The Right Class, The Wrong Day

A dark, empty classroom. Must be the right place!

I had still had questions about what paperwork was necessary for my cat and me to enter a foreign country, so I invited my fellow future Okinawa resident Christine to a class taught by the relocation assistance department of MCCS (Marine Corps Community Services).  When we arrived we found a classroom that was under construction and locked. We followed the sign to another classroom. It was empty and dark. We checked the flyer online. We made sure it was the right day, the right time, and the right location. I would not be surprised if I made one of those mistakes, but this time everything was correct. We asked for help from the first person we saw. She referred us to a secretary who referred us to the relocation assistance department. The class had been moved to the week before without an update on the website. The man who was going to teach the class had us sit down and gave us a private class. I found it less than helpful.

He opened up by assuring us that he knew what information we wanted. He then referred us to an international shoe sizing guide. Obviously as women our first priority is new shoes, not the maze of paperwork we are expected to understand as spouses.

He also spent a good bit of time trying to convince me to leave Tilly behind. "I don't want to make you cry. I had a woman in here last week crying in here about her pet, but I think its better to tell you the truth. It is really hard to take a pet to Okinawa."

I have done a lot of work already in preparing Tilly, so I responded gracefully, "That is fine. I am still going to bring my cat."

"Well...some housing is not pet friendly. You might not want to bring her."

I responded less gracefully, "Cats are allowed in more housing than dogs."

"Well...she might not be allowed on the plane. There are a limited number of spots."

"We already turned in her paperwork for a spot on the plane."

"Well...you have to pay money for a pet to fly. Do you know how much? Over a hundred dollars."

"She is worth it." And she is.

The questions I had about her paperwork were obviously not answered. We were in his office for an hour. He kept assuming we were further behind on our paperwork than we were. He showed us pictures of the island so we would know what it looked like. I researched the size and shape of the island the first night I learned we were moving there. I did learn about all of his children, nieces, and nephews. I don't think that will help me in my move.

Oh well, at least I have the internet to research what needs to be done. And Mexican food. Christine and I were starving after a very long hour at his desk, so we went out for a second lunch. Thanks Christine for making sure I wasn't alone in yet another awkward situation!

The Wrong Class

As the date for our departure draws near, I realize how many things still need to be done. I am working on checking off items on my list one at a time. I still have questions about the necessary paperwork, so when my friend mentioned she was attending a class on moving overseas I asked if I could tag along.

When we arrived at the office I should have guessed something was wrong when the receptionist wanted a lot of paperwork that I didn't have with me before she would let me in the class. When I argued that I just wanted to sit in and listen she agreed, but she did look confused. The class started with the two of us and several Marines. I soon realized my mistake. This was not a general class on how to move overseas. This was a class on how to move your stuff overseas. The stuff that I currently have sitting in storage in Japan waiting for me. I did not need to be in this class.

The instructor asked everyone how many shipments they needed. We qualify for two: a large shipment that travels by boat and a small one that travels by plane. I said one. He gave me a confused look.

"Just one?"

"Yes...well, the one already shipped." The confused look continued. I tried to explain, "My stuff is already in Japan."

"So...why are you here?"

"I think I'm in the wrong class."

"Are you?"

I looked around for help. I didn't really want to explain that my ride was in the right class so I couldn't leave. "Don't worry about me," I assured the instructor.

"So you're just here..."

I nodded, really wanting to not be. He continued with his class which concluded with everyone electronically submitting their shipments. I am glad that I was there. My friend might have felt awkward being the only spouse, but I ended up taking up all of the awkwardness in the room.

The Creperie

Matt and I heard about a creperie in Wilmington from our friends the Atwoods. Of course we had to try the pastries for ourselves. We were a little confused when we found out it wasn't located in the beautiful, historic area of downtown Wilmington. In fact, the surrounding area was all car dealerships and rundown shopping centers. The building itself did not look like anything special...but the inside sure was!

The walls inside were covered in bright colors and postcards from France. The man who took our order chatted to his mother in French as she prepared the crepes, and we were wished a "Bon Appetit" when our food arrived.

 The menu was divided into sweet and savory crepes. Matt went with the savory St. Malo: turkey, spinach, tomatoes, Remoulade sauce, and salted whipped cream. I had to try a sweet crepe with peach puree and caramel sauce. Both were delicious. Matt had his eyes closed for the majority of the meal if that tells you anything. We will be eating here again, and if you want to try this place as well you can check out their menu at http://www.ourcrepesandmore.com.

The Epic PCS: The Passport

My not-smiling passport photo.

I have traveled out of the country before, so I did have a passport before this process started. However, I needed a special passport before they would let me on the military flight that is taking my family to Japan. It is called a no-fee passport, and it looks identical to the original except for some fine print.

The first step was to take a new passport picture. My photo from several years ago was taken on a sweaty day in July, so I was pretty sure I could do better. I walked into the photo studio on base, sat where the photographer told me, and smiled. I was shocked to learn that I could no longer smile in my passport photo! Airports are using facial recognition technology, and smiling with teeth distorts your face. I found it very difficult to take a photo without smiling. I was trying to reverse so many years of showing my smile that took years of orthodonture to perfect!

The next step was to obtain a signed application for a no-fee passport from IPAC, or Installation Personnel Administration Center. I printed off the correct form and called the base to obtain the location of this office. I traveled to the office they told me over the phone was the correct one. It was not. They told me they were the legal department. I went to a different building. The marine I ran into first had no idea what I was talking about. He asked his sergeant who had no idea what I was talking about. He told me to try the post office. This was clearly terrible advice. I called the passport office who finally told me the correct building...the one connected to the building with all the clueless marines! I walked into this building. The first marine I met had no idea what I was talking about. He made an announcement to the entire room full of marines, and finally someone had heard of this application! He took me up one flight of stairs to a different IPAC office, and the process was done in about five minutes.

