Josh's Blog

Josh's Blog
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Kamakura, Japan 

Kamakura

Ronan and me in Kamakura, Japan 

October 2006

Hi Everybody

It is now the second day in October. Sorry it has taken me so long to post. Just trying to get my bearings in a new country. At first I felt excitement about being in another country, then the newness of everything was fun and adventurous. Now I am in the stage of the newness wearing off and missing all things familiar to me. I've had my "blue" days but Ronan and Josh keep me sane. I have started volunteering at the Yokosuka Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). This is a great organization that is set up to assist those service members and their families with financial needs. The people I work with are great and this give me an opportunity to put Ronan in daycare so he can be around kids his own age. The downside is he got the sniffles after Friday's daycare visit. I expect he'll bring various viruses home. It's inevitable.

So Josh, Ronan and I have done little exploring since our arrival. We have tons of time. I am sure the previous statement will come back to haunt me when we only have a couple of months left in Japan and are scrambling to see the sites. That is what happened to us in Port Hueneme, California. We were discovering restaurants and beach parks in the last few months we were there.

So here are my likes and dislikes of living in Japan thus far. We'll start with the positives.

• The area seems very safe.
• The streets are clean and mostly litter free.
• The speed limits are low.
• When out shopping, riding the trains or eating out in restaurants, the Japanese person is very polite and bends over backwards to communicate with you.
• There is no tipping in Japan. That was hard to get used to when we first started eating out. Of course you should tip at restaurants on base.

A few negatives are:

• The Japanese people love their cigarettes and there are few NON-smoking facilities. If there is a non-smoking section in a restaurant, it is usually right next to the smoking section so you can still smell the smoke. Or some restaurants don't allow smoking until after 5 pm but because they allow smoking at all the place retains that smokers odor.
• The Japanese do not seem to "let you in" if you are trying to merge into traffic. If you come upon a closed lane and need to get into the other lane, forget it.
• And the typical Japanese woman is much smaller than me so it is hard to shop for clothes out in town. But these are all points that can be gotten over easily.

Josh, Ronan and I took a train ride to Kamakura this past Sunday. It rained but it was still a nice trip. Check out some photos I will post after this message. I miss all my friends and family terribly. I hope some of you can come visit. Everyone is welcome. And Josh and I hope to make stateside at some point next year.

Love,
Kristin

Ronan's 2nd Birthday!

 

Street Festival Food-Yummy!

 

July 7, 2006

 

Japan/August 2006

So we have been here for 2 months. The weather is still hot, but I know my family and friends down south Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia are feeling the heat more than me. Josh is getting settled at his new job and Ronan and I are attending MOMMY and ME swim classes on base everyday. He loves jumping in water. Hates floating on his back. Tolerates getting dunked under water. Josh is hoping to make it to our last class to video tape and take pictures. We have not taken any ITT trips. My hope is to go up to Tokyo for a couple of days and see what it is like. Driving has been an experience but I am now comfortable driving on the left side of the road while seated on the right side of the vehicle. Check out the photos. Cheers-Kristin

Hello from Japan

Hi all

So much as happened since the middle of April that I think it would be tiring to recount it all in detail. In a brief update, we moved out of our home in Port Hueneme, CA. I had to say goodbye to some good friends, but I know I will see them again soon. I quit my job. Ronan and I got to travel back to Gulfport, MS to visit my best friends and then we went to Shreveport to see Family. Then Josh checked out of the battalion and we spent two and half weeks with his sister Rebecca and her husband Peter and of course Rosie Dog too. Josh's mom and stepdad drove down from Spokane. It was great to see them and for them to spend time with us and especially Ronan before we left. Rebecca graduated from Oregon State University's School of Pharmacy on the 17th of June. Then Josh, Ronan and I flew to Japan on the 22nd. We have not done much exploring but that will all change soon. Look for pictures of mine and Ronan's trips, our time in Portland and our first week in Japan. But that will be a little while since we do not have internet access in our room at the Navy Lodge. I have to wait until I can use my own computer to get online. Keep checking back.
Love, Kristin

April 2006

Hello all
It is now the middle of April and we will be in Japan in about 2 months. Time is flying! We've got our pack out dates set. I am taking Ronan to Gulfport, MS to visit my 3 best friends then we are off to Shreveport, LA (by way of Dallas, TX) to visit Cookie, Timbo, Vicki, Rourke, Melly, Erin, Hayley, Ryan and Sarah. More pics to come. Ronan got All his hair cut off and it is now starting to grow back (thank goodness). He looks even more like Josh than ever with his mini military buzz cut. Stay tuned for more detailed posts.

Cheers
Kristin

Seabee Ball 2006

 

Hi again

Hello all,

It is now the last week of March and Josh, Ronan and I will be moving out of the country in two months. It still seems so very far away. It most likely won't hit me until we are loaded on the plane headed to Japan. We have tons to do, but we are making progress. Got some big things out of the way such as our medical clearances and passports. We are very excited about this next chapter in our lives. We will do our best to keep our blogs updated. I hope any or all of my family and friends can make it to Asia. What a potential wonderful opportunity for us all. New photos of Ronan and family to be posted soon. ~~~Cheers! Kristin

Radio Flyer Wagon

Here is Ronan in his new Radio Flyer ATW Wagon. He loves riding in it. I'll pull him to the post office and the grocery store and he stays in the whole way there and back. 

Weeeeeee!

Ronan at Busy Bee park on the Port Hueneme Base inCalifornia. Jan. '06 

Ronan's bike

How many engineers does it take to put together a tricycle on Christmas Eve? Apparently 2. Rebecca, Peter and Rosie dog came down from Portland for the week of Christmas.

Josh and Ronan in San Fransico, CA (Nov. '05) 

Visiting Marcia in Palo Alto, CA (Nov '05) 

New Post. FINALLY1

Hi to all who may check this site from time to time only to find I have been slacking in my updates. I apologize for the lack of upkeep but now I have collected many pictures of Ronan since the last post and will send them to this blog shortly. Here is a quick update for all who keep are interested. Josh got orders for his next duty station and we will be moving to Yokosuka, Japan in June. We are very excited to embark on our next Navy adventure. As Josh and I wind down at work and try to figure out what we are going to pack, toss and store for our move we will be very busy but i'll try to keep this site more updated. Cheers--Kristin