Oh, Did I mention we are back in Japan?

Thanks Mom, for calling me a slacker...:-)

So yeah, we have been back in Japan for like three weeks now.  I may have forgotten to mention that since I have not updated since we evacuated.  Sorry 'bout that.

In other news, We are back in Japan and glad to be home.  The trip stateside was an unexpected bit of fun of course.  We stayed ~3 weeks in New Jersey with Jon's parents.  The kids were thrilled to see the older cousins three whole times during our trip!  Plus they met and played with the baby cousins too.  Which they loved, but the elder two are the same age and hence more exciting (sorry Jeff, yours will grow:-)  As an added bonus we also saw Great-grandpa Cies (Dadju) and the extended family on the Greek side (for Greek Easter, which means yummy food!)  We also had a mere 5 days in Illinois with my family.  There was a wonderful family gathering for Good Friday (one of the traditional extended family celebrations for someone I am sure) and there were much loved cousins and chickens to play with.

Alexandra was 'homeschooled'.  We went with the unschooling method of learning for the most part, but threw some math and time and writing in there for good measure...also that girl can consume some chapter books!  You would never know she could not read in October.  Thor was on break from school for part of it, but really he is in PreK/Kindergarten and we like Waldorf methods where academics don't start until 1st grade anyways; conveniently this is the same philosophy the Japanese follow.
The plan (HA!) was to fly to NJ, stay a couple weeks, fly to IL stay until recalled, then fly back to Japan from Chicago (since that is the layover).    In reality after being told it would be a week before departing, we had two days notice that we were being evacuated voluntarily departed. The flight to NJ was on March 29th.  We still figured a couple weeks there and then to IL for the brunt of the evac. departure.  We stayed an extra week in NJ so we could be sure to see all the cousins and I bought a one way ticket to Milwaukee for each of us for the 25th of April.  Since the layover between NJ and Japan is at O'Hare, Jon confirmed that we could depart to Japan from Chicago and just do the first leg on our own (no additional cost to the gov).  Instead the week before we left to IL the DOD announces they are bringing the departed home by the 2nd of May.  That sucks since it significantly cuts down on time in IL, but those are the breaks.  During the hubbub of paperwork Jon has to file and refile they decide that we have to fly home from NJ...they don't want to cut out the leg of the flight and on and on and on blah blah blah.  So here we are getting ready to go to IL, having to decide if it is worth it to fly out on Monday, fly back on the weekend and then fly to Japan, though O'hare, on Monday.  Could Jon convince them to fly us from O'hare, is it worth the hassle, do we pack to fly to Japan for a quick trip...lots of angst and all.

Net net, there was another set of one-ways purchased, We went to IL, the kids and I saw the lovely Detroit airport (nice one btw) returned to NJ on Saturday, drove ~3hrs for Greek Easter on Sunday (and back again) and then flew to Chicago and then Japan on Monday/Tuesday.  Fairly annoying, but it turned out well in the end and hey, more stories to tell.

It was great to spend unexpected time with the families and we did enjoy the trip.  I wish there could have been more time in Il, but at least we saw everyone at least once! (BTW I wish I had said it at the dinner table, but thank you so much to my Parents and Siblings, neices and nephews, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins who  skipped Good Friday service to come and have a family dinner and see me and the kids. I was so thrilled to see all of you and love you very much.  Being so far from all of you is the only downside to marrying a man who earned a degree in Ocean Engineering.  {{{hugs}}})  (Sorry for the sap trap there).

The plane ride home was long, but the kids did sleep for a portion of it and watched Shrek for the first and second time, so that was fun for them.  There were lots of women and children on the return flight, but many others returning home or visiting Japan.  Though the plane was tight, it was heartwarming to see a full flight of people headed to Japan.  Once we landed my gallant husband braved the Tokyo traffic to pick us up and drive us home.  I say that not really in jest.  There was another mom I talked to who, after landing, had to wait another 3 hours for the base bus transport because her husband was scared to drive the hour to Narita airport.  Seriously?  Man up!  Plus going straight home instead of adding another leg to the trip was really nice.

