After we landed we got our stuff, went through customs and our sponsor was there at the exit waiting for us.( For those who don't know what a sponsor is, he is someone who is responsible for setting us up with lodging reservations, getting our dog set up in a kennel, making housing appointments and driver's license appointments, etc., etc.,) Ryan has been amazing. He happens to be the person that my hubby is replacing at work, and since he is on his way out he has been staying at the same lodge as us and has been ready and willing to take us anywhere we need/want to go!
The island is beautiful. Different, but beautiful! The cars are all pretty tiny. So are the roads. The outside of shops and houses aren't the prettiest but with all the rain and typhoons you can't really expect the upkeep to be amazing, but the insides are nice. It's really neat driving off base and seeing all the road signs and shop signs in Japanese writing! It's pretty humid, but nothing I didn't endure in Virginia or Louisiana so far. So far, our schedule has looked like this:
Day 1: Saturday
Ryan, our sponsor, took us by the BX where Matt dropped off his uniform to get pressed, they got their hair cut, Matt and I signed up for a cell phone plan and went to the "dark side" with iPhones. We went to breakfast at a place off base called Rose Garden. It was nice! Definitely will go there again, I hear they are famous for amazing french toast! After that, Ryan brought us by a beach to check it out and go for a little walk. We then went to visit Petrie at Karing Kennels. Poor thing looked pretty scared but we were able to bring him out in the yard area and play with him for an hour or so. He seemed to be eating and drinking and "going potty" well, so that's all I really care about at the moment. He's healthy,that's all I ask for.
Day 2: Sunday
We relaxed until about 11:30 then got ready to go meet our new friend Lauri for lunch. She took us to this really cute coffee shop which has so many choices for coffee and drinks as well as a full menu, which I've never seen before. We had a light pasta dish, which came with soup and salad and dessert at the end of the meal. I didn't have coffee but I did try their mango soda. Yum!! I may have to put Coke on the back burner for a while! Lauri was pretty amazing, she gave us lots of tips and advice for the island, she showed us around and took us to her and her husband's house off base. It was so cute! Very Japanese and their kitchen was amazing (black counters, candy apple red cabinets..very unique!). After that, she dropped us off at the lodge and Ryan took us to visit Petrie again and then we went out to a Japanese steakhouse called 4 Seasons. Matt ordered a Mai Tai and it came in a whole pineapple! It was pretty funny. And very manly :)
Day 3: Monday
Today was a trying day. Got up early, ventured out and it was raining. All. Day. We had our housing appointment and was told only 2 places were available for us to choose from. They were the same exact floor plan and literally right next door to each other. The whole point in being shown different places is to see the different styles and you get to pick which one suits you better. I almost wanted to cry when we walked into the multiplex. Everything was a dingy yellow and the floors were the floors you see in a grocery store. Yuck and yuck. The lighting is harsh and yellow. Hello migraines.
Let me count the positives because I really need to focus on that, seeing as how we really don't have a choice on where we want to live: it's two floors, there are three bed rooms upstairs and two full bathrooms and lots and lots of closet and storage space. While the bedrooms are small, there are three of them so we can make do. Downstairs, the kitchen is pretty roomy...there's a washer/dryer, dishwasher, stove, lots of storage space, and a sliding door that leads out to a patio. There's a half bath, a decent sized living room (which will have to share with a dining room table) and a large storage space underneath the stairs, where we will probably keep all of Petrie's toys and water/food bowl. So while it is ugly, it's do-able: with lots of paint, rugs, and furniture.
Ryan brought us by where Matt will be working, got lunch at the chow hall, then we brought Petrie by the vet to get him checked in and cleared, medically, brought him back to Karing Kennel, and then came back here to the lodge.
I know that's a pretty detailed account of the last couple days...but Mom might be interested :) Things are going pretty smoothly, so I am very thankful for that!! Tomorrow we take our written driving test and Friday we pick up the keys to the new place!! Lots to do, lots to do!!
Thank you, everyone, for the kind words and well wishes!! Matt and I are so excited to get this party started and check out all that this island has to offer! xo
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