Japan Questions: Answered

Hello!

I have a bit of writer's block, so I thought I would answer some common questions that people have asked me as I've been spreading the word about our move to Japan. Here's a Top 5 List, now that I'm a big expert ;)

Q: Do you speak Japanese?
A: Umm... no. Not a lick of it. They didn't teach that at CWL HS. :)

Q: Can you bring your cats to Japan?
A: Yes, we can bring the cats to Japan! There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but I actually started preparing for this about a year ago, when I had microchips implanted in the cats. I know it sounds sort of sci-fi, but in actuality it is enables the Japanese government to "match" the Rabies vaccination record to the cat by way of the microchip. Japan is a rabies-free country, and they would obviously like to keep it that way! So - while there will be more vaccinations, more paperwork, and more fees, Tenga and Peaches will be joining us on our World Tour! I just need to make sure they stay inside cats so they do not end up in someone's dinner!! (Kidding!! Well, sort of...)

Q: How are your parents taking the news?
A: Umm... I'll let my mom answer this one. :) I would say that their initial reaction was not particularly a happy one. I think it's the whole removing-the-grandson-from-this-continent thing. But I think they are coming around. After all, it's a tropical destination - what's not to like about visiting? Really, they have always been so supportive of everything I've done, and I'm thankful for that. I think they are planning to visit us in Japan. Right, mom?

Q: What about your stuff?
A: Well, that's a good question. One I hope to have answered in detail at the class I'm attending next week on moving overseas. I already know that we have to sell both of our cars. Anyone interested in a 2002 Mazda? Or how 'bout a 2006 Highlander??? We get to take 3,000 pounds of stuff with us, which is approximately 1/3 of everything we moved to Virginia with us. Which means that we'll have some decisions to make regarding what to take with us, what to sell, and what to put in long-term government storage. Yippee!

Q: What are you doing while Tommy is in California this summer?
A: Continuing to hone my single-parent skills. And hanging out at the pool in our housing center with my friends. Tommy leaves mid-June. I plan to work until July 31, when my contract ends. Then in early August they will probably pack up our stuff. Then in late August I'll probably go to Iowa for a few weeks to see everyone and say our goodbyes.

Q: Are you excited?
A: YES!! We are really excited. At first I asked Wyatt if he wanted to move to Japan, and he said, "NO!" But then I explained about the beach, ocean, tropical fish, playing outside year round, and asked him again, and he said, "Yes!" I get more excited everytime I read this blog http://www.okinawahai.com/my_weblog/offbase_housing/, which is all about life on Okinawa. Specifically, this link takes you to the Off-base section, which I've been looking at quite a bit since we are strongly considering living off-base. Check it out if you have a chance! It's got tons of great information.

My Job Scares the Crap out of Me

There are days, like today, when my job scares the crap out of me. I am scared for our society. I am scared for students, faculty and staff at institutions of higher education across the country. And, most of all, I am scared for my son.

When I say 'scared,' I mean this in both the literal and figurative sense of the word. Literally, I am scared for students and colleagues at colleges and Universities, because after the past few months of being privy to the threats of students of concern that frequent our college campuses... well, let me just say that I am very happy that I have an electronic code to access my office, the location of which is unpublicized on our campus. The good news is, most colleges and universities have procedures in place to address students of concern. The bad news is, there are times when there is no forewarning, and therefore even the best laid plans will not work.

Figuratively, I am scared because of all the bad I see. Every day, I ask myself how these students end up on the paths they are on. For some, you meet their parents and that explains everything. But for others, what I see is a parent sitting by their student's side during a hearing, shaking their head and wondering how or why their student made these decisions as I'm reading off the code of conduct violations. Drugs... prescription medication abuse... medical transport for alcohol-induced coma... 33 attempted suicides to date... shooting a weapon from a residence hall room at a car stopped at a busy intersection... how does this happen? And how do I prevent it from happening to Wyatt?

It seriously boggles my mind.

Lost in Transition

Somehow, without really knowing how or when it happened, I have transitioned to living in Virginia. I'm a Virginian. Again.

Somehow I managed to move across the country and set up shop. I got a job. A new daycare. I figured out which Starbucks was the cheapest, which was the nicest, and which baristas will remember me and my drink. I hardly ever get lost anymore. And I made new friends. I got a new life.

And of course now that we are settled, we are getting ready to leave again. Yet another transition for the Parker family. And again, I'm feeling all the same emotions: excitement and anxiety for our new tropical destination, frustration at leading the life of a military spouse, and sadness for leaving our new home, family and friends.

Of course I knew what I signed up for when I married Tommy. But you can't choose who you fall in love with. I suppose one could theoretically choose not to be with that person, but to me that didn't seem like an option. We belong together. So I don't feel so much like I even had a choice about this lifestyle, this great adventure of life we are on together.

There's something kind of crazy about loving someone so much that you will pick up every year (or three) and leave your entire life behind. When Tommy got home that night after we found out we'd be moving to Japan, I just looked at him and thought, "How cool is it that we are willing to go on this adventure together?" And not just to Japan. For our whole life. This series of twists and turns they call the military "lifestyle."

