The Game of Life on Fast Forward

Monday: It's a Girl
Monday morning I dropped Noah off with a friend and headed to the hospital for my ultrasound.  The technician was a Japanese national so there was a bit of a language issue(I'm learning that there is a difference between English and Japanese national English!).  He took a lot of pictures and had a bit of a difficult time because she kept putting her arms and hands in front of her face and punching back at him when he moved that thingy(whatever it's called) across my stomach.  He told me when he was looking at her stomach and kidneys that he thought that the baby was a girl but he would see if he could get a better picture.  She had her legs up against her stomach and it was down to the last of the appointment before he finally said that we were having a girl.  On the ultrasound picture it doesn't say girl...but "No Boys Parts"...haha!  He didn't know how to say it but told me he would print it on the picture.  I thought he was going to write girl but instead he wrote that.  I am wondering know if this has to do with the Japanese male dominated society?  But it will be an interesting story for her when she gets older.  I then headed to the housing office and confirmed that we would indeed move in on Tuesday and borrowed furniture from the Navy(no cost) would arrive that afternoon.  And that check out at the Navy Lodge was at noon...this meant that Noah and I had to move all of our belongings out by noon otherwise we would have to pay for that night out of our own pockets...the Navy's allowance would stop on Monday...and Zack had duty that day and classes during the day so we were on our own.

Tuesday: Moving into our Home
Noah and I woke up that morning and got motivated right away instead of sitting in bed eating our breakfast and watching Curious George!  I headed downstairs and got a cart from the front desk so that I could move our things 2-3 blocks down the street.  These carts were a small version of the usual hotel luggage carts...only having a handle to push the cart...no other vertical or horizontal bars.  I loaded it up and got it downstairs...then put Noah on my hip and started pushing.  I quickly learned that there was far too much play between the bar and the bottom of the cart to make steering easy.  It was a constant struggle to hold Noah and then make adjustments to the cart as we went down the not so even sidewalk.  And then the sidewalk would go down at every corner and crosswalk...meaning the cart wanted to veer to the side and cross the street.  So...picture this...an almost 25 week pregnant lady holding a 17mth old child making a fool out of herself trying to keep the items on the cart and the cart on the sidewalk.  We were a sight!  We made three trips like this...yes three.  I unloaded each trip into the outdoor storage shed in front of the main entrance to our home and then went back for another load...all before I got the keys at the home at a ten o'clock appointment when the housing officer in charge of our neighborhood.  By the time ten o'clock rolled around I was exhausted and Noah was over it completely.  I was given the run down on the rules and regulations...including trash(must separate non combustible from combustible items) and the neighborhood beautification program...we have a small flower area in front of our home.  He told me that he nominates residents in this neighborhood and many have won.  He then looked me straight into the eyes.  I told him that there were flowers in the area but they are gone...he said yes...we remove so you plant you like.  And again looked me straight into the eyes....and added that he will be back in two weeks to check up on us...and looked me into the eyes again.  So..I said...are you saying that I need to keep up with the Jones' and have flowers planted by two weeks from now? He answered yes with a smile!  He was a Japanese national and it is against their culture to tell you no...they say it would be difficult...which means no!  And they don't tell others what they need to do in a command it's all beating around the bush.  And me being me...I cut through the crap and just get down to it and ask...are you saying that I need to......  They usually laugh or smile and answer yes!  We then had two more loads at the Navy Lodge and I had no energy left to make those trips...I loaded up a large cart and put it in the hotel storage for Zack to get when he got off work and then took a load by taxi.  Yes, I paid 570 yen...7.05 USD to go 2-3 blocks down the street....and it was completely worth it!  Our friends kept telling me I was nuts!  I had no choice...Zack couldn't get off so that left me to do it on my own.  This was one of those experiences that I tell Zack...that I earned another badge on my Navy Spouse Jacket.  While this item doesn't actually exist...it does in my head and lately I have earned a lot of badges! LOL  Noah woke up and we headed to the bus stop so that I could go to the NEX and pick up items that we had to get rid of before the move(cleaning supplies, all liquids, etc.).  It cost me right around a hundred to get cleaning supplies, dish soap, hand soap, toilet paper, etc.  I left a key outside in Zack's uniform plastic tote...and used it to make the trip to the Lodge and back before we got home.  I informed Zack that we have two weeks to plant something in the box...he said something about us not having to do anything...I replied...oh yes we do!  And by this time I was beyond exhausted and we walked down the street to Chili's to eat and then we hit the beds!

