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
Here you can follow our adventures in "turning Japanese" as we experience Okinawa!!
22 April 2012
20 April 2012
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!
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!
09 November 2011
A Complete 180
Are you sitting down. If not, do it; we have some pretty big news.
No, I'm not pregnant :-p
Last Friday Alec's company got their unofficial web orders for duty stations after TBS and other schooling. We were slated to go to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, so we started looking for places. But, Saturday at the ball, another lawyer in his platoon informed us that he was supposed to go to Japan, but his wife was expecting their next child and they would be unable to make the trip together as a family; additionally one of their three dogs couldn't fly because of breed restrictions. So, the two of them conspired, put in a hardship request with the SPC, and as of today it is official: Starting April 29th, we are going to Okinawa, Japan for 3 years!!
What does this mean for the wedding? Well, hopefully nothing. Ideally, we can still plan from long distance, and fly back Space-A (free between air stations) to Texas.
I'm encouraging all of our family members to get Skype, as it is free, intuitive, and a life-saver for long distance relationships.
This is a very exciting development!! Stay tuned as it progresses :)
No, I'm not pregnant :-p
Last Friday Alec's company got their unofficial web orders for duty stations after TBS and other schooling. We were slated to go to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, so we started looking for places. But, Saturday at the ball, another lawyer in his platoon informed us that he was supposed to go to Japan, but his wife was expecting their next child and they would be unable to make the trip together as a family; additionally one of their three dogs couldn't fly because of breed restrictions. So, the two of them conspired, put in a hardship request with the SPC, and as of today it is official: Starting April 29th, we are going to Okinawa, Japan for 3 years!!
What does this mean for the wedding? Well, hopefully nothing. Ideally, we can still plan from long distance, and fly back Space-A (free between air stations) to Texas.
I'm encouraging all of our family members to get Skype, as it is free, intuitive, and a life-saver for long distance relationships.
This is a very exciting development!! Stay tuned as it progresses :)
03 August 2011
My Other Family
I swear this isn't a bigamy post; but I have one partner and 8 wives.
I remember life in the corporate world. I remember seeing the secretary more often than I saw my own bed. I understand many marriages exist where both husband and wife see one another less per day than they are at work.
But at least they come home.
Some days, some weeks, some weekends, some months, we don't see our Marines. We can't count on anything approaching a regular work schedule. So we schedule time with each other. Today someone said, verbatim, "We are each other's family for this month. All we can plan on is that we can't plan to see our husbands on the weekends. We need to just plan to see one another."
It's true. The wives, husbands, and significant others in my Marine's company have become my family; a motley family of mostly women and small children and dogs. We have lunch together, we help one another redecorate, clean, take care of kids and pets. We have game nights, weekend tea, movie nights, and random pool time.
Because everybody needs somebody; even a woman with the perfect partner may still need a wife. Or eight :)
I remember life in the corporate world. I remember seeing the secretary more often than I saw my own bed. I understand many marriages exist where both husband and wife see one another less per day than they are at work.
But at least they come home.
Some days, some weeks, some weekends, some months, we don't see our Marines. We can't count on anything approaching a regular work schedule. So we schedule time with each other. Today someone said, verbatim, "We are each other's family for this month. All we can plan on is that we can't plan to see our husbands on the weekends. We need to just plan to see one another."
It's true. The wives, husbands, and significant others in my Marine's company have become my family; a motley family of mostly women and small children and dogs. We have lunch together, we help one another redecorate, clean, take care of kids and pets. We have game nights, weekend tea, movie nights, and random pool time.
Because everybody needs somebody; even a woman with the perfect partner may still need a wife. Or eight :)
05 May 2011
the Military Spouse
My email was read on air on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" today, during a programme about Military Spouses. As usual, though, when compressing thoughts into soundbytes, a lot is lost in translation.
As I do my errands throughout the day, the beginning verse of a poem I hope to write keeps floating through my head:
She* is more than just her husband's support structure. The title "dependent" is undeserved. To be a military wife takes a certain attitude, a lot of self-sufficiency, independence, emotional fortitude, capability and confidence. I've been (I'm ashamed to admit) surprised that the women I meet are some of the strongest women I've known. And, just as servicemembers commit themselves to serving others, military spouses must share that same sense of service. I guess that's what I wanted to convey with my comment.
