CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Kaho's Japanese Corner: Sayonara/Mata or Ja, mata/Mata-ne
This is not going to be my last time to post since I would like to post about this hair salon that I went recently. This, however, is going to be my last official post, I think. I'm writing to say "sayonara" (sa-yo-nah-la) to you all. Sayonara means "Good bye" or...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Welcome to the final episode of this PCS. Feel free to remain on the edge of your seat.
On Friday, we board a plane with Maltsby and head home via Tokyo and O'Hare. Apologies in advance to the United flight attendants and any of you that may be on our flight. We are a living, crying, gasping...
CONTRIBUTED BY JEN PRESTON
Today, I'm sharing one of the Seawall's best kept secrets. Okay, it's not that well-kept, but it is one of my favorite evening rendezvous spots. Uroko Cafe. Uroko's is just next door to the ever popular Transit Cafe (another fantastic place to get a great meal and cocktails). Uroko's is a bit more hidden,...
CONTRIBUTED BY DANIELA
Remote, white sand, how I long for you. I am determined. Google Earth is my best friend and off we go.
I heard about this beach. Envied my neighbors that went diving from the beach! I have to go there.
Memorial day weekend and the German in me is surfacing once again; I have an itinerary!
We leave about 9:00...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELLYERACE
On Monday, I thought I was going to be uncharacteristically diligent and write my post a couple of days in advance. Here it is though, Wednesday night, past 9 pm and I am just now taking my place in front of the computer, coffee by my side, trying not to watch "The Carrier" out of the corner...
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Kaho's Japanese Corner: Natsukashi and Mottainai
This first one is a Japanese word that Mere sometimes uses. It's "natsukashi". I love this word. There is no one word translation in English for this word. Natsukashi (na-tsu-car without 'r'-she) is the feeling you have when something brings you back old memories. It has a positive connotation, so it brings...
Editor's Note: This store changed its name to Navy Fleet Gift Shop and moved to a new location on Camp Shields in 2013. Click here to read the post on the new Navy Fleet Gift Shop!
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Having military gift shops is a huge benefit you have living on Okinawa. In the past two years of our stay on Okinawa,...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOE NOVARIO
This is Joe.
Meredith is not available this evening due to PCS stress or something or another. I didn’t really pay attention to the reasons. Instead I began to develop my list of demands for writing this post for her. So far these things have been demanded:
1. A glass of water. Not VITAMIN water. Just water. I have...
CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
While packing luggage at my parents' home, before we PCS-ed to Okinawa, I remember my mother meticulously stuffing baby Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol and Dramamine into every available space in my suitcase.
Now, having been a military brat, an active duty member and now a military dependent, I am traumatized fully aware that rules seem to be created, then...
CONTRIBUTED BY KIMBERLY MITCHELL
We just returned from a week long trip to Tokyo and I've been sorting through my 1400 pictures and 1000 unread emails when suddenly I realized it's Sunday! I thought, well maybe I should share some kid-friendly travel tips about Tokyo with you. Then, since I'm also behind on my Okinawa Hai reading, I caught up...
EDITOR'S NOTE: We have been informed that this restaurant used to operate under the name "Niche Martini Lounge", and has since been renamed, but is still open for business.
CONTRIBUTED BY JEN PRESTON
Having hailed from Los Angeles, I have equal affinity for both the city and the beach. I can rock the stilettos or the reef sandals - each...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
My husband even loved it. Granted, he didn't get to experience all that those amazing women can do with one little paint brush (he thought that might be a little over the top), but the 45 minutes leg and foot massage just about transported him straight into heaven. "That was all right" -- HIGHEST praise from...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELLYERACE
Okay, now this is one of those places that you kind of feel guilty writing about because it is a little treasure, and you don't want to meddle with all the things that make it so endearing. So, I'll keep this post short and hope that you don't even notice it's here. And further hope that SomChai's...
CONTRIBUTED BY AVIVA
This is a fresh produce market. It's like a farmer's market with a roof over it. In addition to lots of fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs,
and fresh flowers, they do have some fresh fish, prepared foods (in the front area you can taste the goods!), toiletries, cute hand-made pottery & crafts, rice, teas, and sweets.
Outside the market there...
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Kaho's Japanese Corner: Yasai (Vegetables)
Along with the Chanpuru Ichiba (farmers' market) post, I thought that it would be fun to learn some vegetable names in Japanese.