Wednesday: Driver's License and Buying a Car
That morning a friend watched Noah and I headed down the street to take my driver's test.  I was a nervous wreck and kept thinking about which way to turn...since they drive on the opposite side of the road(on and off base).  This means that the steering wheel is on the opposite side as well as the turn signal and the windshield wiper controls are switched...so when you turn the driver is on the inside of the line.  I took my test with a couple and we chatted and then passed the keys around until someone decided to go first.  I ended up going last and by this time much of my nerves had passed.  There is a joke about this car having the cleanest windshield on base because that control is used many many times a day...because we all think it's the turn signal.  It was our lucky day and it was actually raining a bit...so we had an excuse!  I am driving and all is well...and then it's time to back up into a parking spot at the end of the test.  Everyone had to back up into a parking spot.  The Japanese national doing the testing with us picked my spot...between a vehicle and curb...wonderful!  I am horrible at backing up...Kristen is great and therefore I never really had to learn.  And now I'm on the opposite side of the car.  I tell the man that I'm not so great at it and he tells me to watch his finger.  I'm not too excited about it and proceed to use my mirrors to back up into the spot.  He is telling me...you not watch my finger...watch my finger.  I look down at his finger and can't figure out what the heck this finger is supposed to be telling me.  I have the car perfectly between the lines and the wheel is straight and he's yelling at me to look at his finger going around in a circle.  I'm thinking that if I turn the wheel then I will hit the curb or the vehicle...both resulting in failing.  I tell him that I don't understand....I am between the lines and the wheel is straight.  He replies...with a hmph sound.  Again wonderful!  And I turn off the car...and he firmly tells me to give him the keys...and I'm thinking yikes...way to go Julie you pissed off the man that is standing between you and freedom from the bus and taxis.  I should mention that this isn't the first run in I've had with this man.  During AOB on the last day we learned about all this driving stuff and he was the assistant.  We came back from the lunch and the main(American) guy had placed an open pencil box on the edge of the stage.  I assume that he wants us to get pencils for our test.  So I go up and get pencils...and the whole room decides to follow my lead and get pencils.  This man comes running out of nowhere wearing black rimmed glasses, a white short sleeve dress shirt, and black pants way too far up past his natural waistline...and he didn't know how to say to stop taking pencils...so he give the standard crossing of the arms at the forearm and holds them up..making an X...this means stop!  He looks me straight into the eyes and closes the box!  The American guy walks in and seems confused as to why the pencil box is not open on the stage and then invites everyone up get a pencil.  Eat that Mr. I've Got my Pants in Places it Shouldn't Be!  He then looks me straight into the eyes again...probably thinking that there's the girl bucking the system!  Back to the driving test:  He writes a bit on his paper and says I got a 97%...way beyond passing, which is at 80%.  I can't get out of the car quick enough...before I let a smile or an eye roll slip!  The rest of the day was spent making our home a little bit more like home...and taking the bus to the NEX and then a taxi home because of all of the bags...taking the bus to and from the cable office to set up Internet(they wouldn't let me do cable since we don't have a TV yet...even though it's coming on Monday...but whatever!)  I also made a few phone calls and got everything lined up for our own furniture and household things to be delivered on Monday and this borrowed furniture to be picked up on Monday morning.  Our things are in customs right now.  We also looked at a van and Zack is going to call back tonight to tell him if we will buy it or not.  We are excited to get off of the bus and stop spending money on taxis.  Also of note...Zack will be flying out the ship in a little over a week.  We've been expecting it to come and are thankful that we have had time to adjust a bit to our new life here and to get almost all of the to do's done.  He will be home to help me set up our home with our things and get semi-settled before he has to leave...or at least that was as of yesterday.

Thursday: Learning About our New Home
So far today...Noah and I picked up some groceries to put in our empty cabinets and refrigerator...maybe tonight will be our first home cooked meal since getting to Japan!  We only have a skillet so that cuts down on our options but I think we should be able to manage!  And maybe a bus trip to set up our home phone?  We shall see.  Zack has his driving test in about an hour from now...the only difficulty he will have is getting his legs into the car...Japanese nationals aren't nearly as tall...and certainly not over six feet tall.  The man I took my test with was the same height as Zack and he had to try a few times to get his left leg to go under the steering wheel...American's are just so right dominated!  Zack has deemed that our home was built like Fort Knox...the walls even on the inside are over a foot thick and everything is concrete and cinder block.  The only wood in this place is the flooring, cabinets, and the furniture!  This place isn't going anywhere!  Central heat and AC doesn't really exist here...each room has a wall mounted unit which is controlled by a remote...which sits in it's nifty holder attached to the wall.  There are no joke 30 buttons with Kanji written on them!  Also the fans located in the master bedroom and living room run on remotes in their wall mounted holders.  I'm starting to like the idea of individual settings for each room...sorta nifty because I've learned already that Noah's room is a bit warmer than others and we can adjust the temperature accordingly.  You cannot work these items without the remotes!  It is American style housing but just with Japanese and American furnishings inside.  That is the update for now...we've been busy busy!

