Life is what you make it!

PCS moves, or "Permanent Change of Station", are always hard, nerve-wracking and scary! Imagine moving to a new country? My GOSH, that makes it 10x's worse! Not really, your PCS, just like everything else in life is what you make it out to be! 

I have been married to my marine for four wonderful years. In that time we never left San Diego, he deployed every other year so we missed out on moving to a new duty station. In 2013 however, that changed! We were finally leaving California and heading across the WORLD to Japan.

We went in totally blind, I read later how other people look up Facebook pages and groups that consist of other wives of the base they are heading to....well, that sounds like a super smart thing to do! Me..well, I don't always use my head! I didn't google anything, or look up Facebook pages...hell I didn't even know what base we were going to! 

We are now Stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, which is a SUPER small base in the middle of nowhere pretty much. When I thought of Japan, I thought oh Tokyo and Okinawa! Well, we are on mainland so we are not near the Island Okinawa and Tokyo is northeast-ish on mainland Japan. If you look on the above map, Iwakuni is so small that there is not even a dot with its name anywhere to be found! It's over next to Hiroshima, a little south of it. 

After arriving here in Iwakuni I quickly realized I wasn't in California anymore. It was a SHOCKER! The base is under MAJOR construction, so finding my way around without a car in the middle of summer was pretty hard. I discovered MCCS Iwakuni had a website. The website is really helpful, it lists events that are happening on the base, the weather, the services that are on the base and important telephone numbers.

WHEN DIALING A DSN NUMBER FROM A CELL PHONE FIRST DIAL 082-779-XXXX ( LAST FOUR OF THE NUMBER YOU ARE DIALING.)

Now that I had figured my way around base it was time to explore Japan! I found a Facebook  page MCAS Iwakuni Classifieds, where I could ask other people, who also live here in Iwakuni, questions about anything.

When you are ready to go out and explore Japan, Iwakuni Explorer is a good page to look up fun and interesting things to do in the surrounding areas!

I mentioned before that the base is currently under construction, so at the moment it is not exactly " family" friendly. If you check out Jessica's BLOG you can see what the base will be like and have to offer in the not so distant future! 

Are you pregnant, or trying to have a baby and might be delivering here in Japan? I was 15 weeks pregnant when we moved here. You have two options, you can either deliver out in town at the local Japanese Hospital with Dr. Shoji or you can take a nice (kind of long) train ride to Naval Base Yokosuka and stay there and await the arrival of your bundle of joy! You can check out Dr. Shoji and USNH Yokosuka for more helpful information.

Now that you have all the links to helpful websites and Facebook pages let me share with you some local and home businesses.

There is a Salon on base called Head to Toe Salon, you can find their price list here. I hear that they fill up pretty fast and that they aren't that great. Yare is a spouse who lives off base and comes to your home to do your hair, make-up and nails! You can reach her via phone or her Facebook page Space Beauty. There is also Lily at Lily's Nails. She is another spouse, but she works out of her home. Daniella Hernandez is another amazing hairstylist!

IronWorks gym offers Spa Services for massages. However, they do not give prenatal massages until you are past 20-24 weeks. I also find them to be a little pricey. Shannon at Renew Massage and Bodywork offers prenatal massages no matter what stage of pregnancy you are at AND her prices are great! She also does aroma therapy and foot massages, along with other fabulous things!

Iwakuni is a very small base that doesn't offer a lot for families. Once the base is done and completely finished it seems like it will be a lot better for military members and their families. It is definitely a culture shock once you start to look around. There will always be a language barrier wherever you go and you will got lost a time or two. 

The MCX and commissary are always running out of things, have expired items and just don't carry things that you are used to. In some cases you might have to shop at the local grocery stores. Shopping for clothes is hard, the Japanese locals are all small people so finding clothes and even shoes that fit us American's are hard to find and you will find that you are limited to what the PX has. 

There is not a Pediatrics department or any specialists. For anything other than check-ups you have to go out to the local Japanese Hospital. You will have a translator who goes with you, the Hospital was just recently opened and everything is brand new. The staff are very nice and helpful and you have everything you need there.

There also is a VERY limited maternity and baby department. You will find that a lot of things you will need you will end up having to order online.  

If you have pets, more specifically dogs, it is hard to bring them with you. You are only allowed a dog if you live in a town home and those are hard to come across. There is a long waiting list for them. If you live in a tower aka midrise then you are NOT at all permitted to have a dog, but all other animals are OK.

The CDC is VERY limited and a little expensive, there is only one in-home care provider here that I know of. It is hard to get licensed and be approved by housing to have a day care here on base. There are other options however! There are Yochiens all around the base, they are like Japanese preschools. It is a great experience for the kids and they are well taken care of. 

