All the Fuss

When we first found out we would in fact be going to Okinawa for this tour, I was so excited! In a theoretical kind of way.

Over the course of the last 6 months, though, the more people asked me "Aren't you so excited?" the less and less excited I became. I don't know if it was repeating the same thing over and over -- "Yes, sort of; I'll be a lot happier when I get there. Right now it's just kind of stressful." -- or if it was the sheer span of time spent waiting; but eventually it was almost time to go and, well frankly I didn't feel ready.

Sure, we were physically prepared -- utilities set to turn off, bags packed, stuff shipped, dog signed off on, tickets reserved -- but when I found out I wasn't going to get to leave on the same flight as Alec, ... I won't say I was relieved, but it didn't much change how I already felt.

Now, though, now that he has been there over a week it's finally started to seem real. Getting a car, looking at apartments, contemplating a phone. It's sinking in. I am finally ready to go! Unfortunately now I still have to wait.

Our Sweet Japanese Ride

We are now the proud owners of a 2000 Nissan Cube.

 Check out those rims!

The JCI (Japanese Car Insurance) is good through early 2015, which is good because that can get pretty expensive!  And yes, the steering wheel is on the wrong (which is to say the right) side.

Just like when we got each other rings, there was a lot of back and forth about what each of us was looking for in a car. Fortunately this conversation was a lot simpler, since we wanted basically the same things: something not too old (since they're all used on-island), clean, roomy (especially with rear storage for outings), and I like the boxy look so I think Alec leaned towards that to make me happy.

Creeping Along

So, I'm glad that I called the passport office again today. I got to put in ANOTHER application this afternoon. I really want to be angry at the guy; but considering that he is doing the job of 3 people right now, and has been since February, I mostly just feel sympathy for him. (Mostly.) When people are overworked they make mistakes; and he has been quick to fix them when they arise, and willing to work with me even to the point of letting me have my documents shipped to his home address to be sure he got them!

This shouldn't delay anything, really. I should still be flying out May 4. Assuming nothing ELSE goes wrong. Knock on wood. (No seriously, knock on wood: maybe if enough people are doing it, it will be like Tinkerbell coming back to life. Only this time the fairy is a giant government bureaucracy).

In other news, this is from the blog's statistics page (among lots of other items):

Pageviews by Countries United States 60 Japan     8 Germany 1 France    1

Pageviews by Browsers Internet Explorer   (40%) Firefox  (30%) Chrome  (20%) Safari    (7%) Mobile Safari (2%)

I have to say I am excited about the readership - although I don't know who I know in Germany - but I am disappointed that so many of you are using Internet Explorer. So sad. Do yourselves a favor and go download Chrome or Firefox right now. (Safari people, you have amnesty because I will probably be getting an iPhone soon, against my better judgment!)

I haven't been able to convince Alec to make a post yet - I count it as a victory that he figured out how to send me a picture email from his iPhone - but from what I understand today (Wednesday, Japan time) he is going to be buying our car! I hope he picks something good! :)

Cleaning Up

As far as I know, Alec's plan for today was to get checked in with all the various places he has to check into; and to attend a housing brief and see about applying for housing ASAP.  I will let him fill you in on that, or I'll make another post if I get an email. The only two things I managed to get out of him between jetlagged naps were that (1) as soon as my passport is processed and I get the number I can get my flight booked, and as soon as my flight is booked Alec can apply for housing there and find out in a few days what's available for us on-base; and (2) that he got to meet his boss(es) and start working some, the upside of which I guess is that the sum total of leave days taken for this move is lower, and he gets to stay busy (as if that was going to be an issue with a move to a new place!)

I am having our apartment professionally cleaned. Which is an adventure in itself - I'm not used to letting people do things for me, even if I've paid them to - but it is totally worth it to me. We learned our lesson last time moving out of the place in Beaufort that as much as I am a stickler for clean, I would never get it right enough for the apartment manager(s) to be happy with it. I am already impressed that this lady is, like, cleaning all the baseboards, and doors, and little cracks in the shelves, and behind/under all the appliances. Like, wow.  That totally makes it worth $175, plus being out of the house with Ginger most of the day.

Still no word on my passport, although I expect it will get completed by the State Department either later today or sometime tomorrow; and it's possible (although unlikely) that I'll have it in hand in time to fly this Thursday. However, as mentioned, it is not likely to work out that way so I've been looking into hotels in the local area. Since I'll have Ginger with me, this narrows the search quite a bit. And it actually looks like staying at the Base hotel is the cheapest option.
[EDIT: I still can't get a clear answer out of anyone about whether they accept pets but I think the answer is "no" in which case I can get a super-cheap Motel 8 type place and kennel Ginger, or stay someplace nicer with a one-time pet deposit; whichever is cheaper.]

In the meantime, we're just "camping out" on the living room floor, watching hulu.com - which it turns out does work in Okinawa - and reading library books (well I am; Ginger mostly sleeps), biding time until we're all reunited again!

