ID's and Driver's Licenses Finally

It was a big day in Okinawa for us since we FINALLY got our ID's and Driver's licenses issued. For our first week we've had to carry Russ's orders everywhere we went and were limited as to where we could go and what we could do. We couldn't go off base without a big hassle getting signed back onto the base, Russ couldn't use his work computer, and we couldn't get our license or buy a car until we had the ID so we were kind of in limbo. We spent the entire day Wednesday at a Newcomer's Orientation and Driver's license class. We had to sit through all the military briefings for the base and need to know information about storm warnings for typhoons and rules of the base etc. After sitting through a bunch of lectures they finally do a brief class on the rules of the road andwhat the various road signs mean and then you take your Japanese driver's license test. Since we didn't have our ID's yet they had to hold our driver's licenses until today after our ID's were issued. We then had to take a taxi to the Pass and ID office and wait for 1 1/2 hours to get the ID's finalized and the Driver's licenses picked up. This office is worse than sitting in the DMV. It was our second time there and both times we had to wait forever before our names were called. We got both the ID and driver's licenses this afternoon though and we now feel a little freer...like we finally belong here. The next step is buying our car. We will, of course, have to also get used to driving on the left side of the road again. We've done this twice before so I know it should come easier for us but there's always an adjustment phase. For instance when you see someone driving down the road on a perfectly sunny day with their windshield wipers on, you know they are new. Many of the controls on the car are also opposite from what we are used to so we will have to adapt to that. We will probably spend some time this weekend looking for cars. I think we might finally venture off the base on our own.

In other news we felt our first earthquake here tonight. We were sitting in the living room watching TV. I had my feet up in the chair I was sitting in and Russ's were on the floor. I started feeling my chair shaking slightly and looked up to see if he was pushing it with his foot. He felt it at the same time and looked up to see if I was shaking the couch to get his attention. We both smiled in unison and said "earthquake?" It was a very mild one but enough of a shake that we knew without a doubt what it was.

Our poor little mailbox has been empty all week. We walk over to check it every day only to find emptiness. <sigh>. There's nothing like finding a mailbox full of mail. Thanks to those who have sent us welcome mail during our first week. I've tried to write back to anyone who sent mail our way. It is much appreciated. Postal rates to our box here are normal US rates. Only difference is that packages need to have customs forms attached. We've loved hearing from everyone whether it be emails sent or FB messages or texts. They all mean a lot to us.