Scatterbrained in Okinawa.

Day 1 (I guess)
It feels like a lot of days all mashed together.
I'm not going to ramble about the massive headache that was the process of getting here. Long, nauseating, exhausting....LONG. The end.
We made it. Our sponsor was waiting there for us and they have been great since then as well.
One note about travel....smoking rooms in airports with cigarette vending machines. You sure don't see that at home!
Okay one more note. We got to Osaka and I had to go to the bathroom so badly....only to walk in and find a squatter toilet. I wasn't sure how to use it and being all scrunched down like that while trying to balance and not pee on myself was just making me feel even worse than I already felt at that moment. I later discovered that all of the bathrooms had regular toilets as well.

So first thoughts.

It was night time here so I couldn't see much. It just looked like a lot of cement and neon lights. Everything is so narrow. From the people to the cars and roads, and just everything is small. We're staying at a hotel that is basically a set of apartments and all of the furniture is so low to the ground. It's actually perfect for me in that respect though I imagine a regular size adult would be uncomfortable.

Admittedly my first thoughts were marred by exhaustion and hunger. I had more than one crying episode throughout our travels and at one point was sure there were suicide bombers on the plane.

But after four hours of sleep...damn that jet lag...we woke up around 4:30 and waited for the sun. It's strangely beautiful here. It's so lush and green, full of hibiscus flowers and weird (HUGE) bugs. We can see the beach from our balcony! Although hopefully we'll be in our base house soon.

We took a walk this morning before the sun came up. There is so much I've noticed but it's hard to process it all. There's just so much new going on in my head that I don't know what to write. We've seen more vending machines today than I have in my whole life. The sewer covers are pretty. We've been buying food and drinks based on the pictures they have on them.
We're not really sure what the cow and the wine glass carton was.

The people here are beautiful, and a bit strange. We walked past a man in nice clothing....who was peeing into a bush. It was getting onto his shoes. I hope that isn't normal. I've seen a lot of surgical masks. The vast majority are extremely polite and almost all want to touch Thomas' hair. He is not a fan of the attention. When we walked to the beach we saw the normal, runners, dog walkers, artists...but also sword practice and meditation. Josh found skinks and snails and crabs and all manner of bugs for Thomas to check out.


Okay. I feel like this is rambly and all over the place but that's how I feel. It's overwhelming and culture shocking but hopefully we'll adjust well.

I have to get a license before Josh because he isn't allowed to drive out in town for 30 days....I'm terrified. This whole other side of the road thing freaks me out!!

Luckily our sponsor and her husband have been really helpful. She is a no nonsense mama and I feel better knowing that she is helping us. We have a housing appointment on Monday and our Newcomer's brief on wednesday.