Miss us?

Our wonderful vacation to the States is coming to a close and the reality of returning to Okinawa is starting to set in. We've had a great time and Olivia has been a traveling trooper the entire time. I need to write about Olivia's first experiences here and post some pictures. Maybe it will happen in San Francisco. Maybe not. But hang in there, loyal readers. We will have something posted soon.

Surprise!

We left Okinawa earlier than planned. We are in San Diego until Sunday afternoon. More details to come.

Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday Benny! 29 years young ....

Five for Fuji

There is a Japanese proverb that goes: He who climbs Fuji once is a wise man. He who climbs it twice is a fool.

After months of dreaming of hiking Fuji-san, the day came. We met up at 5am to avoid the Saturday workday traffic for our three hour drive to Fuji. We parked, then got on the shuttle bus for the one hour drive to the 5th station.



Alas, we had arrived to start our big hike. But where was the trail head? I felt like I was at a ski resort than I did at the primo Japanese hiking destination. I felt my first true "pack out what you pack in" as there was not a trash can in sight, even with all the vendors around. So I tucked my tuna/cracker mix container under a rock until we came back down Fuji. No I didn't, but I did do something that still makes me cringe. I put in in a ziploc bag next to my clean thermals, socks, snacks, and water in my pack for the next 24 hours. Thankfully the ziploc bags didn't leak a drop in my bag.



As we started our hike, we started to second guess the outdoor recreation guide's advice that the mountain would be "very crowded because of the Obon holiday." The only thing we saw going up were long faces going down... and we were still in the the trees. "I hope I don't look like that tomorrow on our way down," I declared. We've only just begun was the humble response I received from my fellow hikers, there is a lot that can happen in the next 24 hours.

For some, the altitude sickness kicked in. Thanks to some moleskin early on, the back of my foot below my Achilles had no blisters to report. This hike was definitely not a race, it was about a slow and steady pace to keep the heart rate and breathing in check.

Part of the Fuji experience for most is buying a wooden hiking stick and collecting stamps (for 200 yen each) at the various huts along the way. The sticks come in a variety of sizes, with optional bells and flags for a bit of flair. I started out with one, but I preferred my Leki hiking poles too much. I had observed a close call of a hiking stick attached to the back of one guy's pack almost take out an old lady - that's when I gave my stick to a French boy who's sister was in the French Navy and who's Dad took our picture. I opted for the short stick instead. Actually two short sticks since I ran out of room for more stamps on the first one.

I don't anticipate any problems with any troublemakers, but the Fuji sticks might become what the wooden spoon was to me growing up (just kidding).

We arrived at the Edoya hut, our destination for the night at 3pm. After a quick nap, it was time for our curry dinner. The after dinner entertainment was trying to cram as many people in the hut as possible, almost like trying to fit the Volkmann family in the brown station wagon. Cross you arms as if you were using sign language to say "love." Then lay next to ten other people, everyone touching the shoulder of the person next to you, and try to sleep. Even after two NyQuil, the zzz's weren't coming. Especially after the alarms started going off at midnight - we thought we had two more hours to sleep.

We were dead wrong. In our last two hours of trying to sleep, a least a couple hundred (if not a thousand) people started the final 1200 meters to the summit.

The picture on the below is what it looked like when I looked up the hill, and down the hill, in the dark with all the headlamps.

This is what all those people looked like in the daylight.


Will Benny be a fool? Find our later this week, as we continue "Five for Fuji." Here are some more pictures from the hike.

land⋅lub⋅ber (noun)

Showtime of 4:45am means arriving in the dark in order to catch the sunrise while heading out to the fishing hole. Not everyone was there at 4:45, but this operation didn't call for the punishment of missing a movement (article 87 of the UCMJ). Our punishment was non-stop mocking for the poor ensign.

We drove out of the port on the Blue Fin and caught the sunrise over the White Beach Naval Base, and were off into the blue yonder.