Just want to mention that there was a huge rushing sound there for about two minutes and the rapture did flash through my mind, but I think it was just some drag racers.  At any rate I am still here, so either I'm not going or it did not happen.  Not to surprised either way:-)

Back to the story.
We are home.  The kids are back in school.  Thor is now a Kindergartner, A is still in 1st grade.  Io is desperate to go outside whenever her siblings do.  The weather is currently lovely, but it is suppose to rain all of June.  Not having Daylight Savings Time is odd.  The sun rises about 4:30am and sets around 7pm.  It is strange to wake up at 5am and have the sun already up, it makes me feel late.  We missed the cherry trees blooming, but saw the wisteria and azalias and now it the time of Iris festivals.  The house still has no dressers, but we do have a couch and carpet and tv now.  I love it all except the tv.  The tv-less time in the house was so nice...no begging for shows less fighting and screaming.  But now there is Disney again a couple times a week so all is well in my children's world.  On the plus side Io mostly ignores it so I don't have to worry about her getting any screen time. 

We had an awesome day at two nearby parts the weekend of my B-day.  First was the Sledding park, there is a big hill with plastic grass holders on it.  The city loans out sleds that the kids can (hey!) sled down the hill on.  It is great fun for all.  There is also a skate park there.  We brought A's scooter with and she went on the park (not sharing with T).  Jon bought Thor his very own scooter so now they are rockin' the skate park with all the other kids.  Then we left there and went to Kanazaki Park.  It is like a state park with a beach and trails amphitheater and various things.  We hiked 20 min to the short slide park.  It was up-(steep)hill the whole way, but so worth it.  The playground set is about 1/5th of a mile long and leads to these slides.  The slides are made up of a series of many small rollers, aka like the old conveyer belts that dad moved the green bean boxes on.  There was a web-like trampoline and a climbing wall for kids.  Way Awesome.  There is another play area with longer slides that we may hike to soon...it is another 15 min past the first one!  The walk back down was short, especially with the kids whizzing down on the scooters :-)  I had to go back up and find T's dropped jacket, but that means a quiet walk back to the car during which I was able to examine all kinds of plants.  They had jack-in-the-pulpits growing right along the trail, and ferns galore and beautiful trees.  Very nice.  By the way, informational signs found on trails are not nearly as interesting if you cannot read them, but we stopped to try anyway.

Hmm what else...things are generally back to normal in Yokosuka.  Everyone is trying to conserve power, so fewer lights on in homes and stores, but AC mostly won't be an issue for a couple weeks yet.  The base commander seems very surprised that usage is creeping up...perhaps due to all the families that are coming back???  Sigh.  Fresh produce is still available they test it and certain areas may no longer produce.  I hate to think of the farmers who have lived on the land for generations being told that their soil is toxic and they may no longer farm.  Land is so \precious here...where can they go?  It is the story for anyone who owns land in the evacuation areas, but so much more for the farmers who have more than a house lot and really know their land. 

The air and drinking water are clear.  I worry about the seafood, but the kids and I don't eat it much anyways and none of us, Jon included, are fond of the filter feeding clams and such.  It is clamming season here,  there are kits for sale in the 100yen shop.  I would love to take the kids out to try it, but feel guilty collecting if we won't eat them.  Perhaps we will go and just give them to some one else. 

There have not really been earthquakes since we returned.  I have only felt one and it was small.  A worries about it, but she seems to be able to put the worry aside and play with the friends.  One benefit to the evac. is that many families have not returned yet.  They are finishing the school year state-side, so her class is down to 16 kids, one of which is a neighbor boy whom they are fond of.   I finally had the parking spot certified.  I had a whole day at home today (except for kid pick-up).  Jon is on a trip this week, but returns tomorrow (Saturday) presumably with local honey.

We are getting back to normal.  It is a relief.




