Settling In

Settling In

January 13, 2014

Only two weeks before Jim came home for Christmas, he moved into an apartment off base. He found a gem of a place, located a mile or two from where he works on Torii Station, and near a walking path, a Starbucks, and a Japanese grocery store. The apartment has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge kitchen (lots of cabinets, not so much countertops, a big living area and two balconies. Before Jim left he was able to get all the stuff moved in but not completely situated. When Jim went to work Friday morning (we arrived on island late Thursday night) I began to unpack and settle in. The apartment has so much more space and storage than the one-room barracks Jim was in before!

Over the next couple of days we got the internet turned on, restarted service to my Japan cell phone, and made several trips to the BX (the Walmart-type store on the larger base Kadena). We also found a couple of Japanese stores for household stuff (also like Walmart but with extensive selection of hardware type stuff). The more major things we had to acquire were a microwave and curtains. I must admit I’m used to having a large variety of options for shopping – store brand groceries, several choices for anything. And if I don’t like what I find at one store, I can go to another store and peruse more options. While the BX does well to have almost everything anyone would need, it makes me realize how spoiled I have been.

Panoramic of the living spaces in the Apartment

The furniture came from the housing office, the rug is Jim's

Already looks lived in, with piles on the table and counter!

The other project we had to conquer was that chair. We discovered all the major parts made it, as well as the instructions (phew!). The only thing missing was the hardware – a few screws, listed on the instructions. We were able to find one size at the Japanese hardware store. The other size of screw just can’t be found here – they go at the joint where the top and bottom of the seat meet. If I ask nicely, Mom might send some.

Step 1: Establish if any parts are missing

Step 2: assemble as much as possible.

Today is Monday, and Jim is at work. Yesterday we went to church and the library. I got Eragon, the first book in a series Olivia is enjoying. I think between writing blogs, letters, reading, and maybe a project or two, I will be able to keep busy. I might even get brave enough to wander out there by myself. I have important places marked on the map in my phone (I really enjoy having a smart phone here!) so I shouldn’t get too far lost. It is frustrating to not be able to read all the signs or potentially not be able to communicate if I needed help.

Oh, I almost forgot… we had our first house guest. While hanging curtains in the bedroom, we met this little guy. It’s hard to see against the paneling, but you can see his eyes shine in the flash. A brown hairy spider, sprawled to the size of my palm. Jim was mean and called me wimpy because I wouldn’t go closer than six feet from it. He wanted to pick the thing up and put it outside, but couldn’t find gloves. The spider ended up being sucked up in the vacuum and disposed of.

I’ve been able to text, call and Skype with Olivia so far. She is being so very strong! We are blessed with the amount of technology available to keep connected.  Even so, it is a hard change to be apart for so long. We pray for strength and comfort to get through each day.

Traveling to Japan

Traveling to Japan

January 13, 2014

The journey begins at about 3:00 am Wednesday, January 9 in Shell Rock. We stayed over there at Jim's parent's house, van loaded with our luggage, ready to be taken to the airport by Jim’s mom Sue. Rolled out of bed, bundled up for the -7 temperature outside and we were off to the airport in Cedar Rapids.

Our plane was scheduled to take off at 6:10 am. The ticket counter was slow, but getting through security was no problem. We were even able to keep the homemade cookies! Once to the gate, boarding began late and progressed very slowly – the airport is obviously under staffed. After the plane loaded it had to be de-iced, from sitting overnight in the frigid temperatures.  I began to worry the scheduled 40 minute layover in Denver, Colorado was shrinking quickly. I didn’t sleep much at all on that first flight.

When we landed in Denver, we hurried to the gate and were the last few people to board, but we did make it. I rested a bit easier on that flight! It is a lesson of trusting God with everything, because He has us in His hands, and His plan will work out for the best.

In San Francisco, we had time to get a couple of deli sandwiches for lunch. The plane that was to take us to Osaka, Japan was having some computer malfunction, and was being worked on. It was cleared to be used and we boarded about a half hour after the flight was originally scheduled to take off. Then, while we were taxiing toward the runway, the plane stopped for another 15 minutes or so. The mechanics had to make a couple more adjustments. At this point I wondered if we should really be flying over the Pacific Ocean in this plane but I trust God and the airline staff seemed confident it would be fine. We took off for the near 12 hour flight, and had no noticeable problems. We enjoyed a few meals and snacks, free movies, and a couple good naps.