There are off base homes available to you, be prepared to pay a pretty penny upfront though. You need to have the first months rent, pay Realtor fee's and in some cases pay a little extra for pets. 

Any PCS is hard, having to move again. Leave friends and family, start over and begin anew. Moving to an entirely different country can be a little harder. As long as you stay POSITIVE and keep an OPEN MIND you will be able to adjust very well! Japan is a beautiful country, take advantage of the opportunity that you were given and embrace your new home! 

Let's go see the bunnies!

Bunny Island is what our daughter calls it, Rabbit Island is what the Americans here in Iwakuni call it but the real name is Okunoshima Island. I had first heard of this place through my Father, he was coming out to Japan to visit us and he had seen this place on the local news shortly before coming out here. 

I was drawn to the Island just like my dad was, because of the bunnies. As I had googled the Island, and asked others if they had been there, how to get there and what else there was to do when visiting this place I discovered that there is a dark history to the Island. 

At one point in time this island once held deadly poisonous gases. There are a few museums and a few other neat remains that were left from the World Wars. You can find information and details about the history here.

This is the remains of a bunker that was destroyed. 

The above map shows how far we had to travel. We live at point A (Iwakuni) and we traveled to point B. It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach the Island by train.

Yay, here we go! Starting off the trip to see the bunnies!

Dezmarie wasn't too excited when we first started our adventure. I think I was more thrilled than she was.

Over 3 hours on a train with two kids... hmm, that sounds horrible. They were surprisingly well behaved! As long as Dezmarie has her iPad she is content.

Noah is just the best baby ever. He loves riding the trains and being pushed around in his stroller. He is always laughing and smiling when we go out and explore Japan. 

After riding three different trains, we made it to the small ferry that takes us to the Island!

HURRAY!! We made it without any trouble, we didn't get lost and made it there in decent time. 

The bunnies knew what was going on! They are smart. 

The second we stepped off the dock and walked over to the entrance they ran up to us.

They eat right out of your hands, and come up to you and climb up on your lap and get in your face. 

OOPS! The bunny stole Dezmarie's carrot and took off.  He was running away from the other bad bunny who wanted to steal his food.

Oh hey guys, yeah I have some food. Come over and help yourselves.

YES! I found a baby bunny!!! I got it to come over and eat some yummy food and then I snatched him up!

He was so tiny and fluffy, I could have snuggled him all day! I wanted so badly to take him! I could have stuffed him in my sleepy wrap and no one would have ever known! Nick wouldn't let me though.. 

Nick made his own bunny friend! He wouldn't let me smuggle my baby bunny home but he seriously thought about taking these rabbits! 

He was so happy on the Island! He was like a little kid, I loved seeing him smiling and laughing.

The water was so clear and blue, it was beautiful. There was a light breeze but the weather was perfect. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to explore this wonderful place. Although it was quiet the journey to reach this place I would love to go back one more time before leaving Japan!

This place is a must see!

Rabbit Island, Okunoshima Island.

My dad came out to visit us in Japan to celebrate our daughters 6th birthday and meet his newest grandson! Just a few days before he came out here he saw "Rabbit Island" on the local news. He then told me it was here in Japan so I of course had to do some research and find where this place was!

I Asked around on local Iwakuni Pages and found this really neat site called,  Iwakuni Explorer . There I was able to find the link to  Rabbit Island , Also called Okunoshima Island. However, I found the Directions to BE kind of Confusing. I am a visual learner and when I was reading through the directions and didn't see any pictures I was completely lost!

I was discouraged for awhile, but when my dad mentioned the bunnies again I told myself we HAD to go. I started by going to ITT here on base to ask for a train schedule. 

Don't mind all the wrinkles, my husband had this shoved in his pocket the whole time. Anyways, we started with taking the local train here in Iwakuni (in downtown by Coco's and Andersen.) We took the JR "Sanyo line" ( Take the train heading to HIROSHIMA). The above map showed a direct shot to "MIHARA" before we had to switch trains, but that wasn't the case.

We ended up having to switch trains in "SHIRAICHI" which is where the Hiroshima Airport is. (Not sure if it was just for this particular day, or if its all the time.) It wasn't hard, we just stepped off one train (because it headed back to Iwakuni) then walked to the other side and waited for the train that continued in the direction we needed to go. 

Here are pictures of the stop that we got off at to change trains to continue on to "MIHARA".

This train station is really small and if you have enough time while waiting in between trains you can go inside, and above where you purchase your tickets at the machine, you can see a map that shows "MIHARA". Just so you can reassure yourself that you are going the right way (we were constantly checking the maps on our ipad and the maps at every stop we made). 

