Yokosuka, Japan Moms

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Comment by Jane(Steph's mom) 5 hours ago

dawna, she's definitly not alone on the GW. Steph's ship is also in port. Just realized that your daughter is probably having the time of her life with her newfound friends. Steph went up to Tokyo and saw a 4 hour Guns & Roses show! These kids take care of each other. It's very hard on us too. Stephanie was away once before when she did a study abroad in Russia. There were even less emails and hardly no phone calls. But her Russian family, although they did not celebrate Christmas, made it nice for her. the hardest thing is not hearing our kids voices. We don't have skype set up. It wouldn't do much good as Steph's house isn't wired for internet. She emails from the ship or internet cafes. It does get easier and the time goes faster. Start planning a trip there - even if' it's a year from now or 2 years from now and take time in 3 month increments. Just think their life experience will be so much richer than ours ever was and we can be glad for that. Focus on the positive stuff. If you other groups are too gloomy, visit other groups. A good one is MomsofDaughters2. They're very active and it's fun just to read and add every once in awhile. Jane

Comment by dawna 9 hours ago

Thanks for the info-will give it a try!!. Just left a msg on another group dealing with the lonliness and emptiness of not having my daughter home for the holidays..any advice??

Comment by Jane(Steph's mom) 21 hours ago

Oh... it will ask you how often you want to be alerted. I have mine set for once a day but I get one - sometimes an old one every week or so.

Comment by Jane(Steph's mom) 21 hours ago

You google Google Alerts and it will direct you to sign up. You put in a couple of key words. For you it would be USS George Washington and maybe 7th Fleet? Some of the alerts are dumb but during the summer when the ships are out the activity and articles are very interesting. Last summer I got alot from Australian newspapers about all the activities going on around australia.

Comment by dawna 23 hours ago

My daughter is aboard the USS George Washington in Japan. She loves it!! Didn't like Hong Kong though.This is the 1st xmas we are all not going to be together-I am very sad..and I cry alot. Hey Jane..(Stephs mom).how do you set up for google alerts??I have asked this question before but got no answer.I save every email, from her so I can continue to be connected to her!!

Comment by Jane(Steph's mom) on December 15, 2009 at 4:30pm

I'm sure they would have called you if he did not arrive. You would be his emergency contact. Stephanie went to Japan, had to wait 3 hours for a bus to the base and did not have a Japanese cell phone yet. I want to say it was a couple of days because they're so busy and don't really know what they can or cannot do. You will hear from soon. He probably has a sponsor sailor that has been taking care of him. Try emailing him. Maybe he can log on at sponsor's house. My daughter loves Japan even though it was very hectic at first. Her sponsor was great. Now it's been 6 months and she thinks nothing about hopping on a train to Tokyo with friends, sightseeing. They also have tough work schedules - sometimes 7 days in a row. So sometimes it's been over a week even when they're in port before I hear from her. Start a photo album and email album so that when you do hear from him you print it all off and keep it in order. Helpful websites include www.navy.mil and www.c7f.navy.mil (which is the website of the 7th fleet.) Search your son's ship on those sites. Also set yourself up with Google Alerts. Specify ship name and type of ship. Whenever an article is published with your ship name anywhere in the world you get an email Google Alert. It's very active when the ships are deployed in the summer. Sometimes that's the only way to keep track of where they are. Good luck and join many groups. If your sailor is female, a great group is MomsofDaughters2.

Comment by momof2sailors(1down1togo) on December 15, 2009 at 2:09pm

How long does or did it take for your sailors to call and say they made it to Japan? My son left Saturday night and I have not heard anything yet. Makes me worry.

Comment by Millye on December 9, 2009 at 1:59pm

That is such a GREAT idea! Thanks so much!

Comment by Jane(Steph's mom) on December 9, 2009 at 8:48am

Millve, deposit money into her account and let her buy one in Japan before she leaves. She can bring it home, you wrap it and it'll be guaranteed to work over there

Comment by janis on December 9, 2009 at 6:35am

my son can't come home yet he said hes coming home when the ship dry docks . i sure do miss him he is on the blueridge . he has called and doing ok . is b-day is friday

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