CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
If you've gone anywhere on Okinawa, then you know that it can take awhile to get there. Sometimes even just making the drive from Kadena to Foster can be a half hour adventure, depending on whether you time those lights well or if you've decided to make the trip during the Friday afternoon rush hour.
But...
Editor's Note: Thanks to Tamara for leaving the following information in our comments. Sachi's was closed down but appears to have reopened. Here's what Tamara told us:
"Sachi has moved her antiques from her Nago store to her new location in Urasoe. She is located near Camp Kinser off of 58 (updated directions at the bottom of the post). The...
CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
The weather seems to have changed from crisp mornings and breezy nights to just humid. If you live off-base, you probably have at least one Japanese Air Conditioner. Its bad enough learning how to read the Air Conditioner Remote, let alone maintaining your salvation from heat and humidity.
I noticed that there were periods of time when the...
CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
A couple of weeks ago I received the above invitation from my friend (and next door neighbor) Michela. She throws the most creative parties I've ever seen; I couldn't wait to see what she had up her sleeve this time! Upon reading the invite I knew I was in for a treat:
Before I have a PCS...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
This week's post is a stretch for me as I don't spend much time in places such as these! My partner-in-crime, Dasha, was so excited to share this post idea with me and I couldn't resist her enthusiasm. See, for those of you who do not know me, grocery shopping is not on my top 10 list...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
We’ve still got a year to go, but recently my husband received an email from his detailer (Navy speak for the person who gets you your orders) saying he should start looking at “the list.” And as I got to thinking about my friends who are PCSing this summer, some STILL without knowing where they are...
CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
Last spring when Sebastian came home with a tiny looking medical "something"- I wasn't sure what it was. Hmm...I opened the small envelope, and pulled out a cellophane wrap that looked like this:
I was still unsure as to what this would be used for. So I finshed opening the rest of the paperwork and I saw these...
CONTRIBUTED BY STEVEN SABALAN
{Editor's Note: This post was originally titled 'Todokori-no-Taki', but we have since discovered this is actually Tadake Falls. We've renamed it accordingly. Thanks!}
This week, I want to tell you about a place that would be about the halfway point in your trip to the northern tip of the Island from the central/southern part of the island.
I’m...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY GARCIA
Crispy breadsticks!
Hearty Pasta!
UPURAYA!
Upuraya is a good gosh darn restaurant--one I'm adding to my rotation of regulars. For even on a gloomy day when my body and soul felt like a wadded up kleenex, it provided me comfort--in its homey atmosphere (aahhh...the warm glow of the fake fireplace); its rich and satisfying food; and that most...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
I seem to be on a roll in finding cute boutiques to shop in lately and this one is no exception! You smell this store before you get to it and it's an aroma that instantly draws you in, along with their front window display. There is no shortage of creativity on this island when it...
CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
In a community, confusion and frustration is common during times of change. A positive outcome of these feelings is unity in finding a common goal. On April 1, 2009, the Kadena AFB phone service changed to Verizon. The common goal during this change is learning the new system.
I've embedded the links which I though would be most...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
One of my favorite stores in the states is White House/Black Market. I loved it because shopping there was an experience - the clothes were fun to try on, the dressing rooms were fabulous, the service was great and I always received compliments on my purchases. The store and the staff made me feel like I...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
I kept her from seeing her midwife. While she was in labor. Course, it was my midwife too, and we were just chatting about when my overdue baby was ever going to arrive. When I finally left her office and went down to the waiting room to meet my husband, this pretty woman breezed past me....
Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an off-base house that has not yet been...
CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
A year ago, I was fortunate enough to be serenaded by a lovely student, and his three-stringed instrument, the sanshin. Sanshin in Japanese actually translates to "three strings". If you have heard the sanshin (it's sometimes played in Jusco) you'll certainly recognize the *dink* dink *dink* like sound.
Unfortunately, I was not able to record my student-...
CONTRIBUTED BY STEVEN SABLAN
Kohgoh Sekirinzan (also known as Asumui) is located in the mountains at the very northern tip of the island.