Daikon (dye-con): daikon radish (white radish)
Horenso (ho-len-sow): spinach
Jagaimo (ja-ga-ee-mo)/poteto (po-teh-toe): potato
Kabocha (car without "r"-bow-cha): pumpkin
Kyuri (que-ree): cucumber
Moyshi: bean sprouts
Nasu (nah-sue): eggplants
Negi (neh-geek without "k"): leak
Ninjin (nin-gin as in "gin and tonic"): carrots
Ninniku...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
Our remaining 18 days are meticulously mapped out because I would much rather doodle important events onto a calendar than make decisions about what to do with this and that and this other pile of nonsense that cannot POSSIBLY be mine. I am dangerous around a garbage can in this frame of mind. Nothing at all...
CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
One of the challenges and subsequent joys of living in Okinawa are finding those solutions for simple living dilemmas - like finding the perfect rice cooker or how to put up Japanese-style curtains.
Kadena's Concession Mall (near the car care center off Douglas Ave.) makes copies of keys at the engraving store for $5.00. However, sometimes the store...
CONTRIBUTED BY DIANA MIDDLETON
Someone asked in a previous post how to travel from Okinawa to Tokyo in a more "economical" fashion, and I thought it would be a great idea for a main post. Below is a description of “cost savers” that my family has used. Feel free to chime in if you have other ideas to share!
FLIGHT
Space A...
CONTRIBUTED BY KIMBERLY MITCHELL
Can anyone help out Yuri with information on the Sure Start program?
My name is Yuri and I'm a single active duty AF mom with a soon-to-be 4 year old daughter. I'll be PCS'ing to Kadena in August and I found your site as I googled for information about Okinawa. It's been a wonderful source of information...
CONTRIBUTED BY DANIELA
I love beaches. They scream of vacation, tans, fun, drinks with little umbrellas and summer. All around a fantastic time. But nobody wants to think of the logistics; How much does it cost? Where do I park? Is it a good swimming beach? How about low tide? Can I still swim?
Well, don't fret. I am here to...
CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY
One of the greatest things about Okinawa is the opportunity to find a new little restaurant, shop, or store hiding out in almost every city block. One such new haunt for me is Sunabe Gyros. Gyros (pronounced yeer-ohs, or gear-o, depending), refers to the way the meat is cooked, on a spit upright (from the word gyrate...
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Kaho's Japanese Corner: Oishii! Oishikatta!
Many of you go off base to eat out. You have many opportunities to use Japanese you have learned! Many of you probably know this already, but here is the words for "delicious" in Japanese: Oishii and Oishikatta.
What's the difference?
Oishii is a present tense and oishikatta is a past tense.
You say oishii as...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
On Sunday I went to the commissary without my kids, a list or food in my belly. It was as close to a hot date as it gets these days. I even treated myself to a Febreze refill despite the fact that we're leaving in 25 days. If nothing else, these last days will smell good....
CONTRIBUTED BY JEN PRESTON
One wonderful aspect of Military life that I did not expect when I was dragged kicking and screaming into this experience are the wonderfully outgoing people. I am naturally an introvert... you are an alien to me unless proven otherwise... I stick to what and whom I know. Thank goodness that the people that I've met...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
I typically check this site a couple of times a day. Call me compulsive, but I just love reading all of your comments, and of course the new posts from the day's editor. So a few minutes ago (at 8:57pm) as I was waiting for Grey's Anatomy to start, I checked in again, surprised to see...
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
Kaho's Japanese Corner: Ganbatte
What does Ganbatte means? There is no direct translation for this. It means sort of a combination of "work hard" and "keep it up". I hear that some non-Japanese people don't like this phrase because people say this to you when you are challenging or about to challenge something difficult and you are already...
Editor's Note: We have a new article (published January 2015) focusing exclusively on Yomitan Pottery Village. Click here to read the new post on Yomitan Pottery Village.
CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO
In Okinawa, you see a pair of shisa sitting at a gate, outside of an entrance, or sometimes on a roof. They are the protection charm of the house. One that...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEREDITH NOVARIO
It turns out that I scream at my kids. I didn't expect to be a growling, screeching banshee. This all comes as a surprise. But not surprisingly, I feel shameful about it. I doubt confessing to you here in the blogosphere is a sound idea and tomorrow I'll probably wait for your validation or criticisim eagerly...
CONTRIBUTED BY JEN PRESTON
One thing my husband and I miss most from home is our local watering hole, Del's Cash Only Saloon. It was a no-frills, karaoke / old salty dog pub that was in walking distance from our apartment. In LA this was a major plus, as we lived in our cars. We walked in to Del's, everyone...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOELLE YAMADA
It's like stepping into a wonderland. Green "grass" covers the floor, beautiful blue sky with fluffy clouds and beaming sun cover the walls and even ribbons in rainbow colors hang from the ceiling. And there in the center of the room is the adorable alligator, filled with nobbly balls and other fun things to play with.
And...