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Comment by MarianneKT's Mom on May 6, 2012 at 2:14pm

It's official!

Katie Re-enlisted!

In the last month Katie has rec'd her EAWS and ESWS, gone through the official hull swap ceremony, re-enlisted and is hours away from heading toward her new command in Norfolk.

Comment by hunter's mom kyann HOOYAH on May 5, 2012 at 7:54pm

thank you all!  i have checked flights.  i found on orbitz and delta (which is what orbitz has too) a 15 1/2 hr flight from columbus, ohio for around $1400.  i don't know all the stuff about the Navy as to when they man the rails, so please excuse my ignorance there, sharon.  :)  i will check out your pics.  so, then, if they don't man the rails when they're not going to their home port, that settles my mind a bit...haha 

i forget, if we stay at a Navy lodge, does hunter have to make those reservations? 

i'll need to wait to make all arrangements 'til i hear from the BHR saying we have a spot.  praying for that!

hope all are enjoying the weekend.  beautiful weather here--oh yeah, watch for the super moon tonight! :-D

Comment by cathyo Ship 11 Div 063 on May 5, 2012 at 3:14pm

Kyann, so excited for you!  Love hearing about all of the plans!  Good luck with everything!

Comment by Kim on May 5, 2012 at 2:06pm

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Yokosuka/index.htm  You will find a lot of information on this page.

Under the section getting here, it explains where the DOD booth is.  They are there for the military and DOD personnel, but they speak English and would happily give you directions on the train, etc.  I think the bus might be space available.

Comment by hunter's mom kyann HOOYAH on May 4, 2012 at 12:05pm

OH MY now i am so excited with all this help!  would love to take more time off, but don't think it would be good for work/finances.  :(  we will try to go at least a couple days early.  but you guys think the ship will already be there then?  pooey! i wanna see them man the rails!!!  :)  i just pray we don't miss that boat!  so, there is a base in yokosuka and a navy lodge, right?  that is where the cruise starts, then ends in sasebo.  i really wasn't looking forward to that long bus ride.  thanks for that info, marianne!   what airlines do you suggest?  i figure we're looking at minimum of $2000/person.  will i make arrangements to yokosuka or narita?  tokyo is close too, isn't it? 

thank you ALL for your help. 

Comment by Kim on May 4, 2012 at 11:37am

Kyann, in Narita there are several information booths, but the best bet is to find the DOD booth.  They can help you with directions.  They have a bus that drives to the base for $35.00, but I think you have to have DOD id.  (I took it but I have id).

I suggest some yen just in case, since you won't see your sailor right away.  You can get it at the airport.  I got $200.00, but I was traveling on business and did not get to see my sailor.

Check with your credit card company to see if they charge a foreign transaction fee.  It can be quite expensive to use your credit card out of the country (the base is not foreign).  I know Capitol One does not charge it.  You can always use travelers checks.  I used my credit card on base and cash off base.

Sharon is right about notifying the banks and credit cards.  They call you when they see foreign transaction and you have not notified them of your travel plans.  If they can't get a verification they may suspend your account.

I don't have a debit card.  The bank on base cashed a check for me and charged the same fee as an atm.

Comment by MarianneKT's Mom on May 4, 2012 at 7:23am

Kyann - The ship will already be in port, so they won't be 'manning the rails'.  If you arrive in Sasebo and try to meet the bus, how will you get on base w/o your sailor? This time, the bus trip would be most beneficial for families already on the base.

 YES - make hotel arrangements.  Katie made ours at the Navy Lodge in Sasebo, but believe Sharon (or others) may have made their own.  Katie also made arrangements for a hotel after the Tiger cruise, but can't remember the city, just remember it was close to China Town;) - not the base. If possible, I would see if you could get the Navy Lodge at both bases for before and after, if possible.

I didn't exchange $$, Katie said I didn't need to, she would take care of it.  Basically we paid for what we could on our VISA and when we needed yen, she treated!!

If I was going, I would fly in to Narita just ahead of the cruise and then spend extra time in Sasebo and fly out of Fukuoka.  In 2010, we flew Detroit->Seoul-> Fukuoka and Katie met us there (Armando met Ingrid then too) afterwards we flew Narita-> Detroit direct.  Our trip, was obviously, the reverse of this year's Tiger Cruise.

 

Comment by hunter's mom kyann HOOYAH on May 3, 2012 at 10:48pm

i did go back and read the email and located the dates, thanks to some nice people helping me out.  :)

i am really nervous about making flight arrangements.  they offer a 18-19 hour bus ride from sasebo to where the tigers are to meet the ship.  i really don't look forward to another loooonnng ride, however, if i would be safer and sure to meet the ship with other people doing the same thing, that might be the best option.  i have never flown to a foreign country, and am a little anxious.  any suggestions are welcome, here! 

should we exchange money before going and any suggestions as to how much to take?  should we make any hotel arrangements for when we arrive back in sasebo? 

i have emailed the questions to the bhr, too, still welcome any and all help from you guys.  thanks!

i would really love to see the manning of the rails, but if we take the bus ride, not sure we would be able to see that.  ??

thanks, jane, for your tips, too!

marianne, i bet you are so excited to have katie closer. 

Comment by MarianneKT's Mom on May 3, 2012 at 1:43pm

Katie shared pics of her re-enlistment ceremony.  Extended 4 years.  When she has served her time on the Bush she will have shore duty. 

Comment by Kim on May 3, 2012 at 12:47pm

Marianne, my son only had to add 6 months to his enlistment to get the new orders.  He left Japan April 2011 and his enlistment time now ends April 2013.  He will be 6.5 years (enlisted Oct. 2, 2006) and due for shore duty.  That might be the difference.

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