A recap of week one in Oki

We survived our first week in Okinawa, or Oki as our American friends call it.

What do we have to show for it? I'm not sure exactly. Sometimes I feel as though we are making great strides in putting down roots in this foreign land. Other times I feel like we are spinning our wheels in the mud.

The major accomplishment: we bought a car. So now we have transportation and can drive both on and off base. It's nice to have that sense of freedom returned to us. When you try to live without a car, you begin to appreciate how nice it is to have one again. I have to admit Benny was pretty giddy when he was driving off base for the first time yesterday.



As far as an apartment, we are still getting there. I've lost track of how many apartments and houses we have viewed at this point. Same goes for meetings with off-base housing agents. It's all a blur.

Today we continue the hunt with another agent. Maybe she will have the special place that the V-Team has been looking for, but hasn't found yet. It's even hard for me to describe what I want to a housing agent.

I want the price to be in our budget. We want a patio or yard where we can barbecue steaks and hang my hammock. We would love to have a garage or storage area to keep our camping and snorkeling gear.

Sunshine is a good thing. I like windows and open spaces. I don't mind Japanese appliances. I want something with a little personality or Oriental flavor. I don't want to feel as though I'm living in the United States. I want to sense I'm living in Japan. I want to picture Benny and I hosting our friends for dinner or tea in this place.

I want a place we can call home.

Everyone here tells us not to rush the process. It takes time, they say. You don't want to rush this, because once you move into a place, you can't move again. And three years is a long time to spend in a neighborhood or apartment you dislike. But the fact that the military housing authorities threatened to cut off our temporary lodging allowance at the end of the week adds to my feelings of insecurity.

Besides the financial reasons, a sense of urgency is felt on my part. I want to put down roots and unpack boxes and cook in my own kitchen. I want to be surrounded by my things again. I want to have more clothes to choose from besides those that are in my suitcase. I've been wearing those for the last six weeks. If I had a home I would feel a sense of normalcy in this country. Then I would mentally understand that we are permanently staying here. My mind would realize this isn't a vacation.

The house I want we can't move into at this point. The housing office at Kadena Air Force base has to inspect it first. If it passes the inspection on April 16, in theory we can move in by the 18th or 19th. If it fails the inspection, the housing agency has a week to fix the house before the inspectors arrive for a second time a week later. If that happens, we won't have that house until May 1.

This whole process can be frustrating at times, but I'm trying to stay positive about the whole thing. I'm trying to ignore the deadline cloud looming over me. I'm trying to take this experience for what it is and live it, not fear it or dread it. Enjoy it. Feel it. Experience it.

My favorite part of this adventure has been the people. Each and every person we've met has been welcoming and so sweet to us. I'm hoping that these moments of kindness can develop into lasting friendships. Regardless I'm grateful for every smile or piece of advice.

The same goes for each and every one of you. Thanks for reading, giving feedback and keeping a smile on my face.