On The Move

Here we are, sitting in the concrete jungle with only 10 days until the flight out. I can not express how ready I am to leave. I feel like we have taken advantage of many different sites and attractions in the last 3 years. We've done some twice, even. Starbucks, a few times more than that...but who's counting?
There are a few things I will miss, however. And here, I will list them for you. All you prior and current Okinawa Dwellers will appreciate these things I'm sure, as you others won't have a single clue what I'm talking about...but still read it, cause I would be sad if you didn't.
1. 100 Yen Store
This place is AWE-SOME. You can't even begin to compare it to a dollar store either. It has nice stuff, cool toys, and even some pretty decent dishes. But most of all I will miss the plastic bins, and baskets for the kitchen and bathroom. Now I have to stop before I start crying.
2. The Bunny Store
This place didn't really mean a whole lot to me when it was just Ethan. But when we found out that I was having a girl, it's the first store I went to and I loaded up on adorable, cheap, Engrish clothes for Hannah. I can't walk out of there without a bag full of stuff!
3. Driving Offensively
How could you not miss being able to pretty much run red lights, go around people that are too slow and parking where ever you feel like(sidewalks included)...I mean come on. And as long as you have your flashers on, everything's ok.
4. Laughter=Apology
In what other place could you giggle and have the natives completely understand that you are sorry?
5. Safety
The days of sending your 3 year old to the park while you catch last nights Oprah are over.
6. Coffee Casa, Hearth Cafe, Jakkepoes, oh dear, any cute cafe with awesome coffee over by the seawall or anywhere really...
This needs no explanation except, maybe, mmm, banana pancakes.
I just might cry with this next one.
7. Cocok's Pedicures
Your 25 minute leg massages, the hot towel wraps, your tiny glasses of sweet green tea with little woven cozies, and most of all, the adorable nail art all for an affordable 30 dollars. I will miss you my dear friend.
8. Nice people
Sorry U.S., but you lose on this one.
9. Affordable Childcare
Cherry Blossom preschool taught my son more than most kindergarteners know plus some Japanese language. And I didn't have to break the bank at all.
10. And Finally- The Limited Selection at stores that teaches you to settle on things.
It will be very overwhelming to get back and see an entire grocery aisle dedicated to different brands of cereal. It will also be overwhelming to see that no where else "runs out" of dairy products for days at a time. Yogurt whenever I want?! Wow.

So, there are the cons to leaving. Well I wouldn't call them cons, just little things I'll remember that were nice. But it's definitely time to go. We are looking forward to getting back to the states, buying our first home, and settling into Tennessee living.
Thanks for the good times, OKI, hopefully, we'll never cross paths again...

Sayonara!

SHOPPING!!

It seems the only thing keeping me from hating this place these days is all the new retail stores going up!  Catherine and I discovered the new home store Nitori with a Bed Bath and Beyond atmosphere about 2 weeks ago.  It's awesome!  Great prices and great products.

But today, my friends, I have hit the mother load!!!!

"Max +" (or Max Plus, for symbol challenged)  and "The Grace" Home Stores

WITH! A "Kids Place" or Kids room"  I can't remember the name now, BUT!  These 2 places are very Ikea-ish and the Kid's room is next door.  I talked with a Japanese sales woman in one store who informed me they take children from 3-9 and watch them for you while you shop!! OMG!!  They have little tables and chairs, a big stack of climbing mat's and a projector that shows 3-D movies!  I considered going there myself!  Sounds like fun!

The Max Plus has everything you could think of, cool accessories, home decor and even a small kids section (with it's own little play mat for the chillins).  While the "The Grace" offers a more swanky shopping atmosphere with dimmed lights and english background music, retailing home furnishings.

Here's the kicker!  Both places have little cafes inside of them!  Downstairs you will see a cute little coffee cafe, and upstairs is a restaurant called Soup Soup!  There is inside and outdoor seating available.

These places are newly built right next door to that already neat little store called OK! Furniture to go on 329.

Directions:

Take Legion Gate road all the way to 329, turn left.  Just up the road on your right you will see this American sized building with OK! and MAX + on the side!  Parking is spacious in front and basement parking is also available.

YAY!  This place gets more and more like the states everyday...

I Feel the Earth. Move. Under my Feet.

..I feel the sky tumballin' down.... (Carole King)

Ok, so maybe it wasn't that bad, but still, an earthquake is pretty darn scary!

Ethan and I were enjoying the 329th viewing of CARS, when all of a sudden it felt like someone was picking up the couch.  I literally thought Louie was somehow moving the furniture (his whopping 10 lb.).  I looked over to see the leaves on my plant trembling.  The entertainment center was still wobbling for a good 20 seconds.  It doesn't sound like that long, but sit still, count to 20 and imagine the whole house being rocked back and forth for that long.  It was kind of frightening.  I grabbed Ethan (who had no idea of what was happening) and pulled him toward me.  Louie ran in his crate.  And Hannah, well she was sleeping and she continued to sleep.  So I guess it wasn't that bad.  Paul called just as I was checking on her to see if we were ok.  He was at work and said all the keys on the filing cabinets were jingling.  I walked into the kitchen and my corkscrew that's hanging from a hook under the cupboards was still swaying side to side.  I have a felt a couple other ones since we've been here, but this was the longest by far.  One in the apartment, that was just a big thud and I thought someone had ran a car into the building, and another while in labor with Hannah.  That one was more intense seeing as we were on the 5th floor of the hospital.  So, there you have it, an earthquake, totally blog-worthy news.

Read about it here.

Oh, and Hannah's sitting up. :)