okinawa hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY My parents flew into Okinawa from Seattle a couple of days ago and since, we’ve been meeting and greeting relatives.  One of my aunts asked me if I get lonely without my parents and sister around.  Of course I do.  But the sting of loneliness is easily relieved via my computer.  I [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KIMBERLY MITCHELL Who can tell me what this is: If you live in a typical Japanese style house, you may have a washing machine without a hot water hookup. I spent our first 6 months here wondering why the stains weren’t coming out of my clothes. Then I realized that it was only [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY One sister for sale! One crying and spying young sister for sale! I’m really not kidding, So who’ll start the bidding? Do I hear a dollar? A nickel? A penny? Oh, isn’t there, isn’t there, isn’t there any One kid who will buy this old sister for sale, This crying and spying [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY This is a Japanese dish dryer.  After doing the dishes by hand, the wet dishes are dried by hot air set on a timer.  This appliance is such a tease.  It says, “Wash the dishes?  What do you take me for?”  By far, the thing I miss the most is having a [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY Living in Okinawa is a different experience for everyone.  However, a common theme that I’ve noticed from listening to people is that the simplest things about Okinawa can have a notable impact on their overall experience.  Not how hard it rained throughout a weekend Okuma trip. (Been there!) Nor sitting in the [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY For so many of us here on Okinawa, keeping up with the latest episodes of some must-see-TV helps to ease the twang of being thousands of miles away from home.   Is it that dreamy guy wearing the stethoscope that lights your candle?  Or does the sleuth in you yearn to solve the [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY Sofas and Tables and Dressers OH MY!  Thanks to Tara, Aviva, Nikki and Lori, all of the lovely pictures of government furniture are available for your voyeuristic pleasure!         So how much furniture should I bring or ask for if I don’t know how many rooms I’ll be authorized?  [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY When I got the call from my husband, who was TDY, that we were PCSing to Okinawa, I couldn’t have been more excited.   As some of you know, my mother was raised here, so for me, hearing that I’m about to live in her hometown for three years is like a kid [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY Military life is filled with bittersweet moments.  Making great new friends at each location means saying goodbye to those friends when PCS time arrives.  Our lovable “To Live” editor, Lan, has reached the end of her tour here on the Island.  She graciously introduced me to the OkinawaHai editors and creator who [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JULIE BROWN Do you live on base? Need lightbulbs? Screws? Baby safety gates? FOR FREE?? You need to check out Eagle hardware. I’m a military newbie so I was especially surprised to discover Eagle Hardware on Kadena AFB. It’s a hardware store for folks who have on base housing. They supply basic essentials [...]

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