Thursday, August 12, 2010

Today was Newcomer Orientation, which means we spent several hours watching PowerPoint presentations about different aspects of living in Okinawa. Our super fantastic sponsors had signed us up for childcare so we didn't need to worry about the kids.

How the day actually went: At 6:45am we catch a bus with everyone else headed to orientation. We were told they would stop at SAC (School Aged Childcare), CDC (Children's Daycare) and then orientation. The bus drove us directly to orientation. As we were leaving the bus, the bus driver informed us to stay on the bus if we needed to go to CDC. We explained that we were keeping Charlotte, but needed to take the boys to SAC. He told us that they would take care of SAC inside. So we headed in and never saw or heard anything about SAC. So we punished our children for our inability to go ask and they stuck with us for the day. We had the Didj and leapster, sack lunches, snacks and a few toys.

The orientation started at 8 and ended at 12:30. Charlotte threw up twice (once on Jason's uniform and once on me)!! Jason and I both passed our driving test at 2pm, got our laminated permit by 3pm and headed back to the hotel. Our super patient sponsor shuttled us around and waited for us to get everything squared away. She then took Grahm and Jacye to her house to play and get some wiggles out.

Charlotte was a little cranky at the hotel, but then started wrestling Jason and begging for tickles - she kept down Goldfish and some sprite so we decided to...

At 5 we headed to Jusco, a Japanese version of the American Mall for dinner and fun. Our sponsors took us (we will finish up the paperwork on our vehicle tomorrow, now that we can actually drive) and the Palmers. We had 9 children 8 years and under!! The kids wanted McDonalds for the Japanese toys. The happy meals come with a choice of corn and a few different drinks. We ventured to try some other choices - Jason had some soup and I had pork cutlet and curry!! The kids then spent time in the arcade area and learned that you don't always win. They ran around giggling and entertaining each other. Charlotte made friends with some teen girls. They would squeal every time she would wave at them. After we got a picture of them together - they touched her cheeks, belly, begged for high fives. I think Jason and I were very entertained. (I did receive a warning from our sponsor that some times you have to tell them to back off a little bit - I guess they love blondes). We then headed back to the hotel - Charlotte threw up again in our sponsors car. I am sure they will be glad when we don't have to rely on them so much. I think we will have to have them over for dinner and babysit for them for a month to repay the kindness!!

What an awesome looking place to take kids. So sorry to hear that Charlotte's tummy wasn't having a good day. I hope she got better quickly. That so funny about the locals loving blondes. My mom has a similar story about her very naturally blonde friend and getting LOTS of attention (can't remember where they were though). When we were in Hawaii, I noticed that McDonald's didn't offer the same stuff we were so used to. Very strange to think what people consider to be standard sides instead of just fries.

You guys seemed to have awesome sponsors. That must have made getting transitioned there so much easier.

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This blog has two purposes: 1-to be a journal for my family and 2-to highlight things that inspire me as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and a member of society. That is why it is Micah C (I see things) Micah Do (and then I try to do them).