Here We Are In Okinawa, Japan

I’m a little embarrassed that I haven’t posted anything since we arrived on Okinawa on October 20^th. We have been so busy, and so much has happened, that it seems like an overwhelming task to choose what to write about and how to share our experience. I’ll try to post more regularly in the future.

We are having a wonderful experience here. Our assignment, by our choice, is for two years. By then our love for the people and the area will have grown so that it will be hard to leave. Our primary assignment is to be Military Relations missionaries. There are four branches (congregations) of the Church here serving a large English-speaking population, mostly American military personnel and their families. There are also many Department of Defense civilians and contractors. These individuals and families are far from home, and often one spouse is deployed for an extended period of time. We are finding many ways to be of service to these good people. Many are members of our church, and many are interested in learning more about our church. There is no end of opportunity for helping others, and no one more deserving than the dedicated men and women who wear the uniform of our country.

We also have a support role working with the 30 young missionaries on Okinawa. We are the only senior couple missionaries here. They are a delight and we enjoy our association with them.

Everything in Japan is expensive. The current exchange rate is about 90 Yen to the American dollar. We are very blessed that as retired military folks (Phil served a total of 27 years in the Navy, 7 on active duty and 20 in the reserves), we have access to the exchange and commissary and gas station on the bases here. Our military ID cards are worth OUR weight in gold!

Learning our way around the island has been a challenge. To begin with, in Japan they drive on the left side of the road, steering wheels are on the right side of the car, windshield wiper and turn signal controls are reversed from American cars, while the gas pedal and breaks are in the same position. Street signs are mostly in Japanese (kanji) characters, but major road signs are in English too. Streets are narrow, cars are small, and driving customs are different. Good maps are available, though learning to use them is an acquired skill. Phil has done a remarkable job of adapting to all of this and manages to drive us all over the island with ease. He even enjoys the challenge! I have been nearly hysterical with fear at times, but am learning to calm down and take the whole thing in stride…. mostly.

There is so much I’d like to share that it would be impossible to cover it all without rambling. I’ve decided to include in each post a Culture Corner where I’ll write about a particular aspect of our lives here. Keep in mind, I’ll be talking about Okinawa specifically which is not necessarily representative of Japan as a whole. Also, I’ll be sharing just our observations and experiences, which may not be universal.

Culture Corner: Plastic Food

Many eateries showcase their menu selections with plastic replicas of foods, full size and in exquisite detail. What you order will look EXACTLY like the plastic representation in the window case. It’s a great way to order if you can’t read the Japanese menu. Everything you see in this picture is plastic. To see more pictures like this one, copy and paste the link below into your browser to view my web album page.

http://picasaweb.google.com/savagetribe/PlasticFood?authkey=Gv1sRgCL39pOnv4dT15AE#