I'm proud to be a Marine spouse. The Corps will tell you there's no job more difficult, and that it is even harder than being a Marine. I'm not so sure about that, but I wholeheartedly agree with whoever proposed that spouses should receive "chest candy" (medals, ribbons) as their Marines do. Have you ever moved (by yourself) halfway around the world? Endured a deployment (or three)? Explained to your child why dad hasn't been home for a week, a month, a year? Moved three times within a year? Given birth by yourself because your spouse was on assignment? Hell yes, we deserve a medal!

My friend Robin that lives down the street actually said to me, "I figure if he's not here for this birth, it's not such a big deal. At least he was here for the first two." My friend Holly had her daughter while her husband was deployed and was a single parent until his return several months later. Thinking back to those sleepless nights and days of screaming and insanity, I cannot even imagine. I kept thinking to myself, "I am not as strong as these people." "I could never do that."

But I've done it. I'm doing it. And yes, I will do it again in a few months.

I am Now a Criminal

First off, really? Only one comment on the news about Japan???? Where are my faithful readers? Hmmph.

So this story is completely embarassing. I swear I am not evil! I just have a lot going on right now. Do you think the cops would buy that story? Probably not.

We had friends in town for the weekend and had a great time going to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms. The weekend was topped off by pedicures for Kristi and I on Sunday morning. After that, she and her husband Ryan and son Ethan left to drive back to North Carolina, and I went to the commissary.

Everything was fine until I got to the frozen food section, which is almost at the end of the always-lovely commissary shopping experience. I get to the second-to-last aisle and stop to get something a couple freezers back. I retrieve (what I thought to be) my cart and round the corner and head to the next (last) aisle. Then I look down. And realize that instead of my red Coach purse, I am now in possession of a large, lime green alligator-skin looking bag. CRAP!

I pretty much freaked out. I was so confused! I honestly couldn't figure out where my purse was or how I was suddenly pushing someone else's cart! I immediately looked around but couldn't see my purse, or anyone looking for their own purse, either. So I ran back to the other aisle and saw my actual cart sitting there with my actual purse in it. I retrieve it and head back to the other aisle.

As I'm walking back I see/hear this woman screaming at her 3 children by the checkout lanes. It was a, "I-left-you-alone-for-2-minutes-and-you-lost-my-purse"-type scream. Uh-oh.

And then I heard, "Attention Commissary shoppers: If anyone has seen a lime-green purse, please turn it in at the customer service desk. I repeat: If anyone has seen a lime-green purse, please turn it in at the customer service desk." come over the store intercom.

DOUBLE CRAP!

I considered approaching the people to tell them about my mistake, but I'm not going to lie. The lady was large. And mean looking. And very upset. Luckily, the kid started heading my way and eventually saw his mom's cart and purse, and exclaimed, "there you are!"

Just as I started feeling relieved that the purse I had temporarily "relocated" and its owner had been reunited, however, the message repeated over the intercom. I was COMPLETELY MORTIFIED. I could not believe that I had just stolen someone's purse! Even if it was an accident. It was horrible!

I still am not quite sure how this actually happened. Obviously I just wasn't paying attention. I keep thinking that they are going to review the store videotape and figure out it was me and send the MP's to arrest me! I guess I am now (unofficially) a criminal. Ee gads!

On a side note: Is it a coincidence that a good chunk of the stories I post on my blog have to do with the commissary???

The Parkers Head East(er)

Konichiwa!

Yes... after a long and anxious wait, we have finally received our marching orders at last. The verdict? Okinawa, Japan.

For those of you not familiar with Okinawa, it is an island off of mainland Japan that is largely occupied by U.S. military forces - not just Marines - but is still very much entrenched in the Japanese culture. There are many bases on Okinawa. Tommy has been assigned to MASS 2 (I think that is how you spell it) at Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Futenma.

We are not 100% sure when our time frame is for moving yet. We were told that we would most likely be moving after Tommy returns from his 3-month school in 29 Palms, CA this summer in mid-September. I will believe this once we have our orders in hand and approximately 2 weeks have passed without an amendment to those orders ;)

I realize that some of you have had mixed reactions to this news. So have I. I know that some of you are upset and/or are sad that we will be leaving for 3 years. So am I. And I understand this reaction, because I was sad when my friend Jen left for Okinawa a little over a year ago. However, it was our #2 choice, so I had tried to mentally prepare myself for this news. I would say at this point, I am about 50% excited and 50% scared to death. (Tommy is 100% excited!) The good news is, we should have plenty of time to prepare and visit family and friends before our relocation to the island. We will make every effort to see as many people as possible, and hope that many of you will consider a visit to Japan for this once in a lifetime opportunity! Just know that we will always only be a phone call and a (long) flight away, and we will be back on American soil in the not-so-distant future.

In the meantime, I would like to thank my friend Dora for introducing me to sushi back in grad school. Funny how I never knew how handy that would be!

And on a funny sidenote, I managed to accidentally steal some lady's purse at the commissary today. Oops. Stay tuned for a story on the blog on that one!