I do need to point out that even though this experience was frustrating, every marine I passed offered to help me. I am sure this had to do with the fact that I stood out like a sundress in a building full of uniforms because that is what I was wearing, but even so it was very chivalrous.

With my stack of paperwork complete it was time to find the passport office. I took a friend with me this time. Christine is also on a journey to get the paperwork done for PCS-ing to Okinawa. The passport office is only open for five hours a day with a two hour lunch, so the timing has to be perfect. We showed up at one pm at the address on the website. The building and the parking lot were deserted. We didn't want to leave the car since a storm was coming, but we had to try the door. It was locked. We walked to the other side of the building and found a map with directions to the new office. It was located in the warehouse district of the base.

Christine cheerfully remarked that we were on a scavenger hunt. I told her that we might be in a horror movie as we traveled to a warehouse from the directions on an abandoned building in the middle of a thunderstorm. We both survived. We had to drive in circles because the directions were wrong, but we did find the right warehouse.

As I filled out more forms in the waiting room, the lady at the passport office yelled at the new marines getting their first passport. She told them exactly how she wanted the forms, and she would not take them any other way! She then turned to me and asked sweetly if I was done. Once again I am so glad I am not a marine! I did not get yelled at like everybody else!

The passport finally came! Yay!!! It is only good while I am a dependent on military orders overseas, so I will have to repeat this process in a few years. Maybe I can keep the same photo....

The Photoshop Class

While I have not been working this past year, I have been taking online classes in order to earn a certificate in Website Design. I am currently taking a class in Photoshop, and I wanted to show off a little bit of what I learned!

I feel as though I learned how to do some pretty neat things! As of right now I don't own Photoshop. I am only using the thirty day trial for a class that lasts six weeks, so I had to wait on my first few lessons and then catch up really fast! If this web designing thing works out, I will be purchasing this program for sure!

The Town of Wilmington, NC

Matt and I love our little beach town, but sometimes we have to leave. If we want to shop at Target, eat at Chick-fil-a, or, in this case, see a movie, we travel to the neighboring town of Wilmington, NC. Wilmington has its shopping areas with the Target, Chick-fil-a, and movie theater, but my favorite area of all is historic downtown Wilmington. Downtown Wilmington consists of a few streets packed with locally owned restaurants, shops, and museums all housed in historic buildings. Water Street hosts many restaurants that overlook Cape Fear. This weekend we decided to explore and eat dinner in downtown Wilmington before heading to our movie.

Unbeknownst to me, this weekend Wilmington was hosting its annual Port City RibFest which explains why we had to park on the roof of the only parking deck in downtown. While we were up that high I snapped a few shots of the city from above.

I love the church steeples and old houses peeking through the trees.

We descended seven floors and walked along Water Street. The sun was beginning to set, and the view was amazing.

You can barely see the USS North Carolina behind us. 

I had made reservations at The Little Dipper, a fondue place. Matt and I have a soft spot in our hearts for fondue. It is, after all, the kind of restaurant we traveled to after he proposed. The website for the restaurant stated that it was voted one of the top 100 restaurants in the country by OpenTable.com, and I can see why. They have seventeen different dipping sauces to choose from. Seventeen!!! If you have seen me eat french fries you understand that the food is only a vehicle for the condiment, and I loved having so many choices! We dipped our filet mignon and shrimp in sweet and sour sauce, honey barbecue, and the au pouivre (a mushroom and peppercorn combination).

This place was so fancy! They served coffee in clear mugs with your own personal silver sugar bowl!

 We saved room for dessert...milk chocolate and white chocolate fondue in the same pot! I embarrassed Matt by taking pictures of all the courses. The flash was on by mistake the first time. Matt embarrassed me by asking if the decorative flower on the plate was edible. The answer was yes surprisingly. Despite all of that we had an amazing evening that ended in white chocolate dipped strawberries. What could be better?

The Epic PCS: Medical Screening

Me after my first 5k. The picture of health...right?

I attend workout classes. I run sometimes. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day (ok, well at least fruit). I consider myself healthy, but I was nonetheless nervous about the medical screening process for Okinawa. There is a review board that reads every application in order to determine if a dependent (me) is healthy enough to accompany the service member (Matt) to his duty station. This only happens for duty stations in a foreign country.

Since I was nervous, I decided to start as early as possible. I called the overseas screening office at the naval hospital and learned that I had to make an appointment just to pick up the application. The explanation of the many steps to apply takes so long everyone needs their own window. So I had to wait a few days for my appointment to pick up the application, and then the fun began. 

Step 1. Fill out an application of my entire medical history. 

Step 2. Obtain a signature from family services to ensure that there are no domestic violence cases pending. 

Step 3. Obtain a signature from Matt's chain of command.  

Step 4. Complete an online anti-terrorism training. (I guess this is related to my health...sort of.)

Step 5. Dental screening on base. They took one of those x-rays where they clamp your head in place and have a camera swing around you 180 degrees. Those are strange.

Step 6. Go to a doctor I have never met before so that she can sign off that I should go to a foreign country. I was supposed to go to "my doctor," but I had just moved to a new state. I had to wait a week after my appointment before my new doctor had time to sign my paperwork. 

Step 7. Obtain my most recent lab results.

Step 8. Immunizations. See my previous blog post. 

After I had gathered this copious amount of paperwork I had to make an appointment to turn it all in. The sailor informed me I would receive a call within the week. Nine days later I get a call telling me my application had been...denied. 

Yep. As of today I am not allowed to accompany Matt. They informed me my prescription is not available in Japan, and I have to switch to a new one before I can leave. I am returning to my new doctor in order to get this worked out. Watch for updates as I convince the military that I really am healthy.