Things I have noticed in Japan.
1.  They do have buttons are some of the cross walks (standing around for 10 minutes gets you looking for such things)
2.  It is a HUGE complement to tell a native speaker that they speak English well.  They never believe you.
3.  Everyone sweeps the street in front of their homes, and scrubs the stoop (guess who was chastised).
4.  You really have to watch when driving since a car may be parked in the driving lane along almost any curb.
5.  American kids are really loud, I was actually shocked to hear a Japanese toddler throw a tantrum.  It was the loudest noise I have heard from a native child!

PS I have seen multiple articles about this lately and would like to inform any who care that I double space after my sentences not out of ignorance (anymore) but out of habit.  Plus I think it looks nicer.

On the Flip Side...of the Planet

So we are back in your neighborhood, at least in that we are most likely on the same continent and possible the same time zone.  I received word from Jon Thursday night (Mar 24th) that we would likely be leaving this week, Wed.  to Friday. It was nice to have a solid time table.  I went through the luggage and unpacked a couple of things, reorganized a bit and relaxed with the knowledge that we did not have to be on call to get up and go.

Then I got a call from Jon Friday morning telling me we were leaving Saturday morning.  Hmmm…  At least he called before we had left for the train station and our adventure.   Instead I sent the boy out back to play and repacked everything.  Again.

Luckily the wind had shifted Eastward and the air was safe again.  So the two eldest children went out to play after school, soon joined by baby and me.  They got out the wiggle and finally had some fresh air, saw some inu friends (dogs) and played in the universal language of kickball. 

Jon’s work command arranged for a bus to move evacuating departing SRF families to the airport Saturday morning, and there was room on the bus so he joined us for the ride and killing time at the airport.  We left at 11am Saturday.  Killed the time, said goodbye to Daddy, who caught the train home, and went through security.  Everything was fairly painless and we boarded our plane for the 6:05 pm departure.  The kids slept most of the time and watched a movie, we had salmon and noodles for dinner and pizza for lunch(?) with a sandwich in the middle.  We then landed at about 3:40pm, Saturday at O’hare Airport.  The lovely staff helped to get my numerous carry-ons, carseat and stroller off the plane (in part because I was holding them up), helped us to get a ride on the big beeping cart, smoothed our way to baggage and customs and wished us well.  We received a free luggage cart (in Ohare!!!) and collected the baggage just in time for a huge line of spring breakers to be headed into customs, but I with my stroller, luggage and three kids was diverted to the no line area;  a “we just evacuated from Japan” and a wave through got us to the handy baggage check-in point for connecting flights.  That was where my lovely parents popped out to surprise the kids and I and provide an escort to security for the connecting flight.  Plus some brief quality time with (and treats for) the grandkids.  Thanks Mom & Dad!

     We hopped though the security line (after removing Ioanna’s shoes and ours…no shoe removal in Japan btw) and had a treat of McDonalds for dinner(?) and boarded a mostly empty flight to Newark where we landed at about 10pm Saturday.  We had another lovely flight crew escort us and our carry-ons off the plane and down to the main area where a delighted A & T greeted Poppy.  We made it to the house by 11:30 pm where a pot of meatballs was waiting to greet us.  Yay Yai Yai!

All told we left 10:30am Saturday from our home in Japan and got in 11:30pm Saturday to the current home in NJ.  3 suitcases, 1 stroller, 1 carseat, 8 carry-on, and the children, one of which counts as a carryon seeing as she walked nary a step and I had to heft her the whole time.   The carseat and heaviest bag were in the stroller.   That was the longest Saturday of my life, about 30 hours if I am doing the math right, but I am still a bit jet lagged, so no promises.

So Jon is bach-ing it in Japan with all the other DOD Geo-bachelors (single by reason of the family being far away).  The men are petitioning the base captain for rights to the general mess so that they can feed themselves somewhat well.  Barring McD’s, the mess is the only place open on a regular basis and it seems many men don’t bother to put any time into meals for themselves.

     The radiation level in Yokosuka is going up and down, depending on the wind.  Some was found in the water (one of the three city sources so plenty of clean water still available).   No word on when the families will come back, but they are still trying to settle everything out so that is understandable.  We are roughly planning on 30 days plus processing time.  In the mean time we will hang with the grandparents and play outside in the freezing cold weather.  