The Deal with the Delay

So everyone is aware of what's going on with Alec's flight, and with me:

We woke up at 3 today for a 6 a.m. flight out of Baltimore, but when Alec
checked in he found out that SATO had reserved but did not pay for the
tickets flying out this morning, and they would not deal with us outside of
business hours, even through their 24-hr. emergency line, so he called them
to try and fly out later that morning on a flight from Baltimore. Unfortunately it
messed up things with Ginger because of the way they have to reserve space
for her; so while we ate breakfast we decided she should go out with me
since I'm not in such a crunch!

They finally got in touch with us around 8, and could only put him on a
direct flight to Tokyo out of Dulles at noon today (which was quite a drive!)
Fortunately that actually got him to Tokyo and customs sooner than
originally planned. But he arrived on Okinawa at the same time,
on the same flight as before, landing Friday afternoon local time.

At least knowing all the intricate details, now, of how things can get
screwed up at what points and by whom, I will be able to make sure my own
ticket is all paid for (and they know I am bringing Ginger) once I get my
passport, contact MARDET and SATO, and get confirmation of my flight at
some point in the hopefully-near future. I put in a new expedited application Friday morning.

He did manage to get an iPhone (they are the thing to get there, apparently, because they have good internet plans!) And he set up a mailing address. It should only take as much shipping as a standard US address, but will of course take longer to get to us. 

Pourteau, Alec
PSC 557 Box 205
FPO AP 96379 - 205

I will keep you posted as developments, er, develop.
Love,
Rav

Written in Tokyo, Waiting for a Plane

(Alec wrote me this in the airport between Tokyo and his flight to Okinawa)

The US airport that you will take off from will work pretty much the same as always, you'll just be in the "international" lines.  Make sure that you clarify with the PetSafe people where you will be doing the processing of Ginger on the front end and how you can confirm her tracking if you have domestic connections (to make sure she got on the plane with you).Oh, you can get yen at the airport stateside (I got 40 bucks worth), but they charge you a 10 dollar fee on all exchanges under $500, and they have a shitty exchange rate, so that only came out to like 2,000 yen and some change back.  I think it is worth it to have that with you though, because you will be hungry and thirsty when you get to Japan.

The flight to Japan is LONG.  They will give you customs forms to fill out.  Just fill them out to the best of your ability.  You shouldn't need to declare anything on there, but read the instructions carefully to be sure.  you'll have plenty of time, and it should still only take a few minutes.  I watched the new Sherlock Holmes in part, and then re-watched it so that I could fill in what I missed the first time.  I read for a while.  I ordered drink and tried to pay, but found out that they were complimentary.  That wasn't advertised in any way, because I think they didn't want to encourage people to order who wouldn't if they had to pay, but just a heads up to you.  There was also a sweet map feature that let us track where we were on the flight plan on our  little screen.  We flew north from DC over new york, the northern wilderness of Canada, Alaska, and the Bering strait before coming south again and landing in Tokyo.    FYI, Tokyo is only 13 hours ahead, while I believe Oki is 14.  And what's the deal with airline food?  It was gross, and not nearly enough of it.  I would bring some with you.


When you land in Japan you will exit the plane and follow the signs that say "domestic connections", etc.  You will walk straight through an area that is for health screening (just for sick people to be quarantined, I think), and then go through immigration, where you will present the customs documents you filled out on the plane, plus your passport.  Then you will continue on to the baggage claim, which includes a "pet information" desk, or words to that effect labeling it.  It is also marked with a brownish squirrel and a red parrot looking symbol.  It is next to the animal and plant quarantine area.  There are luggage carts laying around for your use.

After you get your baggage (and the Ginger, I believe), you'll go through customs, where you literally just walk through another line, with your checked bags and show them your passport and give them the document that you didn't give up at immigration. 

After that, you'll continue to follow the signs for domestic connections, walk through some doors, and and baggage reps should take your bags and the ginger, which you should have loaded up on one of the free carts available at baggage check.  Talk to the ANA reps on the phone ahead of  time, as they may want you to do all of your baggage and Ginger checking at their checkin desk, which is further down the terminal as  you follow the signs for domestic connections.  Do not mistake the multiple "baggage information" desks for the check-in and baggage check desk.  I think that they're just information portals/ traps.  Many of the ANA workers and reps speak English and are very helpful, however. 

As you move through the terminal you should see screens like in all airports with the arrivals/ flight numbers, and you can use that to see what gate your connection is in and make your way there.  you'll have to go through security again, but it should be pretty quick.  From  plane landing to terminal waiting it took about 50 minutes for me, including walk time, getting bags, and everything.  When you get to the terminal you'll see that they're just gates that busses pick you up at, and maybe drive you to the plane?  I dunno, I'm still waiting.  I bought what I think was a green tea energy drink and some sticky fried rice that they microwaved for me for 650 yen.    And now I'm waiting!