Gram

Well this post isn't exactly what I had planned so early in my blog but perhaps that is just the way God works. Colin left on cruise this past Monday. A welcomed delay as he was scheduled to leave on three days earlier on Valentine's Day but still, delays or no delays, deployments are never easy. Elin and I dropped him off at the ship at 6am, said our goodbyes, gave kisses and hugs. With this being his first deployment in four years, we were re-learning all the mixed emotions that go with it. Elin gave him a big smile and kiss and blew him another kiss goodbye. It was a big day for Elin too. Her first day of school. I enrolled her in Hoikuen, Japanese day care so we had to get home and prepare for that. As we were getting ready to head out the door the phone rang. It was my mom and the first words out of her mouth were "Well, I have some news." I knew right away, my Grandma Friberg had passed away.

9/10/17 ~ 2/16/14

Grandma, or Gram as she was affectionately called, was 96 years old and more or less the only grandparent I knew for most of my life. My grandfathers passed away before I was born and my Nana Barker passed when I was 10. I visited Gram on her Northern Wisconsin farm every summer growing up and even more often while I was attending college in Minnesota. A mother of five, grandmother of thirteen and great-grandmother of eight, she retired from her job as a cook at the senior center at the age of 85. She loved cooking for the "old people" almost as much as her extended family who stopped by the farm everyday at 5 o'clock for coffee and a cookie or cinnamon bun. She hosted a full Sunday dinner after church for as long as I can remember. Sometimes there were as many as 30 people crammed into her farmhouse for pot roast, mashed potatoes and jello salad. And pie. Always pie. Everyone loved her cooking and rarely missed a chance to enjoy it. The most humble lady I've ever known, she was more comfortable making sure others were taken care of than with any acknowledgement that might result from her actions. Despite for her distaste with having her picture taken, she was incredibly photogenic and loved hugs from her grand babies.

My shy Swedish Grandma                    

Meeting Elin for the first time!

I agonized all day trying to decide if I should make two day trip to Wisconsin for the funeral. I calculated the timing of the bus rides, connecting flights, 7 hour drive north from Chicago but when I came down with the same cold that Elin had and looked at the impending blizzard that was due to hit the midwest, I decided to stay back, despite the sweet encouragement from Colin to go and be with my family. Despite knowing it would have been a rough trip for a toddler who doesn't sleep on planes or in cars (read here if you want a taste of our trip to Japan) I regret not going, it was my chance to see Gram for the very last time. I've been talking with everyone a few times a day to get through the week. I know Gram lived an incredibly long and very full life and she touched more people than I'll ever know. She was the glue who kept the family intact.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the memorial service scheduled at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and all the stories everyone plans to share at the reception tomorrow. Gram will be severely missed but I plan to share many stories with Elin about her Great Gram so that she can understand what a great person she really was. Elin had the chance to meet Gram twice. Once last April, and another last October. They had a wonderful time cuddling with each other. There is something about babies and old folks, they go well together. Perhaps it is because they see the simplicities in life, something those of us in the middle are too busy to notice.

Pardon my creepy stare. This pic is all about these 2 peas in a pod.

Friberg Family Farm

To my family back in Wisconsin, I hope you enjoy sharing lots of stories about Gram this weekend, I wish I could be there with you all!

Matane,

Caitlyn

Castles & Oysters in Hirado.

Our second day trip was to the little city of Hirado. Hirado was recommended to us due to its close proximity, lack of toll road (always a vital statistic when planning a road trip here) and beauty. We visited Hirado Castle, a small castle at the top of a hill overlooking the bay.

As with most castles here you have to put some effort into getting to the top. Which usually means walking up a big hill and then climbing 5 or 6 flights of stairs to get to the top of the castle. Elin had no problem with that….

You have to stop and chat sometimes. Or at least let people take your picture. 

But it's worth the climb!

Magnificent!

We saw a festival going on from the top of the castle so we decided to go over and take a look once we got down. It was an Oyster Festival. Many cities in Japan have Oyster Festivals every weekend throughout the month of February. They set up tents for vendors to sell shellfish and rice. Guests can sit down at mini grills to cook their lunch. If we were oyster people we would have taken part. Instead we bought some fried fish sandwiches and some interesting cheese rolls that we believe had jellied fish mixed in. Definitely one of those things that make you go hmmm. 

Hmmmm.

Jumping Clams

These puppies are alive! Technically called fan lobsters (I believe), they're about $2 a piece. They sit patiently in the basket, wiggling their creepy crawly legs until they're plucked up, sliced in half and placed on a plate for you to toss on your grill. People were lined up along the sea wall with their grills. We had a great time observing this popular tradition! 

We found out as we were leaving the Crybaby Sumo was to occur two days later. Basically two babies  dressed in costume are brought into a "sumo" ring at a temple. A man shouts "Hakkeyoi" and the first baby to cry wins. Being the awesome parents we are we actually considered coming back to enter Elin in the contest. Wouldn't that have made a great picture for the grandparents?

