would be wise to take the new house, especially as it is the same rent. There is a real problem with mold and right on the edge of a swampy paddy that could be an issue. Also, with the kerosene heaters some say the fumes cause them migraines.....the new home won't have mold when we move in....and it will heat with the floors somehow....

BUT THIS is a 1/2 bath. Note it is a toilet and a sink.

The full bath was scattered around the house. I guess this is common? Though I've not seen it before today. Kim told me that the bathrooms are divided into two or three rooms...but I've always seen them together. This house had the sink in the master bdr closet, the tub in the laundry room and the toilet in the master bedroom.

These road signs are becoming our best friends. They are placed where the roads are hard to see....and they are lifesavers!


Here are some photos of the house we hope to be able to put our deposit on tomorrow.


The only thing that I really don't like about this model is the small living room windows....which is why we almost went with the other style....but, unless we choose the houses directly off the road, our view would be the house next door anyway. ::snort::


Mike climbed to the second floor and gave us a report. ::snort:: This is a little bay window like nook at the top of the stairs. The master bedroom is to the left of where Mike is standing. He also checked out the insulation. ::snort::


Three bedrooms along this side of the house.


Jared expressed it first, "This house is worth the wait." I thought we might should "settle" because of Jared's school and our need to "arrive" ....but he's right. We'll be happy in this house.


Did you think I was joking about vending machines being EVERYWHERE?


Lunch time arrived while we were looking around....I got a good laugh over everyone retiring to cars, odd spots, eating their bentos and catching a few winks.


This shows the back of the house. I think the yard itself goes to about where the dirt mound is....but there is a big field behind us that isn't planted and horse corrals to the side of us. We saw three horses.


This is a photo for those living in Springfield...a piece of home in Japan.


The reasons NOT to live off base remain...but this house has much in its favor. It's in a farming area, the yards are bigger than most we've seen, the rent is the same as the two older homes we looked at this week, it's new and will be well heated.....and it's the biggest home we've seen in our month here. The only thing that would stop us from getting it now would be the base saying 100% that they will kick us out of TLF (we are happy to pay if they let us stay) or someone else putting a deposit down this evening. In that case, we'd go with the single level home.. several of them were real possibilities too and have vacant lots next to them. LOL

Another family with six children moved in to the hall across from us. They've been told they'll be given a 4 bdr house, as we had been. We shall see. I rather doubt it, as I know two other families in TLF after traveling the same route we have. Of course, all three of us are Field Grade families....and maybe they'll let you accept the smaller house if you are a different rank? I'm interested to find out.

I've had two women mention that maybe God is moving me away from the base so that I DON'T over-commit to chapel programs. Hmmm.....I'll pray about that.

I'm really excited to watch this house be built and to be able to move into a new home....what a blessing! And that is what I'll choose to focus on.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I Ate My Whole Meal with Hashis....

SCORE! It wasn't pretty, but I managed to eat my entire meal with hashis...chopsticks.

After WILD yesterday, Mike and I took Rick and Renee (our sponsors) and Melissa (PWOC Pacific President) out to dinner. Rick and Renee recommended this restaurant. It was fun....we sat on tatami (is that the word?) matts.... We cheated just a bit as there was a hole under the table and so our legs could hang down rather than be folded under. ::snort::

Renee has a card that says in Japanese that she is allergic to shellfish....and so we showed them that. The chef told us he would make both of us something special. WOW....veggie tempura, miso soup that was to die for, rice, cucumber sushi (which I much prefer).....Yum.... and I ate the whole thing without having to say, "fo-ku kudasai"! ::snort::

Yeah, I SAID it wasn't pretty....and look how DARK my hair is getting again. ::snort::

SHOW OFF!

Renee, I'll google dietary cards...but if you want to email me the name of the website where you ordered that card, I'll have one made for my purse. It was nice to be able to eat without worrying about what I might get. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Quick Housing Update

Lodging (TLF managers) are wonderful. The manager said she KNEW it was going to take us a long time to find a place. She is going to try to work with us regardless of what housing does so that we can stay in TLF, while we look.

