Notice Any Differences?

In our everyday travels around Okinawa, we often come across things which highlight some differences in cultures. After being here for several months, we've gotten used to many things here in Okinawa and don't even think twice about them. I took this photo outside a Lawson (similar to an American 7-eleven, only much nicer!).
It wasn't until looking at the photo that several things popped out at me.
Take a look....What do you notice??

Some things I noticed:
The phone- seems in the states that pay phones were not always easy to find. Here they seem very easy to find, even around town.... AND the phone books are usually intact.
The cigarette machine. Where is the last cigarette machine you saw in the states?? I think the last one I saw was inside a bar. Not as common as the soda machines (of course, since they are EVERYWHERE!), but readily found.
The "But Can"- so you don't have to put out your cigarettes on the ground. (and conveniently placed right next to the cigarette machine!)
The Trash Cans- count them, one, two, THREE for recycling your trash (plus an extra can for regular trash)- all nicely color coded. And the locals use them! Even the trash cans seem clean here.

Another thing which is not quite as apparent in the photo- the sidewalks outside the stores are clean. I often see the shop keepers outside sweeping up around their stores. Sure there is trash around, but I have to say things appear much cleaner here then in the states (and I would hazard a guess that a lot of the trash I see around come from non-locals)

December 1, 2008

Housing is Going Green!

Well, kinda...
These are the "Towers" on Camp Foster- right near Kubasaki High (Matt's school). They have been working on the outside for several weeks now- looks like they are repainting them. It is quite a job to put this netting up- there is a complete structure of scaffolding for the workers underneath.

I can't help but think of how weird it must look on the inside...looking out through all that green!

When they do exterior work on buildings here, they always put the netting up. I'm not sure if this is because buildings are so close, the fact that it is often breezy, or if there is a safety reason....
I know when our neighbors in Anacortes painted the outside it made a mess at our house- our crop of apples that year all had to have paint scrubbed off.

Anyway, just thought this was interesting!

Some Things Never Seem to Change...

CURRENT GAS PRICES
November 3, 2008

Since we have been here in Okinawa, gas prices haven't changed. Apparently the price is set by agreement between the bases and the Japanese Government. They have a complicated formula they use to determine the gas prices, and since we have been here the price has been set at $4.06 for unleaded. It was supposed to readjust in October, but as time rolls on there is no change in sight. Latest news report in the Stars and Stripes stated the price would remain unchanged until at least December.

Apparently the bases here had no problem raising the gas prices weekly when prices were going up, but now they say they are still losing money and they won't be lowering the cost. Japan and Okinawa bases are the only places with the gas prices locked in right now- prices on bases worldwide are dropping rapidly.

Prices at the local gas stations are falling- right now the cost of gas off base is about 111 Yen a liter (or $4.20 a gallon). Before long, we'll be buying our gas off base!

We're very jealous to hear about falling gas prices in the states!

Does That come in REAL Size Too??

A Coke for You Dad....

(Okay, if you aren't family you probably don't get the joke- sorry!)

Seems everything here in Okinawa comes in miniature- vehicles, serving sizes of food and drinks at restaurants, clothes, people (we feel like giants), shoes...and SODA!

Yes, they have super-size sodas too- the sodas in the soda machines (more on the soda machines another time) are actually larger than the American ones.

This can of "Baby Coke" was just too cool to pass up. We thought of you, Dad (even though it isn't Diet Coke!). Far cry from the 2-liter bottles...

Stay tuned for more posts regarding beverages in Okinawa.

(a Thank You to David for once again being my photo prop!)