If you’re standing on Hedo Point looking out to the ocean, do an about face and look up to the mountains – that’s Asamui.
Asumui is an Utaki, or ancient Okinawan prayer site. The place is notable not only...
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
Call it a purse, a tote, a hand-bag or a pocket book. Whatever you call it, it’s the accessory that we hold near and dear to our hearts! I even spent over an hour in the BX a few weeks back carrying around a purse and a laptop bag with the hope that one of the...
Here is our WATER winner. Meet Abby Izor.
Here's HOW TO JOIN THE PHOTOGRAPHY FUN!
Next week's theme is SPRING. Submissions due before on Friday, April 24th before midnight in Okinawa. Tag your submissions with Spring, 4/27/2009.
CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
The transient lifestyle can bring out the handyman and interior designer in all of us. Creating the perfect home for our family to make the best of what we've got can be challenging enough when half of our belongings are in storage. Then throw in cement walls, a strange sink contraption and a weird hose and we've...
CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
Interacting with horses like Sprite and Coke helps kids with disabilities
Hippotherapy actually has nothing to do with hippos, and everything to do with horses, as the Greek word for horse is hippo. (Bonus points if you knew that hippopotamus means "river horse".) Hippotherapy means literally horse therapy, and according to the American Hippotherapy Association:
"...promotes the use...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
She’s a nurse. A brilliant job choice for a military spouse. A career where jobs are available everywhere, right? Well... everywhere except Okinawa.
Carmen explained to me that while it is possible for spouses to work in civilian nursing positions at Lester Hospital, openings are limited. They did hold a job fair last fall that she attended...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
A few weeks back the fam went up to the Aquarium for the day. Unfortunately, that day was a Tuesday which meant that my craving for Pizza in the Sky was doomed to failure (raise your hand if you've ever driven up there and THEN realized it's closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays). So, I went with plan...
CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
The smell of new pencils. Crimson leaves and shiny lunchboxes. One pair of guess jeans versus three pairs of Jordache. Big decisions. All the memories of a new school year in America. But, did you know that the Japanese school year actually begins in April? My son's sensai (teacher) claims that many Japanese people associate springtime with "a...
CONTRIBUTED BY STEVE
A relatively short ferry ride from Tomari port in Naha, Zamami is part of the Kerama islands. It’s a popular dive/snorkel/beach destination in the summertime and the main place from which whale watching tours are launched in the late winter and early spring. The round trip fare will vary depending upon which ferry you choose, but keep in...
Editor's Note: Did you know there is a little café inside this store? We have a post all about Honey Café here. If you're looking for breakfast or lunch, check out that post. But if you simply desire some honey, read on below!
CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA TRAQUAIR
Their name means Chinese Kanpo Medicine but what it means to you is the sweet...
Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an off-base house that has not yet been...
This post was originally published on April 5th, 2009; we're republishing it today in honor of the little ones who live this military life right alongside the rest of us!
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
My two children are still very young. My little guy knows nothing more of the military other than where we live is exciting because we get to watch...
CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS
Coffee, coffee, coffee…….. that’s what usually resonates in my mind about, oh say, late afternoon. That’s about the time of day that I really start to drag and feel the effects of my usual energy-sapping, task-packed mornings. I could never adequately describe to anyone exactly what it is that I do each day, as no two...
CONTRIBUTED BY DIANA MIDDLETON
My dear friend Julie had to add pages to her passport (yes, I know, poor thing) and my other dear friend, Inanc, highly recommended this restaurant near the embassy. And that's how it all started! Kerebekki--that's the name of this fabulous restaurant (which means "Butterfly" in Turkish)! If you're looking for authentic Turkish food (or even...
CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
It's a rough life living on an island. Temperate climate, lovely plantation- and the surrounnding ocean views. It's no wonder that Okinawans are some of the longest living people on earth. I previously posted an article about a book that explained the Okinawan Program. One unique aspect of Okinawan life (that is a stark contrast to...