This week I applied for a job on Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. I qualify for it, and what the heck? Nothing is holding me here. I could use an adventure! Since then I’ve been reading about that beautiful island, and my imagination has taken off. I can already visualize my life there.
As a civilian, I would be living off base, probably surrounded by very polite and gracious people who find it nearly impossible to communicate with me. I would bring next to nothing with me, as I’ve always longed to live a simple, uncluttered life, and this would be the perfect excuse. Just me, my dogs, my laptop, some clothes… the basics I can always pick up at garage sales. I’m sure a lot of the military personnel who leave the island also leave a lot of stuff behind.
I wouldn’t need a big house. A tiny little thing would do, as long as it had a bit of yard for the dogs to run in. But I’d want it to have western amenities. I’m not one to squat to do my business.
I’d buy a car there, some little off brand that looks like a motorized roller skate with the steering wheel on the right hand side. Rush hour traffic will take some getting used to. I hear it’s a nightmare. But on my off days I would explore the island.
I would have to get used to the slower island pace, but I don’t think I’d have a problem with that. I’m a slow paced kind of a girl. And people talk about boredom and loneliness, but I’m a bit of a homebody anyway, so it’s not like I do much even here.
Actually, it might do me some good to get out of my shell and meet people. Join some clubs, learn the language, do something other than bury my nose in this laptop. I do suspect that the ratio of American males to American females is quite substantial, and that wouldn’t hurt my feelings one little bit. However, I’m sure there are fewer single ones in my age range. And even fewer still who are politically liberal. That could be a problem.
I’d spend a lot of time trying to experience the culture. The food, the festivals, the limited tourist attractions. The aquarium sounds phenomenal. I’d go to the beach, feel the sand between my toes. Occasionally take trips to other parts of Asia that I could never afford to see otherwise. It could be really good.
I lie in bed, imagining my Okinawa life. I sometimes have to turn on the light and write something down so my mind doesn’t grind on it and keep me from sleeping. Like, can civilians shop on base? Can we get our mail on base and bank there? Will they help me find a place to live, or is that service only for military personnel? Will I be able to get my prescriptions? Can I really live without pizza delivery?
All these questions will have to be answered. IF I get the job. That’s a big if. And that’s the problem with my overactive imagination. I’ve fleshed out my Okinawa fantasy so fully that it sort of feels as if part of me is already living it. Which means that if I don’t get the job, I’ll be mourning a life that I was supposed to live, that I imagined I did live, even though I’ve never been farther west than Los Angeles in my entire life.
Okinawa dreaming has its pros and cons.
The View from a Drawbridge 
Good luck? Hope you get what you would like. 🙂
Thanks Lynette!
I would come and visit you and check out the historic battle locations.
Always welcome, Art!
yay
I have visited Japan, and stayed with a family with the Grandmother, Mother, Father, and three teenagers. Such an amazing experience. You can reach out to the Sister City Organization, and they would be of great help. I ‘m sure JAX has a Sister City in Japan. They also have positions where you can teach English and they provide room & board or you may find a home stay. Like teachers in our Old West… there are many opportunities in Japan. Keep looking. It will be worth a stay no matter how short or long. The department stores are amazing, the people more so.
This post jogged many fond memories, I hope you get the opportunity to make your own.
I hope so too. 🙂 And I have thought of teaching English abroad. Problem is, I still have American sized bills to pay.
Dreams come true. Bon Voyage! Whatever that is in Japanese!
Thanks Marc. Hope you’re right. I could used a dream that comes true for a change.
Now we’re talking!
Just stumbled upon your post and thought that I would answer some of the questions that you had mentioned. All these answers are assuming that you land the job you applied for on Kadena (Good Luck by the way!):
Yes civilians CAN shop on base, get your main and use the bank on base. You will be on your own finding a place to live though. It’s a tough process (with pets depending on the pets you intend to bring with you it can be near impossible) but it’s not impossible. I talk a bit about it on my channel and on my blog okininjakitty.wordpress.com so you can check that out if you want. You will also have the ability to be seen at the base hospital or at the many hospitals on island. Both places will be able to accommodate whatever prescriptions you take. Don’t worry about living without delivery pizza either. There are plenty of place that deliver, tons of places that offer carry out too.
If you have any other questions about Okinawa (especially transitioning here) please feel free to throw them my way. There are a lot of loose ends you are going to want to tie up even before landing a job. Like I said I have the blog above, a youtube channel (youtube.com/okininjakitty) and a Facebook page where you can find out more information and even talk with others who are here (Facebook.com/okininjakitty).
Good luck, keep your head up and keep on dreamin’
Wow! Thank you so much! It’s a relief to have a contact who knows this stuff. I will definitely follow your blog, and if I do get the job, you’ll probably get sick of all my questions! I’m so glad you stumbled across this post!
You’re very welcome! . . . and don’t worry I won’t get sick of your questions. This is something I enjoy doing. Feel free to ask away. I will do my best to answer how I can and hopefully ease your mind.
You’ve already made great progress in doing that. 🙂 Now the trick is to get the job.
That info about pizza delivery is a huge weight off my shoulders, and probably a huge weight on my hips. 🙂