Finally moved in

On monday I finally checked out of the Navy Lodge (while Danny was at work) and took a taxi up here to Negishi. It cost me a little over 8000 yen (about $80). We got some temporary furniture from the housing office. I called personal property to let them know where our house was so they could bring us our stuff when it came in. I got a call from them today (wednesday morning) to tell me that our stuff came in early!!! They will deliver it to us on thursday the 7th. It is still a long way away considering my current circumstances, but I am really excited. He made my day!
So, here are my current circumstances. We have a bed (boxspring, matress and hollywood bedframe), two nightstands, two lamps, a couch, coffeetable, sidetable, dining table and four chairs. When Danny came home last night (he had duty monday night and couldn't come home) we walked to the NEX and bought a microwave. Luckily our house came with a refridgerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. The rest of our stuff will be here soon. I have been stressing about money because this is all very expensive and we don't get paid until friday. I am hoping to get a job teaching English, but the next class (introduction to teaching english) isn't offered until September 20th. Maybe I can get some help from Kana, but she is busy too.
But for right now, there isn't much for me to do. We don't have a television, dvd player, music... nothing. It is very quiet and very boring. I can't go outside because it is too hot. Yesterday it was about 85 F and very muggy. I don't like to leave the house until the sun sets unless I am going somewhere with air conditioning, like the library (where I am now), the bus, or the train. I met Danny for lunch yesterday on the base and I had to stand under the dryer in the bathroom I was sweating so much. Yuck.
Oh! Here is our new mailing address! PSC 472 Box 136 FPO, AP 96348-2900 Please write to me!
I love our new townhouse (although it is infested with little jumping spiders). I will send pictures as soon as I have my computer set up. The weird thing is our house address, which is on racetrack road. I wish we could live on a cool street, like skyline, but I'll live with what I can get.
I know there are so many things I want to say, but they are escaping me. Thank you to everyone who sent me email, especially the girls (you know who you are). I love hearing about how everyone is doing and what has been happening back in the states. I am sorry that I don't have time to write you all back individually. I have got swamped with email and don't have the time. I have been reading them though and I am glad to get them. Once I get my computer, internet and time I will try to reply to them as I get them. It is overwhelming to see them all and have any hopes of replying. Hope to hear from everyone again soon. I will try to check my email again before friday or saturday.

Leaving comments

Unfortunately I have been informed that you have to be a member of blogger to leave a comment. I will see if there is anything I can do about this, but in the mean time, if you don't want to have a log in just send comments to my email. And remember, if there is anything you want me to write about, just let me know. Right now I have so much to say that it is hard to write it all. Japan is full of new experiances and a little bit of homesickness.
Love you all, Lori

