Wow! This year has brought me so many "firsts!" The biggest of these, of course, is this is my first deployment. I am also living in a foreign country, by myself, for the first (hopefully the last!) time. I had my first tearful Army goodbye to a family that is PSCing back to the states. I'm a first-time Space-A traveler, or I soon will be (fingers crossed!). There are more, but I guess I don't really need to get into all the small stuff.
You know, I never even knew there was such a thing as a spouse's first deployment. Every time someone asks me, "Is this your first deployment?" I want to respond with, "Umm, it's not mine, it's my husband's!" It does get easier day by day. It makes me feel guilty to admit that, though. I mean, he's there, and I'm here...free! I can go to the market, the px, the BAR! Jeremy doesn't get to do any of those things! Sometimes, when I'm having a good time, it dawns on me that he can't, and I get sad. I'm guessing that's pretty normal. I have been pretty productive here lately, though! I made, and COMPLETED, a to-do list! What?! I can't remember the last time that happened! So, yeah, I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now! As far as my "first deployment," I think that I'm handling it just about as well as any first-timer does!
Japan, Japan, Japan! Living in another country for the first time is not nearly as scary as it sounds. However, I am fully aware that if I didn't live on this Army post that I'd be freaking out! With the exception of driving on the left side of the road, living on post is just like living in Small Town, USA. Which means that it's a lot like being back home. Even the climate here is similar to Mississippi! It's hot, cold, rainy, and windy-all in the same day! For everyone back home, during the summer, it's even MORE HUMID here than there. I wish I was making that up, but that's the God's honest truth. It's so humid it literally takes your breath away. When I stepped off that plane last September, I thought I'd traveled through a portal straight into hell. They say it's even worse in August. God help me! I think I got a little side-tracked, but, since my whole point was to describe my life here, I think it worked out pretty well. It is true that when I drive off post I am very much in a foreign country. For the most part, though, the people are really nice, and understanding of the language barrier. I'm sure they do wish that we'd just learn how to speak Japanese, but, they're nice enough to keep that to themselves. Or, maybe they're not, but how would I know? They could be saying anything to each other. I don't speak Japanese!
I've spent so much of this first month since Jeremy left crying, that I was just about all cried out when my friend, and her family, left. I thought I'd be fine, because, when you look at it objectively, I've only known them for a very short time. I talked to one of my friends back home more often than I talked to her. The thing about emotions is, they are not objective. They definitely aren't logical! They just kind of sneak right on up on you! I did get a little tearful saying goodbye, and then more so after I left them and headed home. Saying goodbye just isn't easy. It doesn't matter how long you've known someone. And, in this situation, this is my first duty station. I'm still new to all this Army life stuff, and, this was one of my very first "Army wife" friends. I learned from her and her family, and I will definitely miss them and the fun we had! In the interest of being honest, it also makes me a little nervous. I mean, I knew, and liked, this family. Who is taking their place? Will I like them? Will they like me? Will I get on their nerves because there are still so many things I don't know, and I ask too many questions? Ugh! This is not like the show at all! Everyone is supposed to stay in the same place for like six years! Haha!
Ah, the joys of flying Space A. First of all, Space A = Space Available. This is a military flight, and when they have extra space that isn't taken up by cargo and such, they make seats available to soldiers, veterans, qualifying dependants, DoD employees, etc. I don't have it figured out. I don't understand the process, or lack thereof, at all. So far, I have "registered for travel" at Yokota Air Base. I'm hoping to leave on May first. Apparently, the next step is to show up on the 30th and sign up for the next day. Then, on the first, I show up and see if I made the list. They have categories to decide who gets on the list, and in what order. I'm a category three, so there are only two categories ahead of me. I'm hoping that means that I'll get on the flight I want instead of having to wait, or flying into somewhere that I hadn't intended to end up. I don't know exactly how I'm getting back, either, but the people at Keesler are way more helpful than anyone here, so I figure the first week I'm home, I'll go there and ask questions. I'll just fill y'all in on this first once I've actually done it! It's going to be an adventure!
There is one more first that I want to tell y'all about. It's not as big as Jeremy's deployment, or my living on my own here, but, it is so unique that it merits its own post. Japan has a festival every year called the Fertility Festival. Feel free to Google it between now and my next post if you want, but I would suggest (especially if there are children around) that you don't use Google images until you are fully aware of what you'll be seeing. On that same note, my next post will also have photos, so it may not be "good readin" for the faint of heart, strictly religious, or just plain ole uptight! I won't be offended if you choose not to read, but I did think it necessary to prepare you before hand so that I don't offend you! You have to understand that the Japanese culture is very different from our own, and our views on what is offensive (or suitable for children, for that matter) are not the same. That being said, I can't wait to share my experience!
