Finally, we have a break. We got tonight off because everyone was so tired that we all just said we should have our meeting and work on sunday instead of tonight. That tells u how tired we are, that we would give up part of our weekend. It's not like we can go anywhere anyway, though, because we are only allowed to do day trips the first weekend.

Today we had our scavenger hunt, and I used the trains for the first time! It was very confusing, especially when we had to ask for directions and the Japanese people were trying to tell us how to get there, but we did it!!! (Only to come back to base to find out that there was a specific flier on how to get to the place we had gone to... oops...)

My group didn't win for the scavenger hunt, but we did pretty good. We got most everything done. I even got to eat at the Chili's on the base, although it was suuuuuper expensive. Not as expensive as the off base TGI Friday's, though, because there a burger is apparently 1580 yen, which is like 16 dollars. Ridiculous.

People are planning on going bowling tonight since we all got free bowling passes for the entire summer, which is pretty cool.

Oh, and by the way, I should probably tell u a little about the base. It's huge! And they have giant birds called seahawks that swoop down and literally steal food right from your hand! One girl from camp adventure already lost a sandwich. And this base used to be a Japanese base. There are a bunch of old tunnels running underground all throughout the base and the city where the Japanese had their base headquarters and even a hospital. They would use the tunnels as an escape route and for protection in case of attack. Unfortunately, almost all the tunnels are closed up now =(

It's raining here for the first time, really. It rained before a little bit, but that was just sprinkling really. Now, it's pouring down. I walked from the gym to the TPU (where we live) and I got totally soaked!!! It's still really warm, though, so at least i didn't get cold!!!

Can't wait for camp to start on monday!!!

Made it to Japan!!!

For all y'all that don't know, I did actually make it to Japan. I am at Yokosuka Naval Base right now!

Unfortunately, the internet is a tad iffy around here, and this week has been super busy, so I won't be able to go online that much. Maybe I will more once camp starts, which is next week.

This week, we've been working hard. Getting up early everyday (UGH) and working late. It's been a lot of orientation, signing papers, getting ID cards (the sailor getting mine laughed at the picture he took of me), and making posters. We've made it off base twice so far: once to go to the 100 Yen Store (woohoo!) and once to go out to lunch. And from that experience, I can tell you that sushi here is NOTHING like sushi in the states. (Here it's a hunk of raw seafood on a hunk of cold rice).

Yesterday we visited Ikego campgrounds, which is another US base, although it apparently used to be a munitions dump for the Japanese. (They told us that if we found anything looking like an old bomb that we shouldn't touch it. Duh.). It's really pretty there, and we did some paintballing, rock climbing, archery, and hiking (just so we would know what to do when we take the kids there). Unfortunately for me, I won't be going to Ikego, because only the older two groups go there. I have the youngest kids, the first graders, i.e. the cute ones. I met a couple of them yesterday, and they were telling me all about pajama day. I am so excited to get started!

Oh, and poor Aaron finally got his bag today! It was lost in transit, but now it is found! And he also finally got his room (he and Spencer were stuck sleeping on a cot in another guy's room).

Last thing... yesterday I met one of the staff ladies I will be working with, and she is japanese. And I talked to her in japanese!!! Aren't you proud of me??? Then she bowed like three times, so i had to bow back... it was pretty funny.

Anywho, that's it. Hopefully I will be able to write more later. This weekend we will be going on board the Admiral's flagship or something, so that should be fun, and then, camp starts on monday!!!