I have my old phone reactivated so if you have my Florida number (904) you can give me a call or e-mail of course. 

Current plan:  New Jersey for 2 or 3 weeks, Illinois for the remaining and then home...Japan

So much for radiation exposure

Not to say that we want to go to a Ball at the Nuc. plant, but I am now not as concerned about the exposure.  My lovely little girl whom I am trying to protect from a higher likelihood of cancer in future years just received a head CT.

Zap.

We made brownies late last night and, in order to prevent burns from the big bad oven, I put Ioanna in a high chair with arms and pulled it up to the counter so she could not fall forward.  Instead she stood up and just fell off.  Flat on her face with a nice big bump on the temple.  She took the longest breath I have ever seen (I may have too), cried a second then snored (really) and passed out on my shoulder for a couple seconds.  Then she woke and screamed some more.  Jon got home just then (thank goodness) and decided to offer her a cookie to see if she would vomit (sigh).  Instead she watched the many pretty daddys circling around her, at least she really did not realize what the cookie was, or could not pick which one to grab at.  So off to the ER we went.

The nice thing about an ER visit during an evacuation departure...no wait!  There was one unlucky little girl there with a badly broken finger and us.  Io was very quiet for a while and then became quite giddy (at 10pm when she is usually quite grumpy if she is not in bed).  With the passing out, the giddiness, the height of fall and the bruise location, the doctor recommended a CT scan to check for bleeds.  Since the alternative was waiting for her to pass out and hence suffering further possible brain injury (with the hope she would not) I decided to go with the CT.

Zap.

So my kids are playing outside this afternoon.  (Actually the radiation levels have gone down and the base nuc. guys said it was safe enough.).  If she does get cancer later in life I can now blame it on bad parenting instead of natural and unnatural disasters.  At least I was able to put her to sleep for the scan so she was not sedated.  Yeah me!

Otherwise here is the current update.  DOD families are now cleared to leave, our paperwork is in and we are now waiting on orders which should come soon, today even.  We will see.  We are now likely to fly into New Jersey, but with no tickets I still cannot say for certain.  Jon is essential personnel and will be staying in Yokosuka.  Amusingly he was in charge of picking a team to go south to Sasebo and fix the ship we moved down there.  The selected Japanese gentlemen were happy until they found out Jon was not going down to be in charge.  Nice to know they like him. :-)  The ships are now gone so he is working normal-ish hours again, mostly doing paperwork.  The kids are actually seeing him before we go, which is very nice. 

Alexandra started back at school on Tuesday.  One classroom of first-graders of about twenty kids.  No homework and no 'teaching' just lots of playing, which she needed.  Many of the teachers have evacuated.  A's teacher did, but she is early on in a pregnancy, so she rightfully went soon after the radiation was detected.  Other teachers just left, which they are not suppose to do.  The teachers are essential personal, just like Jon.  They are not suppose to leave until the base is evacuated (or at least all the dependents are).  Right now we are have a voluntary departure and the teachers are suppose to be here to teach the children still here.

The main reason The Man okay-ed the departure was to clear out young (under age 2) children and expectant mothers.  (Also so shrill housewives would not be distracting their husbands with phone calls during the emergency.) It was not due to danger to adults.  There is still a commitment to the remaining students.  But some teachers have remained parents have been asked to step in and together they will keep the remaining students a-learnin'.

As for Alexandra, I was thinking of enrolling her in a school while we are gone, but since I don't know how long that will be and since we wish to do some traveling while we are stateside she is being homeschooled for the next month.  Thor graduated from preschool and is suppose to start Kindergarten on April 8th; they said they will hold his spot for our return.   (At least I think that is what they said, my translator left the day before.)
He has a orange hat now and is very proud of it, it is much better than the yellow hat.

