This is where we now call HOME! WOW Japan! How crazy is that! It has been four weeks since we stepped foot into another country. And let me tell you something.....when we traveled off base we were definitely hit with culture shock. I think it helped that we wanted to come here but I have to tell you it has been an adjustment for us all. For me I can't just hop in the car and go shopping to Target or Walmart or go out to dinner and eat Cheese Fries.....AMBERRRRRRR....I miss our shopping and eating!! WAHHHHH!!! No but really that has been an adjustment. I think this will help us save LOTS of money so hey when I come back to the states a huge shopping spree will be in order! :) For the boys it hasn't been so much of a culture shock but they have had a little bit of a harder time adjusting to a new school and being so far away from their friends in SC. I don't blame them though b/c I miss my friends in SC as well. Matthew though has really just truly enjoyed it. He is such an awesome kid and for a teenager having to move half-way thru his freshman year this kid hasn't missed a beat. THANK GOODNESS for the small things right?! So as I said in our last blog it didn't take very long for us to get a house on base. And we were SUPER lucky to get a 4 bedroom "renovated" townhouse. Having three kids and a dog helped us out....along with it not being the busy PCS season. The hard part was finding a car quickly. I wanted a cool japanese looking cube car but all we could find was a van. Guess what....for $2400 I really don't care. haha. This will be the FIRST and LAST time you will see this woman driving a van though. And if/when I get a job I might just upgrade to a cool japanese looking vehicle. The SOFA driving test was pretty easy. I have to brag....I missed ZERO questions on my 100 question test and I think Justin missed like 5 or 6 on his 60 question test. Just goes to show who is the smart one. "THIS GIRL" No really though I'm glad we were both able to get our license. Now learning to drive on the wrong side of the road and on the wrong side of the car has been an adjustment. You go to get into the wrong side of the car and turn on your windshield wipers when you want to turn. It all comes with the territory though. I think we've both got the driving part down pat. So with the house, the kids in school, Justin back to work, and me looking for a job these first few weeks have flown by.
Out and About: Well we've ventured out a few times and each time it has been pretty cool. The major thing we just did was we went to the Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle this past weekend. You pay to cross the bridge and go up this ropeway tram and walk the castle grounds and go up into the castle. It was just beautiful and amazing if you ask me. It was nice to walk around and see some of the cool sights. Of course Mr. Andrew has to complain the whole time about walking and being bored. Maybe we should've left him back in Missouri with his grandma. :) Okay just kidding but really even though he was complaining we all still had fun. After the bridge we made our way to this place called the Chicken Shack. We had heard all about it and after getting lost and ending up in a rice field we finally found the place. We had to take our shoes off and sit on the floor to eat our food. It was the most japanese type place we had been to. I have to say that I was a little overwhelmed by all of it. I thought at any moment I could've burst into tears b/c it is really hard to adjust to people not understanding you and trying to convey what you want to eat. They did have an English menu so that made it a little bit easier. It's all about just going with it and we are getting better at that as we go. I've had two ladies take me out into town on shopping sprees to grab some things and show me around a little bit. They have made it so much LESS scary for me and I'm very thankful for that. I was able to try out this amazing Indian restaurant called Ganesh and I fell in love. YUMMY. I visited what they call a Daiso or 100 Yen store....kinda like a $1 store but cooler. They seriously have EVERYTHING. I love it. And me and Justin have found the "Home Depot" of Iwakuni called Nafco. Now he can continue to make me awesome stuff! :)
Other STUFF: So we are still waiting for our stuff from the States. We were able to pack an express shipment with some stuff but we are still waiting for our beds, clothes, kitchen stuff, etc. They gave us loaner furniture so that's nice and helps BUT I am so ready for our regular stuff to get here already. Hopefully in the next few weeks. That will give me something to do at home while everyone is working and at school. :) I've applied for a few jobs and I'm hoping to hear back for an interview soon. One job is with Marine Corps Family Team Building where I actually worked for in SC for the past 3 years so I'm hoping that gives me a leg up on the competition. I would be the Family Readiness and Deployment Support trainer. It's a job I would LOVE to have and I know I would be great at it so that's the job I have my fingers crossed for. I've also decided to go back to school for my Master's degree. I've thrown a few different options out there but for now I'm really interested in going to MU for Human Development and Family Studies. It would fit perfect into what I love doing and that is taking care of other people. :) Now hopefully I can get some grant money and scholarships b/c my pocketbook doesn't like the pricetag very much at this moment. :) Other then that we are just truckin' along in Japan. We plan on doing and going to a lot of places while we are stationed here in Japan. Justin's hours at work have ROCKED and it is nice having him around more now that we are done with the drill field. Hope you enjoyed the blog and pictures. Keep on the lookout for the next entry and here is our new address if you want to send us any goodies. :)
Love the Carr family
Our Address:
The Carr Bunch
PSC 561 Box 1307
FPO AP 96310