Matane,

Caitlyn

Our First Day Trip to Nagasaki

So we had a free weekend to do what we wanted and since we had a set of wheels we took a leisurely drive down to Nagasaki City. And I really mean leisurely. We took the back roads and maintained an even speed of 40mph. Roads are narrow and slow around here but fortunately the gorgeous scenery makes up for it.

We went to Nagasaki to visit the Atom Bomb Museum & Peace Park.

Colin and I are big history buffs and I have always had a desire to learn more about WWII. I loved studying it in college and I still love reading books and watching documentaries on it. There is something about that war that draws me to learn more about it. Perhaps it is just the sheer magnitude of a war fought all over the globe or the atrocities that were committed. Or how it has affected the way our governments and militaries operate today. Whatever it is, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum was a must on my Japan Bucket list. 

Life size model of the "Fatman" bomb dropped on the city.

A few years ago Colin and I visited the Hoa Lo Prison or "Hanoi Hilton" as it was lovingly called by it's residents. It definitely put a different "spin" on things. Let's just say what you and I learned in 9th grade history class was not reflected in the same manner at Hoa Lo. I expected to find a similar situation at the Atomic Bomb Museum given it is just meters from where the bomb was dropped. I was actually quite surprised. Despite a few twists from what I had learned, everything was presented in fair agreement with Western opinions. Ultimately the museum strives to educate as many visitors as it can to ensure this event never happens again. That mission gives a heavy presence in the well laid out displays, films and heartbreaking photography. 

The museum begins with a clock stopped at 11:02 by the blast.

Various artifacts found in the city.

Map detailing countries with nuclear programs.

Perhaps the most difficult display was a photo of a little boy with a sleeping baby strapped to his back. He solely stands at attention fighting back tears and looking years older than his 9. As I read the summary next to the photo I learned that the baby was in fact, not sleeping. The photographer wrote how the boy allowed the relief workers to take the baby off his back and lay the body on hot coals for cremation. Having that photo at the end of the walk through really instills heavy emotions on the reader.  

After the museum we headed outside to visit the Hypocenter. It is called the hypocenter because the bomb exploded over 1,000 feet above the ground to ensure maximum damage.

Elin & I at the center of the Hypocenter.

Remains of a Catholic church found close to the hypocenter. 

The Peace Park is not far from the museum & hypocenter. It is a beautiful park on top of a hill with sculptures, fountains and gardens. Below we posed in front of the Peace Statue:

The statue's right hand points up toward the threat of nuclear weapons. The left encourages eternal peace. The right folded leg symbolizes meditation and the bent left shows he is ready to assist those in need. 

E's first experience throwing a coin into a fountain. She didn't quite get it. :)

Of course we had to get some lunch after our excursion. One thing we love here is how kid friendly the restaurants are. They always bring a high chair and child size utensils to the table for you. Sometimes even a bib. The "kids meal" is unlike anything I've seen. Something I have observed is that the Japanese value the art of presentation. Everything from coordinating their umbrellas and hand towels (more on that later) to the way they package your groceries at the markets. In this case the meal included a perfectly molded scoop of rice with a flag in it, a sausage, shrimp, a cup of corn, jello shots (non-alchoholic, duh) and a token to get a toy from the vending machine before they leave. All perfectly and neatly arranged on a bright tray. Not only do the meals cater to small and curious appetites but it keeps them busy so hungry parents can eat!

Before I close I thought I'd share a funny story. There was a family dining near us with a boy close in age to Elin. After our meals we lined up at the vending machine to retrieve the toys with the kids meal token. The little boy had already received his toy but was determined to shove his toy truck in the machine and therefore it took awhile. I inserted Elin's token to show him how the toy comes out and then scooted out. E certainly didn't care and was starting to get cranky. So we're walking back to the car when we hear people shouting and running behind us. It was our lunch mates racing to give Elin her new toy. I was so amazed that they were so intent on righting a situation, for their little boy to acknowledge the generosity of a stranger, even if he was just two years old. 

We have found this type of behavior to be very typical here. Honesty is imperative in Japanese society. It is just one of many fascinating aspects of what makes up a deeply rooted Japanese culture. Even though we only have two years here I am eager to start learning more of the language so I can get to know the locals and their customs better. I cannot think of a better way to enjoy our time here than to jump in and experience it all!

Matane,

Caitlyn

New Spaces. New Places.

Welcome to our blog! After much thought and consideration we have come up with a name for our new blog to chronicle our next two years here in Japan. My husband Colin is a Naval Aviator stationed here in Sasebo aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard. This is our second overseas tour. Our first being a three year tour with HSC-25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. We took advantage of the proximity of Guam (and it’s tiny size) and traveled to 9 countries all over the Pacific region. After Guam we enjoyed a 2 1/2 year tour in Norfolk, Virginia where we welcomed our baby daughter, Elin Grace into the family. Fast forward to December 30, 2013, we landed at Fukuoka International Airport and began our new lives in Japan!

