So today while sifting and sorting through junk, clothes, linens, the kitchen and many other nooks and crannies of this very small military house that we call a home I could not help but to think of all of the things I am excited to have again once we arrive back to the states:
- On-time deliveries without a "gomenasai".
- Lettuce that stays fresh longer than 3 days.
- The ability to snap a pic with my cell phone and send to someone with ease.
- A chance to know what the hell is going on by reading a billboard.
- Driving faster than 60 MPH without the fear of getting a 200.00 ticket.
- Reasonably priced produce and fruits.
- Not feeling like I must talk louder and slower in order to have someone understand me.
- Being able to be at a bar later than 2AM if we decide that is where we want to be.
- Not being able to explain what I need over the phone to a local.
- Natural disasters that remind you that you are living on a tiny little island in the middle of the Pacific.
- The mold that grows on EVERYTHING in my house.
...and so much more
BUT there is so much we will miss as well!
- Okinawa Soba
- Amazingly beautiful beaches
- Perfect summer weather
- Flip-flops 365 days a year
- The 6:00 PM Japanese loudspeaker announcement reminding all the boys and girls to go home and be good for their parents
- The distant sounds of the Okinawa Taiko Drummers practicing
- The odd, random things you see only in Okinawa
- 100 yen sushi-go-rounds
- The dragon when I don't feel like cooking
- Space A Travel with CAT 2 priority
- My son hunting for Okinawan large beetles and geckos
- The safety net of a Japanese community that allows my children to not witness the reality of "the real world".
...and again, so much more.
Time to back to sorting and sifting!