I don't know if that came across or not, but I hope so. I want people to know that women in this situation don't just wear "Navy/Marine/Army/Air Force Wife" tee shirts and put flags on their cars; but that they are real people, strong people, and they have a full-time job (whether they work or not) in supporting their spouses and their families.
And all of that without a support structure of their own. Military life means moving; a lot. Finding work for a few months' time is almost impossible; leaving your family and friends behind every time; locating new grocery stores, doctors, veterinarians; pinning down new apartments or homes to live in; enrolling children in new schools. Imagine all the hassles of a major move, every 6 -12 months.
Even for those who don't suffer a deployment, life in the military is trying. A typical day in our household goes like this: I make his breakfast and pack his lunch every morning, make sure his uniforms are clean and pressed and ready to go, give him a haircut once a week, remind him of upcoming deadlines and dates. During work hours, because servicemembers can't take time to handle basic errands such as contacting banks, landlords, medical offices, etc. which can only be handled during that time of day, having a spouse who can do these things helps. After that, I clean up the apartment, fix things which are broken, do the shopping. At night, I serve supper when he gets home, help him do physical therapy and prepare for work the next day.
We're lucky if we have an entire weekend together ever, as he is frequently called to work on Saturday or Sunday, also. Most weekdays Alec leaves the house by 0700, some days as early as 0500; and most days he is home around 1800, sometimes as late as 2200; and once a month he doesn't come home overnight at all. And that's not even while he's training! I can only imagine the strain on families where the spouse also works his/her own job. Then throw kids into the mix. It takes a lot.
FYI, tomorrow is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
*Spouses of servicemembers are overwhelmingly women, although there are undoubtedly males in the same position
As I do my errands throughout the day, the beginning verse of a poem I hope to write keeps floating through my head:
My husband is a Marine; but he is more than merely a Marine. He is a partner, a lover, a brother, a son, a friend, a person.The same should be said of "the military spouse."
She* is more than just her husband's support structure. The title "dependent" is undeserved. To be a military wife takes a certain attitude, a lot of self-sufficiency, independence, emotional fortitude, capability and confidence. I've been (I'm ashamed to admit) surprised that the women I meet are some of the strongest women I've known. And, just as servicemembers commit themselves to serving others, military spouses must share that same sense of service. I guess that's what I wanted to convey with my comment.
I don't know if that came across or not, but I hope so. I want people to know that women in this situation don't just wear "Navy/Marine/Army/Air Force Wife" tee shirts and put flags on their cars; but that they are real people, strong people, and they have a full-time job (whether they work or not) in supporting their spouses and their families.
And all of that without a support structure of their own. Military life means moving; a lot. Finding work for a few months' time is almost impossible; leaving your family and friends behind every time; locating new grocery stores, doctors, veterinarians; pinning down new apartments or homes to live in; enrolling children in new schools. Imagine all the hassles of a major move, every 6 -12 months.
Even for those who don't suffer a deployment, life in the military is trying. A typical day in our household goes like this: I make his breakfast and pack his lunch every morning, make sure his uniforms are clean and pressed and ready to go, give him a haircut once a week, remind him of upcoming deadlines and dates. During work hours, because servicemembers can't take time to handle basic errands such as contacting banks, landlords, medical offices, etc. which can only be handled during that time of day, having a spouse who can do these things helps. After that, I clean up the apartment, fix things which are broken, do the shopping. At night, I serve supper when he gets home, help him do physical therapy and prepare for work the next day.
We're lucky if we have an entire weekend together ever, as he is frequently called to work on Saturday or Sunday, also. Most weekdays Alec leaves the house by 0700, some days as early as 0500; and most days he is home around 1800, sometimes as late as 2200; and once a month he doesn't come home overnight at all. And that's not even while he's training! I can only imagine the strain on families where the spouse also works his/her own job. Then throw kids into the mix. It takes a lot.
FYI, tomorrow is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
*Spouses of servicemembers are overwhelmingly women, although there are undoubtedly males in the same position
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)