We arrived in Osaka about an hour past the scheduled time, but it was not a problem as the layover was originally more than three hours. We made it through customs easily and found our luggage to re-check it for the last flight. One of the pieces of checked luggage was an office chair I gave to Jim for Christmas, un-assembled in the original cardboard box. The box was a bit beat up after the first three flights, with noticeable holes. The staff in Osaka looked at it a bit funny, and graciously gave us some tape to mend it. We would have to wait a bit longer to find out if any pieces were missing, and if so there’s no telling where they might be now. The airport in Osaka was relatively quiet. We mostly rested, stretched out our sore muscles as much as possible, and waited for the last leg of the flying to Okinawa.

The flight to Okinawa was uneventful. The hallways were still filled with beautiful Orchids, and the outside temperature was just below 60. We found our luggage on the carousel and met an Army driver to take us from the airport in Naha to Torii Station, about a 45 minute drive.

Just before he came home for Christmas, Jim moved from the barracks into an apartment off base. We came home to this new apartment and promptly went to bed – it was about midnight Thursday night in Okinawa. Jim had to go to work Friday morning! We both slept very soundly that night, grateful to be able to stretch our legs and lay down. Jim made it to work on time, but I enjoyed sleeping in. :)

Back in Japan

Back in Japan

January 13, 2014

Hello friends and family! I am back in Japan so it’s time to wake up the old blog.

First, a brief recap of what has gone on since the last blog in July. Olivia and I returned to Iowa very late at night on July 3^rd and attended the Box Family Reunion on Independence Day. We were a bit groggy and jet-lagged, but happy to see the family. I returned to work full time at CBE in mid-July. Olivia began 6^th grade (Last year of elementary in CF) in August and has done very well adjusting to a new load of responsibilities and homework. Jim went to Australia right after we left Japan, and then to Washington DC for a class. After the DC class he was allowed to take almost two weeks leave in Iowa. We celebrated his 30^th birthday with a rainy, muddy adventure of paintballing followed by grilling (In the rain. Thanks again, Aaron!) and good fellowship with everyone. Autumn blew past and before we knew it Christmas came. Jim came home again for about two and a half weeks to be around for many Christmas celebrations and our first anniversary. We were able to see and spend time with so many people, it was wonderful! On January 9, Jim and I flew to Japan to begin the next chapter of our story. I will be here for about two months. Olivia is being very strong through this change with the help of marvelous technology and support of her dad and step mom, as well as my and Jim’s families. We would appreciate your prayers of encouragement for her!

The next chapter in the story means the next chapter in the blog! While our first trip to Japan was very much a vacation, seeing all the sights and wonders to behold on Okinawa, this second time around will be much more mundane. I don’t anticipate a daily stream of wild adventures… perhaps just the interesting parts of living in a foreign culture.

I pray this finds you all safe and well, and look forward to keeping in contact with all of you.

Japan 2013: Episode 21

June 6

Nakagusuku Castle Ruins

After the sobering experience at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, we trekked through the Nakagusuku Castle remains on the eastern side of the island, slightly north of Naha. The place is picturesque, which is probably why a photography class/club was meeting there! Unlike the Shuri Castle we saw recently, this one consisted mostly of the stone walls. Most castles on the island are in this state.

Gardens at the entry to the Castle park

The well

Stairs up from the well

Japan 2013: Episode 20

June 29

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park

It has taken me a couple of days to prepare this post, mostly to digest and process what we saw and learned.

The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park is built on the place that was called Mabuni Hill, or by the US Military, "Hill 89" and was effectively the site of the last land battle of World War Two. The park consists of several monuments, tombs and the Peace Memorial Museum. The Monuments are sobering. The Museum, through various placards, videos, photographs and artifacts, tells the story of Okinawa from the time Japan annexed the Ryukyu Islands, through the war, to the present.

We enter the Museum and are greeted by two works of art, each with 100 ceramic bowls painted into a beautiful mural. The artist is Okinawan Junichi Umeda.