Travel

Guess what!!
I took my written driver’s test today and passed. I am scheduled to take my driving test on Monday morning at 8 am. That is the day we move to Negishi, so there is a chance that I may be able to rent a car and drive instead of taking all my luggage on the train and bus. Chances are slim, but it’s possible. I am excited about it, but really nervous. The roads are very different here, but if I can do it anyone can! Danny and I aren’t planning on buying a car anytime soon though. It is really expensive to drive around and gas is a little more expensive. The quickest ways are usually the toll road and they are expensive too. Public transportation is best.
Speaking of public transportation, Danny and I have had lots of experiences with it. The traveling we have done so far has been fantastic. We have gone to Shibuya (a trendy place popular with young people on the outskirts of Tokyo), Negishi housing, and into town here in Yokosuka. My first train trip was to Shibuya. The train stations are really busy, but once you figure them out there are really easy to use. Most signs are in Japanese and English. The information spoken on the train speakers is English when you get on the trains that travel to Tokyo. There are generally three types of trains: black kanji, red kangi and green kanji. (Don’t quote me on that!) Basically they are separated into local, express and super express. The local stop at every station whereas the express have only a few stops. To get to Shibuya we had to transfer trains. There was a really nice woman in Shinagawa who noticed that our directions were in English and asked to make sure we knew where we were going. We ate lunch there; I didn’t know what I was eating and the waitress didn’t speak English to us, but it was fun anyway.
Once we got to Shibuya Danny and I walked around the city. It was VERY busy and hot. They have these crosswalks where all traffic lights turn red and it is an organized free for all on crosswalks in the middle of the intersection. Like a fish fighting upstream… There is one really awesome shopping store talked Tokyu Hands. I have heard it described as a multileveled store with stuff for every hobby and interest. That is true. I found some great stuff.
After walking around a while we met Kana and Yuichi at a well known meeting spot outside the train station. We did more walking around and shopping in stores. For dinner we went to what I assume to be an authentic Japanese restaurant (not that I can imagine anything in Japan not being authentic Japanese!) It was fun because Kana and Yuichi could order for us and we got to try an incredible collection on Japanese food. Danny loved it all and we all laughed when I told Kana and Yuichi he was like Kirby. :-)
We have made a few trips to Yokosuka in the last week and a half. We went and got me a pink cell phone. Because Danny already had a phone and plan with the company I got my phone for free. Making calls can be really expensive, but it is the only phone we have right now. We can also send messages back and forth for pretty cheap. Like I said before, I will post how to call my cell phone if you would like. Incoming calls are free, but I’ll double check to see if international calls are free. I will also have a home phone fairly soon so you will be able to call us there as well. Of course, you can’t expect to call and assume Danny will be home!
More about Yokosuka… there are two malls that we regularly go to. The biggest has many restaurants and even a grocery store. Of course there are many other regular stores, including a 100 yen store. Those stores are great because they have a much bigger selection than the dollar stores in the states and the merchandise is s much better quality. We went to that grocery store last night and Danny bought a few things. The cashier, a woman likely in her mid 40s, knew we didn’t speak English. The grocery stores have a different system than the states. The scan things and move them from one basket to another, you have to bag them yourself after you pay. The cahier held up a large grocery back asking if it was the size he wanted. He said “hai” (yes) very forcefully. It surprised her so much that she started laughing. She told him that he could speak quieter and in English. He was just so excited about grocery bags! :-) I found this so hilarious that I had to tell everyone. Just remember that you read it before Danny comes in and erases it!
Whew! I am tired of typing. I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback. Until later... Sayonara!

Long update

Hi all!
This is the very first time I’ve got to tell anyone what is happening around here, so I can’t possibly tell you everything at once. I will try though.
As you may know, I’ve been here since Wednesday the 16th and Danny has been here since July 7th. Since I got here we’ve been staying in the Navy Lodge on base. We got moved a few days ago so that the lodge could keep us here longer. Because we are looking for housing, they let us stay here for 30 days and reimburse us for every 10 days we stay.
We have been working with the housing office since I’ve been here. Last Thursday we went to the two Navy off-base housing developments, Negishi and Ikego. Negishi does not have a waiting list; they are town houses in the city of Yokohama (about an hour drive from Yokosuka). We went on Monday by train and looked at townhouses and chose one. Danny signed paperwork while I was in class yesterday, so we are all ready to move in on Monday (which is when our 10 days at the Navy lodge is up). It is a large two-bedroom duplex fairly close to the gate and the elementary school.
Danny and I have got to spend a lot of time together. He had one class (environmental protection school) to go to on Tuesday, but nothing again to tomorrow. We got to go to town tonight; I’ll tell you about that later… I have had to go to a class called AOB/ICR, also known as area orientation brief/ intercultural relations. The first day was about the base and the services they offer. Yesterday was about Japanese culture, language and history. Today we were supposed to go on a “field trip”, but I’ve already been to town and used the train so I didn’t go. Tomorrow they teach us how to drive (with a PowerPoint presentation) and we take our written test. If we pass then they schedule us for our driving test.
So generally, it is hot and humid here. I am grateful that the sun sets at 6:30, because it feels cooler then. I am also grateful for the air conditioning in our hotel room and all the buildings. Sometimes you just go inside to avoid the heat. The Japanese are famous for their fans for a reason! When I landed in Yokota, I was glad to see evergreen trees, but there are tropical trees and other plants. The land is covered in hills and is very green.
What else do you guys want to know? I am going to write another post about going out into town. We went to Shibuya with Kana and her boyfriend Yuichi and a few other trips. That is to come later though…

hello

I don't have time to write, but I just wanted to say hello and welcome to everyone who will be reading this.