The last several months has been filled with what I call PCS fun. PCS stands for Permanant Change of Station and includes all kinds of events that require some serious patience and flexibility as you transition from one military base to another. Add the fact that it is an overseas PCS and you might as well dig out your Gumby suit. The first of three pack outs started in November, first the storage of all the things you don’t want to haul to a foreign country. Next come the trucks to pick up your HHG (House Hold Goods: furniture, appliances, majority of your stuff, and finally the UB, an air shipment of the necessities you lived on while your HHG was in route. Add in the collection of medical records from all over town, a medical screening to make sure you don’t have any conditions that cannot be treated here, the application for housing, government passports, renting our our Virginia home, sending our dog to live with my sister, selling and storing cars, and lots more of exciting stuff. That filled up most of the fall season.

Sending our stuff on a long journey across the Pacific…

We spent Christmas in San Diego with my family before boarding a 747 for Japan. Let me tell you, if you plan on taking a toddler on an 18 hour journey, take some wine. Lots of wine. A case perhaps. Oh and wine for the other of age passengers. Our precious Elin refused to sleep the entire flight from California to Japan. People were in awe (or perhaps aghast) of her willpower to remain not only awake, but vocal for the entire 12 hours. The only good thing that came about was she slept a full 10 hours after we arrived on the 31st.  We even slept through straight through New Years.

Don’t let this picture fool you. She slept for five minutes on the hop to San Francisco. Apparently it was all the rest she needed for the day….and night.

This was more like the majority of our trip. Partying in pajamas in the airport terminal.

We spent the first week wandering around Sasebo City as most of the key offices we needed to deal with were shut down for the holiday week. It was a blessing in disguise as we could take a break and ease our way into our new life here. We spent time dining at local restaurants, traveling with friends to local attractions, beaches and malls and got accustomed to driving on the left side of the road (or the wrong side as my mom sees it).

Elin has embraced the value of a good set of chopsticks. They also make great drumsticks.

By the time we started our AOB or Indoctrination course we were refreshed and ready, unlike our groggy jet lagged peers who just arrived. Indoc basically included some overview of the base, an introduction by the Commander, basic Japanese language & etiquette lessons (like using chopsticks to pick up erasers in the shape of sushi), driving school and test. I think the test was the most eventful activity. My first time driving on the left side of the road was terrifying but after completing the test by backing into a parking space (twice) the instructor got out and asked me to take a picture with him. I figured that was his way of telling me I passed. Right?

Next comes what Colin calls the Japanese drug deal. We bought a car. The way we did it here was pretty interesting. When we arrived we were given a business card by a friend. You know, in a dark alley. ;p Anyway, you call Hiroko, she comes to pick you up at the back gate of the base. She takes you to her lot, you pick out and test drive a car. Then you fill out the paperwork (in Japanese of course) and give her a really large amount of cash. She then drops you back off at the gate and a week later the car is delivered. If it weren’t for the incredible honesty this country is known for I don’t think I would have trusted this sort of arrangement.  But here, it works!

Once we had a car things got easier. We shuffled our way through the housing process. One of the fun things about the military is the lack of communication you often encounter. In our situation it was housing. We received no assistance from them whatsoever in the planning process so we had to go off advice from friends and Facebook. We came expecting a 3 bedroom/2 bath town home, about 1300-1500 sq feet or so, most likely with a yard or the option to use OHA, Overseas Housing Allowance to rent a place in town. What we were “offered” was a second floor, 1,000 sq foot apartment with a tiny balcony and even tinier bathroom. If we chose not to accept it we would have to pay our own way out in town. No exceptions. Wonderful! Needless to say we “accepted” and move-in was nothing short of embarrassing.

Why yes, that would be THREE trucks of crates…

The poor movers spent five hours hauling our belongings up the stairs into our tiny apartment. Colin was out of town so I was left trying to figure out where to put EVERYTHING. It was a sad mess. I remember at one point the foreman shrugged and sincerely told me “We out of room, I uh, am so so sorry”.

Uhhh..

Oh boy.

Oh dear…

There has to be wine in here somewhere!

Well at least the tricycle was found.

After many many tears and maybe a few too many cheeseburgers I picked myself up and sold an entire bedroom worth of stuff. It has taken a week but I think we have about settled in. It’s a small space but we will manage. If anything it will encourage us to get out and do more which is exactly what we plan to do. So far we have taken Elin to Hirado and Nagasaki. I will post about those later, along with some of the fabulous new things I’ve learned about Japan. Despite a rocky start I think it’s going to be a stellar tour for us, this country is already exceeding our expectations with gorgeous views, incredibly polite people and delicious food. I can’t wait to share more!

Here is to new beginnings!

Matane,

Caitlyn