I'm home...safe as can be! Pictures...well...

I love chopsticks and yakisoba!

I finally bought a Kimono! And they taught me how to tie the obe by myself!

It was a tropical paradise!

Can you pick out the American? This is at shuirjo castle, one of the Ryukyu Kingdom's many castle sites. It is influenced by current Japanese rule, previous Chinese rule and American occupation. Okinawa is very different!

You would never guess that the McDonalds here is a nice place to eat. These places have wireless Internet, are completely clean....sheesh the manger wears a suit for goodness sakes! Apparently only America has terrible restaurant conditions.

Well there are a few, if you'd like to see more, come find me.

Ok, my last post sounded terrible, and nothing like the time I'm having here. You guys, no problem thrown my way can stop me from enjoying such a beautiful country! True this is the 'hawaii' of Japan, but there is no less culture here. There are some interesting things I've learned since ariving.

*You have to take your shoes off to step into a dressing room in a store. * When handing money for whatever reason you use both hands. * After eating you replace the chopsticks in the pouch they came in, it's rude to leave them in the bowl. * The toilets here have ten buttons. * If you ask a question in Japanese, they tend to answer in japanese. * None of their clothes fit me. * Their shoes are all too small and narrow. * Smiling and nodding is translinguilitical (I don't know if that is even a word..) but it works. * American DVDs are not compatible with Japanese DVD players. * McDonalds is only nasty in America, here the managers wear suits and the place is actually clean!! * People still wear Kimonos, I saw a girl doing dance dance revolution in one...it was odd. * Nothing is ever cheap. * They drive on the wrong side of the road. * The daihatsu trucks that the maintanence at UCA drive, are actual cars here! * If you bow your head, undoubtably three other people around you will bow back. * It actaully fun trying to converse with someone who has no idea what your saying and looks at you like they think you some great puzzel. * I like being tall. * There is no censorship here. None. * I've only seen two chuches in the past eight or so days. * "Tan fat, looks like less fat." a commercial I've seen on the only english channel in my new hotel. * Don't press all the buttons on the toilets here. * I can palm the ceiling in my bathroom standing flat footed. * People here dress like americans did in the 90s, and most pants still have a high waist.

There is so much more. Everything is beautiful here. The Kadena Marina is a public place to swim outside the base.

It's a little inlet where the water sifts by as if in a river, never disturbed by the waves farther out. The water is so clear that when it is chest level you can still see your toes quite clearly. If you swim out beyond the marked area, you can swim to a very small island upon which stand a few small steps to a gray stone shrine. Along the edge of the island the most beautiful tiny blue fish swim around your ankels, never touching but as close. The sun is hot, but the water has under currents of cool water that elicit a sigh of refreshment everytime you happen upon them. I could take a thousand pictures but never grasp the true experience of such a place and it's calming, relaxing qualities or the beauty found there in. It is truly the most beautiful place I have ever been in. Often I've heard of othes' travels and  wished that my life held more experiences as the ones they described. In just a few short days I've collected a thousand, each of which are nearly impossible to forget for their sheer beauty and magnitude. This place is so different, but beautiful in that very way. The only thing that could make such a place any more beautiful would be the truth of Jesus in the hearts of this people. Such a thing would truly become paradise on earth.

~Annie

Oh guys, I'm sorry but I have to rant for a moment. I know I'm being a baby but I'm so stressed out about this. It's the stinkin Shogun Inn. They started giving me a room for three nights at a time. I thought that was terrible. Now, it's only one night at a time. I get up every morning, stuff all of my crap back into the four suitcases(slight exaggeration) I brought and lug them down the stairs and into Rusty's car. Then at 6 we show up at the hotel lobby and wait for an hour so that we can catch the first avaliable room...if there even is one.  We barely have time to do anything...I'm so sorry, but I am so stressed out.

Last night rusty and I, both a little ticked off, took our aggression out in the huge seaside arcade. Apparently these games are a big deal here. There is an arcade literally every two blocks. And last night we went to one of the biggest in Jusco. Jusco is a mix between a mall, a boardwalk, and a carnival. There is this huge Farris wheel that lights up in beautiful patterns at night, never repeating itself. Shops and restaurants, McDonalds with it's tiny cups, and teriyaki burger.

We played lots of "shoot the bad guy" type games. It made us feel better....we even played one on base this morning after dealing with shogun.

Well today we are going to a garden and then to the beach!! Hope things get better, thanks for your prayers!!

~Annie

Hey everybody!!

I'm in Japan! Guys this place is so beautiful! I haven't even been that far from the base yet. There are several neat places around this area so we haven't had to go far. The beach is beautiful and everyone is so nice! And little! These people are so tiny. Well I don't have long, but I just wanted to give you guys a heads up on what's going on...

Oh and...I hate the stupid base Inn! I'm a civilian so I get booted if someone of higher rank needs a room. I've been kicked out of my hotel room twice....now we are headed to find a hotel outside the base....this is much harder than it sounds. Pray for me please!! I just want some place to sleep!

~Annie

Listen up everybody!!

Very cool thing my mom ran into online.

Skype.

Yeah that's it. If you go to their website skype.com and download it, you can talk to me in Japan over a microphone for free. Beats out using a calling card for sure!! The times I will most liekly be on will be 9 and 10 am and pm. They are decent cross over hours that shouldn't upset to many peoples sleeping habbits. So if you would like to talk to me, and see how things are going, download skype and search me out by my name or email XSageHavenX@aol.com ok?

Well I hope to talk to you guys soon!!

I'll try to update here (Because my parents will be checking in to see what I'm doing) as much as possible.

Have a wonderful few weeks!!

~Annie