Kamakura! Trains, The Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine(Shinto Shrine)

Yesterday we headed out with our friends to visit Kamakura...it is a 20-30 minute train ride from Yokosuka.  We headed out into the city and to the train station.  We were armed with our cheat sheets from the Navy and we were able to navigate buying tickets, train cards(Suica), and figure out which side of the platform we needed to be on.  It was pretty simple and this station is used to Americans riding the train...so they've pretty much dummy proofed it.  However when we got to Kamakura we had to switch lines on to their local line.  This station was WAY busier and there were tons more people...and navigating for the first time didn't go as smoothly.  The Japanese nationals knew exactly where they were going and just zoomed past you...to where your almost spinning around in circles as they whoosh past.  We quickly learned it was easier just to stand out to the side until they all passed and then we could figure out where we needed to go.  We got onto the busy train and with the help of the iPhone...we could count the stops as we passed them...ensuring that we didn't miss our stop.  The announcements are made in Japanese followed by a single sentence in English...so we heard blah, blah, blah, and then oh that was English...crap! LOL  We got to the correct station and walked to the Buddhism Temple...The Great Buddha.  The two main religions here in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto.  Buddhist have Temples and Shintos have Shrines.  Seeing the Buddha up close was amazing.  We all just stood there...taking it all in.  We also observed the Japanese nationals around us and how they worshiped and gave homage to their God.  It was a very peaceful place with flowers, water, and trees...we could have easily just sat on one of the benches for most of the day just relaxing and getting out of the bustle of the city.  We then hiked it to a Shinto Shrine...we walked and walked and walked.  Zack kept looking at my face for signs that he needed to find a taxi...our friends also asked if I could make the walk and kept checking on me.  Thankfully there was only a high in the low 80's with low humidity and I had plenty of water...we all made the walk with a few breaks along the way.  Zack and I both agreed that there was no way I could have made that walk when I was pregnant with Noah...how different these pregnancies have been.  This Shrine was amazing and our first up close look at old Japanese architecture.  I mentioned to Zack I never thought that in my lifetime I would see that in person.  He replied that he knew when he joined the Navy that he would have those experiences.  And it was nice to see this together...Zack is having his adventures on port visits around the world and I'm holding down the fort...but this time I got to experience it with him.  We walked up the Shrine(no pictures allowed)...people were saying prayers, giving coins, and then also writing messages/prayers on wooden plaques that were hung around the shrine....then down again.  Noah was out of the stroller and sat down in the gravel to play...a little girl around Noah's age was also leaning over to swipe her hands against the gravel...Noah being Noah had to sit down and get down and dirty.  This encouraged her to also get into it a bit more and encouraged another little boy to rub his hands in the gravel.  Noah then saw the pigeons...he took off running after the pigeons and they just kept running...not taking flight.  This caught the attention of just about everyone...Noah is chasing a bird..yelling at it...and causing Japanese children to stop and join him! (We learned this past week that children are welcomed at these sorts of places because they are considered the safest place for them to "be children"...they are protected by the God or Gods depending on weather it was a Temple or Shrine).  Noah is screaming birds...and this was no different than other occasions..the Japanese nationals repeat the noises or words he makes...laughing!  The children had no idea that they were from different cultures or spoke different languages...the playing in gravel and chasing birds...that's international kid play!  One little girl approached Noah and took him by the hand and they played together for a few minutes.  Through hand gestures I asked the mommas if it was okay to take a picture and they both agreed.  The little girl's mommy got a great picture of the two of them playing together.  The whole day was amazing...seeing sites that I never thought I would see in my lifetime...but for me the highlight was seeing Noah playing at bottom of a Shinto Shrine with Japanese children....now that's why we came to Japan!  We are talking about what train adventure we will be taking next week...down to Kurihama to see more "old Japanese buildings...and culture" or up towards Yokohoma to visit a great zoo?!

Just wanted to add this funny/disturbing tid bit of info...if you loose your purse or wallet here it will be at the next police box(a small building on the street with a few cops inside to give parking tickets and be visable in case someone needs them)...all of your belongings will be in it plus the name, address, and phone number of the person who found it.  You are then expected to give a small gift in thanks...you can leave all your money on the dashboard of your car with the doors open...you come back and the doors are closed and your money is still there.  This isn't the case in America or even on base!

This is a link to the pictures: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.732399753333.2206263.47209158&l=d87dfa91e9