Today was a busy one. Josh and I started the day dropping Thomas off at daycare. He cried for a minute but we stood outside the door and waited and he calmed down pretty quickly. I think he really liked the Japanese caregivers. They are so happy to be with the children and they just went straight to playing with him instead of babytalking him to calm him down. It worked wonders! I'm so proud of him, and of me. That was really hard.
We went to our Newcomer's brief, which was half informative and half boring and useless. We had briefings from probably ten different people, on everything from medical care to water safety, to a mini Japanese lesson. We also got a TON of papers. So much information. I'm really excited about the classes offered on base. Most are free and have free childcare as well. I'm totally down for a Japanese class or two.
The brief went until about 1pm, and I literally couldn't feel my butt when we got up. Here are the basic things I learned today.
1. I can't win. If a national rear ends me, it's my fault. If I do anything to annoy, or injure, even an accident I will be in big trouble, and very possibly sent home. I basically have no rights. It's guilty until proven innocent.
2. The ocean is deadly. Don't be an idiot.
3. The road is made out of coral, and is therefore very slippery.
4. The marine corp has the highest rate of suicide in all branches.
5. A DUI here is .03
6. No one is moving to Guam until 2014.
I think that's what sticks out the most.
After the briefs I had to take my license test. It's just a written exam and I had made flashcards so I passed. I was the second one done, which was great because by the time they had processed my license there was quite a line waiting just to turn in the test. Josh was proud of me. I'm proud of me. He can't get his license yet because he has to have a package approved through his command before he can even take the test. We got home and decided to go look at some cars. We bought a Toyota Raum, but we have to wait for Josh to get a license to actually register it so they gave us a loaner car. I was NOT expecting to have to drive tonight. I had a knot in my stomach like you would not believe.
It is so weird driving on the other side of the road. It's my instinct to stick to the left, but if I do that I'm throwing Josh into traffic. It's so foreign. I kept hitting the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals. We did make it home in one piece though. I'm sure in a month or two it will be second nature and then I'll be nervous about driving in America.
We're going to see another apartment on Friday, and I think it might be the one. It's a three bedroom which would be really nice.
I'm finding a lot of strength within myself that I didn't know was there. In general, my life has been very comfortable and routine and easy. It's none of those things here, not yet anyway. It's very empowering to discover how much you can handle stress wise.
Alright, enough with the cheesy emotional babble.
PS, Dad, I can use coupons here up to six months past their expiration date....so if you wanted to send me any...I wouldn't say no, lol.
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