The Blue Fin claimed its first victim 15 minutes into the ride out. No later than 30 minutes into the trip, another landlubber (; an unseasoned sailor or someone unfamiliar with the sea) was checking out the other side of the boat. After 45 minutes on the water, I asked what time we'd drop our lines. "About 7:30" replied the Captain. After a double-take with my watch, I realized that was another hour way.

With two of the nine onboard already getting sea sick in the first 30 minutes, I knew this wasn't going to be a pretty trip.

By the time we'd been fishing about three hours, seven of the nine had found themselves feeding the fish without the bait provided by the captain. We headed in earlier than planned, for the good of all who were suffering.

All in all, everyone caught about 3-4 fish, including this wahoo that was landed on the way back in to the port. At least the trip ended with all smiles.




Coming from salmon fishing trips on Lake Michigan, I knew I had to bring a big cooler. The captain started cleaning the fish when we returned to the port, but most of us were ready to head home. With the light catch, time needed to wait for all the fish to be cleaned, and the excuse that I was leaving in two days (to be off Okinawa for a month) I was perfectly happy to bring home only this slice of tuna. It made the best sashimi we've had in a while.

Purple pants, Yogurtland

We have been lucky enough to find a wonderful high school girl Brooke to be our regular babysitter. Brooke came highly recommended from my book club friend, Meghan, who teaches honors classes at the high school on the Marine base.

In May Brooke and I did a trial run where she would come home with me after work and take care of Olivia while I did the laundry, dishes, etc. Once Brooke felt comfortable with Little O, we moved on to monthly date nights.

The first time we did it, I was the crazy mother, checking my cell phone a million times during dinner. At 8 p.m. I called Brooke to make sure that Olivia had fallen asleep. (I'm always concerned that Olivia is going to turn into devil baby once Benny and I walk out the door.)

Two Saturdays ago, I was happy to have our date night before Benny left for two weeks. He traveled to mainland Japan for a work conference -- that included hiking Mount Fuji on Saturday. I'm sure he'll be blogging about that either today or tomorrow.

Back to the date night, so it is so strange being without Olivia. She is with us all the time (or so it seems) that when she isn't there, I'm not sure how to have a meal without a bottle in my hand or shaking a rattle in front her face. It's scary how motherly I've become in the last 5 months.

So first we headed to Satto, a new favorite Japanese restaurant with homemade tofu and organic Okinawa cuisine.


Then we stopped by Uniqlo, a clothing store that can be best dressed as The Gap of Japan. I had went there earlier in the week, shopping for Benny's birthday and had a few things in mind for him.

No, the purple pants were not on my shopping list, but they are very popular for men and women here. Along with capris for men. But Benny won't do it.

Instead we found a new golf shirt for him. It's nice for him to shop in a store where everything is Benny sized.

I'm not so lucky. I swear the women's clothing is for children, not grown women. Here is the only thing that fit me in the store.

I also picked up some leg warmers for Olivia. I'll post photos of her wearing them soon.

For dessert I passed on cheesecake to go check out the hugely popular Yogurtland, frozen yogurt shop, that opened July 3 in American Village.

Brooke, the 16 year old babysitter, recommended it. You feel your cup with frozen yogurt, and toppings. The cost is per weight. 200 yen for 100 grams doesn't sound like a lot. But grams add up fast and Brooke said she once had dessert there for 1,500, equivalent to $16.

Benny kept me in check and we shared a bowl for 800 yen.

We loved it and can't wait to go back. It looks like Yogurtland will be a staple in our date night adventures.

Newest Volkmann

It happened so fast. Olivia was the youngest Volkmann grandchild. She evened out the score between boys and girls to 3 a piece. And then last week, she was replaced as the baby of the family.

Benny's brother Jon and his wife Kelly welcomed Samuell Cole into the world. He was an early arrival by a few weeks. I guess he wanted to make sure that he was a month old when Olivia visited him instead of a week old.

Mommy, baby and big sisters are all doing well. Oh and Benny wants me to point out that Daddy Jon is doing wonderful.

Welcome to the family Sam!

Uncle Bob's Birthday

Now that's something I can drink to ... Happy Belated Birthday Uncle Bob!