For the non-military: We are currently authorized 30 days in TLF (Temp Lodging Facility) on TLA (um....$ for moving so it isn't out of our pocket). Our time is up. We were given a 10 day extension. NOW we have to get them to approve us to stay while we continue to look for an off base house. We've met a Major here in TLF, in our same boat...who found the reg that says that they have to give you 60 days if they don't offer you a home. We talked to housing today and she said that it is not given "for the members convenience". In other words we should take the house as small as on base (which THEY say is inadequate) or it simply a matter of our convenience. Mike is currently writing it all up again and asking for the 60 days. If it is granted, we remain on priority status and are assured that we can stay in TLF until the end of September. If not give we move to Space A, we have to pay for the nights and we could be asked to leave at any time. As I said the manager of lodging has said she will do her best to accommodate us regardless of our status. It IRKS me that HOUSING won't offer us a home on base and now they say we are being picky. Um....

We did look at the gray house by the rice paddy. I loved the location and the neighbors. The house had some strange things. For instance there is no dining room and the bathroom was spread out all over the house. The tub was in the laundry room, the sink was in the master bedroom closet (leaving you with very little closet space for uniforms ::snort::), the toilet was in an alcove off the master bedroom. It was small and depressing....but we would have taken it, if that was all we found.

THEN we went and looked at some new houses being built. There are some due to be done in Sept, some in Oct and some in November. There are 12 houses in this new area due to be finished the end of September. 4 of them are already reserved. They are the same rent as the gray one, they will be NEW and Mike crawled around to check - they'll be insulated! They are 500 sf bigger. They will have heated floors. Ours is right next to horse corrals....they are 20 min from base (though only 3 miles ::snort::), and that is NOT convenient....but they are much more livable. They have 2 1/2 bathrooms AND dining rooms. Housing, of course, wants us to accept the gray one without a door. We were able to walk through the two story and the single story homes being built and there were things I really liked better about the single story, but we voted for the two story. Location.....the ones by the road will have an awesome view of rice paddies and fields....but we opted for the back because there will be room for basketball and bikes...we'll be at the end of the culdesac and the kids will have a bit more freedom outside without me being right there with them. The ones on the other end of the street border the main road. It was a TOUGH choice and we may still change our mind about which house we want. I loved Ms. Koishi. She saw a subdivision closer that was building and told us to call that agent. They wanted Y30,000 yen more a month ($300). She is keeping her houses low. She is allowing us to give her Y225,000 for a deposit (all others we've seen are Y500,000). I really liked her. She knows we are desperate, but did not take advantage of us.

IF they won't allow us to stay here on priority status, I have no idea what we will do until September...but I trust that lodging will try to accommodate us regardless of the status housing awards us. At this point it's not a money thing...if we quit getting TLA we'll get BHA (Basic Housing Allowance) and that will cover the TLF cost....it's the principle of it now. ::snort:: Housing said we could "hope" to remain Priority status but lose our TLA...because waiting until Sept is simply a matter of convenience. Grrr.

20 minutes off base WILL impact how involved we can be in base life. It will impact the activities the kids participate in and how involved we get in chapel life. It means we can't use the base gym without quite a drive. BUT it also means we'll have fast Internet, we'll enjoy living in gorgeous farmland....we'll have a NEW house (never done that before - YIKES)...we'll be in the Oriase area, which is gorgeous.

School - UGH. I think I'll order some things that I know I have in our bags so that we can get started...math, science and some phonics things for Zander. I may even try to find TOG Unit 4 of year 2 book list, so that we can try with the library here to get moving. I hate to BUY all the things that are already here....just because we can't get to them....but the kids are ready for some school.

Our shipments - both hold (unaccompanied which was to be here 9 weeks before everything else) and our normal shipment are waiting. They won't deliver any of it until we have a home. THIS is the PCS story to end all PCS stories. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...