Leaving Okinawa Part 1

Before I do my long post on leaving Okinawa, I asked my sister to think of some questions for Tony and I to answer.  Thanks for doing this sis!

1. What are the things about the Japanese culture you will miss?
Tara:  It's probably more of an island thing than it is a culture, but I think what i'll miss most is how laid back everything is here.  Even though I may complain about it, I like how slow traffic goes. No one seems to be in a hurry.  It's not always easy, but at the end of the day it's nice.  More about their culture though - I will miss how polite and kind the Japanese people are.  They all seem to live simple lives here that really revolve around the kids.  I've mentioned this in a previous post but I've always been amazed at how many kids (of all ages) walk home from school alone.  You'd never see that in the states.  Overall, I didn't get too deep into their culture like some people have.  I'm not sure if i'll ever regret that someday.....
Tony: The friendly service.

2. What was the most annoying thing when dealing with the Japanese language you had to deal with?
Tara:  There are many businesses that cater to the military and speak great english, the times I had to go to a place that didn't speak english was very frustrating.   I had to get my iPhone fixed and the place I went to couldn't understand what I needed or the time contrictions I had.  I'll always remember it because I had to drive through loads of traffic only to turn around because they couldn't understand what I was saying.  
Eating out at restaurants was interesting, but it never really bothered me when we couldn't read a menu.  It was an experience and kind of fun just ordering off what the picture showed.  Who knows, maybe I ate tongue or liver when I thought it was chicken (gross).

Tony: The times when I spend 10 minutes explaining something to someone only to be passed off to someone else who supposedly spoke better english to do it all over again.

3. What is it like being an American military wife on the island? Did you feel like people judged you before they got to know you?
Tara:  I've never felt judged.  That might be because I wasn't incredibly proactive in meeting new people from the beginning.   I had a couple great friends when we first got here and that seemed like enough for me when I was pregnant and sick and working a job I wasn't too confident in.  Over time when I became more settled and happier here, I put more energy into friendships and I'm so thankful I did!  Having Quinn and moving closer to base made a huge difference for me.  Sorry - I'm straying from the question... so nope, I've never felt judged.  

4. Are there any Japanese civilians that you got to know that you will miss?
Tara: No one I will miss, but people I will always remember.  Our neighbors in Yomitan were very nice to us and there's been a sweet girl at the park that Quinn really enjoys playing with.  If only all those hours the girls played at the park I was able to have conversations with the mom!
Tony: Yes, Koji, Masaki, Harry, and Ms. Torishima San.  These are people I worked with during my time at my unit.

5. What did you purchase on the island that you will take with you as a reminder your time there?
Tara:  Pottery and a cabinet I purchased at the Fleet Gift shop.  What I'll really miss is the 100 Yen store!  It's like our dollar store but a million times better.  I have a couple of bins full of stuff from there that I was sure to get before leaving!  Stickers, paper, coloring books, pens, crayons, bubbles, tape, - you name it.
Tony: I didn't really spend any money.  Tara did.

6. You made some good friends while you were there! Did you find it hard to make lasting friendships when you knew you wouldn't be living by them again?
Tara: I did right away, but after my first year and meeting some great gals - I knew that it was so worth the heart ache when we leave.  Like I said earlier, I wasn't incredibly outgoing here on Okinawa.  I didn't join any groups really because I either lived so far out, Tony was gone, Quinn didn't take a bottle, or maybe because I wasn't really happy with it here right away.  The friendships I have now are lifelong ones and I am forever grateful for them. They have been our family here on island and the reason (other than Tony, Quinn, and now Alexa) I have been as happy as I've been the last 2 years!!!
Tony: No, it's the only thing I know.

7. Looking back on the year you taught kindergarten...what are your best memories of that experience?
Tara: My co-workers, the kids, and just that it kept me busy and not thinking about how sad I was all the time!  It was a blessing to find a job.  There are so many wives here that are unemployed not by choice.  It's not easy finding a job that pays enough if you have to put your kids in daycare.  Obviously I didn't have to worry about that the first year we lived here.

8. Tony had a really tough job in a unit that requires a lot of travel off island. What was the best part of the job that he will take with him to the next job and beyond?
Tony: Time spent counseling/mentoring the young Marines is more fulfilling than I could have thought.

9. You went through 2 pregnancies and delivered 2 babies in Japan. Obviously it wasn't easy being away from family for both of your pregnancies. Were there any positives about being pregnant on the island that you will miss if you have any more children?
Tara: hmmm.. Good question.  I will miss the hospital.  I had such a great experience with both kids, an incredible view from our rooms, and the hospital was just really nice.  I'm not sure this is a positive, but it was pretty special traveling home with Quinn when she was 3 weeks - and now will do the same with Alexa - and meeting our parents at the airport.  I can't really explain the feeling I get in my heart when I first see our parents at the bottom of the escalator as I hold one of their grandchildren.  Of course I wish they could have come to the hospital the day our girls were born, but they also didn't miss out on the newborn stage of each girl either!

10. Your girls were both born in Japan! What will you tell them someday about your time on the island?
Tara: That it was tough, an amazing experience for all of us, and how incredible the water was!  Our favorite part of this island was by far the beaches!
Tony: You lived at the park by our house and you are actually 1/2 Japanese. 

11. What were yours and Tony's favorite restaurants?
Tara: Minami Sushi. 
Tony: Chili's on base.

12. Besides her buddies, what  was Quinn's favorite part of Okinawa?
The beach! "Wah-dee"