Once you hop on the train and arrive at Mihara you are switching from the JR "Sanyo line" to the JR "Kure line". You are going to hop on any train going to "HIRO" we were COMPLETELY confused because we had no idea that there is a place called Hiro ... we thought it was short for Hiroshima! 

OK, now that you are on the train heading to Hiro at your 3rd stop you will be getting off at "TADANOUMI STATION". This stop is right after "HONGO".

You will know you are at the right stop because when you step off the train you will be greeted by a bunny!

After getting off the train and making your way out of the train station you will see absolutely nothing that says "RABBIT ISLAND THIS WAY". Again we were confused and panicked. If you turn and walk to your RIGHT after exiting the train station you will see this map on the wall: 

.. Walk passed the map and continue straight along the road It's a short walk .. maybe 5 minutes or so to the Tadanoumi Port You will see this sign: 

Turn RIGHT just like the sign says, and follow it around a bend. You will walk over some train tacks and then come across this small hole in the wall ticket counter.

This is where you will buy your tickets.

We were expecting to see a ferry like the one that takes you to Miyajima Island ... this one ... well is kind of dinky!

The seating is enclosed and you get a nice view of the ocean! If you have strollers you leave them up top before you head down the stairs to sit down. 

This was a short ride, maybe 12 minutes or so. 

HURRAYY! We made it to Rabbit Island!

The bunnies were so cute and loved all the food and attention! The baby bunnies will even let you pick them up!

It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to get to the Island. We took three trains and a ferry, the total cost for three adults round trip was 13,620 ¥ (depending on the exchange rate its around 140-ish USD). That is not including the tickets for the Ferry ... I lost the receipt so I can't tell you how much that was. OOPS! 

SHORT FAST RE-CAP!!

Take train from JR station-SANYO LINE-(downtown Iwakuni, take train to "HIROSHIMA"). Get off at "SHIRAICHI" station, continue to "MIHARA" station. Take JR-KURE LINE-to "TADANOUMI" station. Walk 5 minutes to the "TADANOUMI PORT". 

Here we come Miyajima!

After two days of snowing, this Sunday was a beautifully day! So we decided to head out to Miyajima island. We headed downtown to catch the JR train, and there we ran into Ms. Elena and Mr. Dustin!


Ms. Elena loves babies!! She is always so happy to see baby Noah, and baby Noah loves her too!


It looks like she just saw something amazing! Haha.


After a short train ride we made it to our stop to catch the ferry to the island!


I've never been on a ferry before! It was a short ride but it was fun and the view was beautiful! This was Desiree's third time going so she was a pro and was showing dad and me what to look at!


My big girl!! No excitement whatsoever! She's done this way too many times she says.


It was kind of chilly! I should've worn warmer clothes!


Mom and dad on the Ferry ride.


I wonder what she was thinking about? Just staring off looking out at the sea!


As we got closer to the island we saw TONS of people. The day we decided to go, the Oyster festival was going on! Heck yes!! Oysters! My mom came to visit at the wrong time! She LOVES oysters and they had a whole bunch.


That there is some kind of "shrine" not sure what exactly it's there for. Nick said something about it being a gateway to the afterlife? I'll do some research and write about it!


Oh, hey! Where did this deer come from? There are a lot of deer just wondering around the island...they are sneaky little guys! They eat stuff out of your pockets, back packs and strollers!!


Nick made a friend, they had a stare down... It wanted his warm sake! Nick should have given it to him, it was too much for Nicholad! He said it was like drinking warm vodka GAG.

There was a lot of weird food at the festival and guess who wanted to try it all? DESIREE!





She is so daring when it comes to food, she tried EVERYTHING we were willing to buy and try ourselves. Here is how most of the conversations went about food.

Desiree: what's that?

Me/Nick: I don't know, just try it.

Desiree: ok! Mm, this is good!







Ok enough with the food! Let's walk around and explore this new place. We came across some crazy dance performance! It was really neat, they were beating drums and yelling!





We were on a mission to find some honey. It's not just any honey it's pretty freaking amazing honey! After a long walk, battling the deer that followed us everywhere, we found the big "spoon" that Ms. Elena said it was by.


This is I guess similar to a wishing well. There were tons of coins around a bowl on the ground in front of this. I think it's a paddle, not a spoon. You can see Desiree there in the corner eating some ice cream!



Fishies!!! There are always fish around.. Weird but pretty, I like it!


After searching for a few hours we found my honey (forgot to take a picture). Now that Desiree got to eat all the food she could fit in her tummy and mom got her honey, it was time for dad to get his Oysters! Me, Desiree and Noah sat back and relaxed while dad grubbed out! Then back home we headed!

Miyajima was super fun, can't wait to go back!