 "A Thousand Cranes"

 "Night Cherry Blossoms"

A Children's Exhibit seemed to focus on children around the world, displaying toys and books from around the world. 

Another display showed toys, books and an interview from a child from each of probably fifteen locations around the world. 

Perhaps a little shocking for a childrens' exhibit, there was a history lesson as well, perhaps telling what a child would have experienced. This portion had very little English translation, however it included several photographs.

School children turned into soldiers

Post war refugee camps

A temporary exhibit shows artwork, essays and poems from school children around Okinawa. It was worth the few moments to read a seven-year-old's understanding of peace, and a fourteen year old trying to put herself in her grandmother's place.

Finally we entered the permanent exhibit. The story begins when Japan, striving to increase its span in Asia and dominate China, claimed Okinawa and several territories in the South Pacific. To promote uniformity and patriotism in its colonies, Japan forbade the use of the Okinawan dialect, changed uniquely Okinawan names to Japanese and imposed the Shinto religion, and began to militarize the island by building an airfield and installing troops.

At the peak of this Asian conflict, Japan sought to prove its power and simultaneously bombed a British colony and Pearl Harbor. In that moment, the Pacific War became the Pacific Theatre of World War Two. Japan mobilized civilians into soldiers, making the tools of war, and medical stations. The United States responded victoriously at the Battle of Midway and began to turn the tide. Seeing their position between the approaching US fleets and mainland Japan, many Okinwans began to flee to neighboring islands. US forces systematically and mercilessly overtook Japanese territories in the South Pacific, killing civilians and Okinwan refugees in its wake. 

When the US reached Okinawa in April 1945, the approach was no less subtle. Nearly ninety days of artillery fire and fighting, referred to locally as the "Rain of Steel" concluded in June with a bloody toll. More than 12,000 US service members killed or missing; more than 375 from South Korea, England and Taiwan were killed; more than 65,000 Japanese and conscripted Okinawan soldiers killed or committed suicide; and as many as 150,000 Okinawan civilians killed, missing, committed suicide or entombed in caves where they hid for safety. The landscape was decimated. Many artifacts from the history of Ryukyu Kingdom were damaged or destroyed.

The Testimony room holds the stories of 140 witnesses, some on video.

After the fighting ended, surviving civilians were corralled in refugee camps. The wounded were treated, but rations were not enough. Many died of starvation or malaria. Eventually food supply improved, and rebuilding began. Orphanages were established for the many children who lost their parents. Infrastructure was rebuilt. Through strong protests, the US Military seized land for the construction of several bases and established a permanent military presence on the island. In the 1950s the US governed territory fell subject to McCarthy-ism, locals were scrutinized closely and travel to mainland Japan was restricted. Bases on Okinawa were used as staging points during the US involvement in Vietnam, even housing nuclear warheads, against strong protest. In 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japanese rule, although the US retains a strong military presence there to this day, with the "accidents and atrocities" that go with it. Massive rioting broke out after the brutal rape and of a school girl by US servicemen in 1995. Still, US military remains.

Okinawans are a wonderfully kind, respectful, and helpful people. The locals I have encountered are not angry, vengeful or bitter towards Americans, even as they have a fair right to be. They do not hate Americans. If anything, they hate War. The Peace Memorial Museum and Park display what lies at the heart of Okinawa, a deep desire for peace.

At the end of the History lesson, this beautiful script
(English translation below)

View of the Cornerstone of Peace Memorial from the Observation tower. Here the names of all Japanese, American, British, Korean and Taiwanese soldiers who died as well as the names of all Okinawans, civilian and military, who died throughout the Pacific War, roughly 240,000 names with more added each year as they become known.

Fire of Peace fountain

As many victims did not receive a proper burial, they are memorialized here.

Okinawa Peace Hall

Peace Hill

I didn't get photos of everything. I didn't photograph inside the permanent exhibit out of respect. In the park there are tombs arranged by prefecture, similar to our Arlington Cemetery. Monuments have been donated by each prefecture of Japan. Also, the Tower of Himeyuri, honoring school girls who worked as nurses in the caves and tunnels, most of whom did not survive the war.


Check out more about the museum here: http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html

For more about the park: http://cspwm.ucsc.edu/projects/okinawa-peace-memorial-park-project