We are packed and ready to go.  I even repacked everything.  I may repack the carry-ons again just because it is that fun.  All the chairs are lying on the floor so dizzy little girls do not fall from them.  Instead she can just trip over them like her mama.  I am trying to empty our fridge just enough to leave Jon with a usable amount of food but I have pretty much run out of meal ideas plus I have a hankerin' for some sushi so we may go out tonight.  The kids will probably get fried chicken, you know because that is what you go to the sushi joint for (actually they have killer fried chicken and french fries!)...  or maybe we will try a ramen joint...  or maybe both, the portion sizes are small here!

You may have noticed I spoke fairly little about the ship deployment and such...sorry I have bunches to say about that, but loose lips sink ships and whatnot.  Just ignore whatever sensationalist crap CNN has to say and you should have a basic idea of what is going on around here. 


Oh and for those of you wondering, the brownies are quite tasty.  Due to maternal guilt Ioanna has had some  and loves them!  Also, I have not yet found out why the Japanese man was in my friends apartment.


We'll be seeing some of you soon and sorry to miss the rest of you!

At least the Plum Blossoms were pretty

So Everyone hears about the cherry blossoms blooming in Japan.  Beautiful, relaxing, peaceful, blah blah blah.
  What they don't mention are the Plum Blossoms.  They are so pretty and everywhere and very unique looking and have their own festival.  Best of all I actually get to see them!   I have waited so long to go to DC and see the cherry blossoms and then made it to Japan first and now it seems I will not be seeing them still.  Next year I will see them.  Oh yes, I Will See Them.

The news as of now is that "voluntary  departure" has been authorized.  That means that the Navy will be evacuating departing non-essential civilians.  First go the military families then the DOD Families.  I am not sure how long it will take to get anywhere, one to five days?  I am also not sure where they are sending us to, but it is a 30 day min. evacuation departure.   I was thinking of enrolling Alexandra in a first grade somewhere, but now I think I may just homeschool her for a month or two.  That way we can take advantage of the unscheduled time stateside to visit both sides of the family.

Have I mentioned that the navy can run a war but not an evacuation.  Maybe that is a good sign, maybe it means we don't retreat much.  Either way I am disappointed and my confidence shaken.  Not that I ever counted on The Man to fully protect us, but it would be nice if The Man could make up His mind and #### or get off the pot.  (Sorry for the #### just a bit frustrated).  I understand that the sailors and the ships and then the relief mission are top priority.  That is as it should be, but a nice little "we assessed the situation and you are currently safe.  We will start our relief mission and then work on the base issues" would have been nice and gone a long way towards keeping the shrieking housewives happy.  What do you expect the wives to do when there is no information except what is seen on the news (when we can understand it) and there are young children at home and husbands leaving with very limited warning.  The Navy wives are used to that last part, but usually the threat to the family is not there...except ya know the typhoon in October and that whole N. vs S. Korea stand off...but still.

So we hang out inside, bags packed and waiting.  I just saw on Facebook that they are changing bag limits to 50 lbs for an adult and 30lbs for kids, but only if you are going to a specific airport.  So I would like to know...do you really expect me to repack and remove things and just how am I suppose to know what airport you are sending me too if you don't tell me squat???

Jon we be in Japan at least through Monday and then he does not know what to expect: perhaps a trip to south Japan, perhaps stay here and catch up on paperwork, perhaps a jump across the drink to the west coast. He is super-important so he gets to stay and be irradiated for a bit longer at least.  Lucky boy!  I'm glad we have skype though.  You old people had it hard with the letter writing and phone numbers with city names in them, good songs though...no offense of course:-) really!)  Man, now Pennsylvania 6-5000 is in my head...punishment for the above I suppose.  Sorry.  We are lucky to have all this technology (hmm but that does include nuc. plants a whole different blog)

Me, 2 Kids, 1 Baby, stroller, carseat, 3 checked bags, 5 carry-ons....Its an Adventure.  Perhaps we will see Korea or Germany or Washington State who knows a hanger in Bahrain?  Well, that may be unlikely.  What other disasters are waiting for us...I don't know if I can stand the excitement.  I 'm gonna go knock on some wood now.

tootles