USS George Washington Sailors

Put my g'daughter on the plane this afternoon, headed back to Japan.  She was supposed to have left in the morning but since her trip was via Chicago, we had to change.  She is spending the night in DC and flying out in the morning for Narita.  Cross your fingers that nothing hits DC before she is well on her way.

well hello group!  it's been quite awhile since i've posted here and it looks like i have ALOT of catching up to do!  i see that some of you are planning trips out here!  and katlanta, yay for making your it official!  so first things first, the reason why i haven't been on here is because....... i'm pregnant!  (eek!)  i have had awful morning sickness as well as an unbelievable amount of fatigue and haven't had the energy to keep up w/ "stuff".   if any of you remember, i only got married this past november and it seems as though i conceived about a week after!  i didn't realize any of this until shortly after i had gotten to japan...  so this is just another major change i am trying to adjust to. 

as for other news, let's see here...we had an earthquake the other day that registered at 5.2 just off the coast of the yokosuka area.  it seems as though those on the gw at the time didn't feel it, but i definitely did and it was the craziest thing.  here i am laying on my couch and the whole thing starts rattling off the ground!  no damage and everyone is ok.    the gw is also undergoing some maintenance and looking pretty ugly these days.  ha. 

well, if any of you ladies have any questions about your upcoming trips or anything else, feel free to ask.  i hope everyone is doing well, i know much of the U.S. got hit with some crazy weather!

thank you everyone!  bigDmom, you're telling me!  as soon as i start getting comfortable with one "stage" of my life, something else happens.  ha!  do you know that i still refer to my husband as "boyfriend" sometimes by mistake?  oops!

well, if any of you are planning a get-together in the yokosuka area, i'd love to try and meet you all.  i'll probably be a big 'ol blob by then, but i'll do my best.  :)

thank you everyone!  i will post a pic of "baby xbox" when i can (my sailor chose this nickname until we find out if it is a he/she).   sigh.  BOYS!

anyways, i was flipping back a few pages to see what i missed and i see there is a new member from chicago?  michelle?  if you're out there, hi! :)  i'm born and raised in the chicago area...wondering which area you're from!  i heard about the crazy "thundersnow" storm you guys had.  hope you made it out alive!  welcome to the group. :)

Congrats to you abc!  I am so jealous of all you moms that will be visiting your sailor!  I am hoping to go sometime this summer, being back in college full time does not leave a lot of time for travel!  Any suggestions on booking flights, hotels, etc...do most of you use a travel agent?

Also, my Girl Scout troop has so far collected almost 300 boxes of cookies to send to the GW.  We are also sending a care box every month with letters, homemade cookies, gum, etc.  Please let me know if any of your sailors get any of these items.  I would really like my girls to know where there gifts go.

Hope all of you are doing well, I have missed several weeks on here and am trying to catch up!  Have a great day!

Blessings,

Jen

wow, is everyone coming to japan?  how exciting!  feel free to ask me any questions as well since i've been out here about 3 months.  :)  i live off base in yokosuka, so i have a fairly good grasp on the town outside of the base gates.  :) 

and SueS, yes, we did get some snow!  the weather has been very unpredictable lately.  yokosuka barely got any snow ( none that stuck anyway), but i know the ikego base got enough to make snowballs.  since i got out here in dec., the weather has been fairly steady...it's almost always about 45-50 degrees during the day.  everyone make sure to pack well!  no need for down coats or anything.  a medium jacket should do and possibly an umbrella (you could get one for cheap out here as well). 

and i wanted to finally share a picture of the "baby".  :)  all is going well so far... still waiting for the nausea and fatigue to fully subside so i can explore japan some more!

abc, Thanks for sharing the picture of the baby.  I am sure it is exciting to see the baby when it is so little.  Be sure to get plenty of rest.

Sherrill, enjoy your visit with your son.  The time will go quickly so be sure to make every moment count.  

SueS, you are leaving the day I arrive.  We may pass each other in the airport.

Ant's Mom, we will overlap.  I will be in Atsugi but if you have a day when your sailor is tied up, it would be fun to meet.

Hello... Trying to get some information about who pays for what and when. My son wants to come home after A school and before heading to Japan.  Will he be responsible for the cost of transportation to home?  Will the Navy then fly him to Japan from the nearest local airport?  I'm assuming he won't have to return to Great Lakes just to fly out.  Thanks for any input.

Sue, when is your anniversary ... except we have been married much longer.

Sue, have a very safe trip!  I'm arrive a week later.

Sandra, love the picture of your son and family.  They are very attractive.

ant'smom, I have heard little from my sailor lately.  Kind of makes me nervous about my trip.  Please let's see if we can get together while there.  I would enjoy it.

hi ladies!  looks like i have a lot of catching up to do (again)...but here is some quick info for those who are traveling here soon as i see a bunch of questions about that.  (if they were already answered, i apologize!)  i had a friend visit me in january and she brought $750 in cash as well as her bank card/atm card as back-up.  she was out here for 6 days and was fine w/ the amount of cash she brought.  we did a lot of traveling, but you most likely won't spend as much as you think you will...most of the little eateries out here are not very expensive (ie. - along blue street).   my advice is to bring most of your money in cash just because finding an english atm COULD be a hassle (unless you are on base).  when i came out here, i did the same thing just to make my life easier. 

also, for anyone who won't be taking the shuttle from narita to the base (because it only operates at set times), it will cost you the equivalent of about $50 total for a one-way ride to yokosuka.  ask the info desk at the airport to direct you to the NARITA EXPRESS.  tickets are about 4000 yen it and you will take it all the way to yokohama.   from yokohama, i believe it's about about 700 yen to get to yokosuka.  so you will only have to transfer ONCE from the airport.  one thing to note: once you arrive at the yokohama station, you will need to purchase a pasmo train card from a machine and charge it up w/ money.  this is what you'll use to get to the yokosuka-chuo station.  this station is at the heart of blue street & about a 10 min. walk to the main gate...

ok, sorry to ramble!  if anyone has any specific questions, feel free to message me and i hope to help ease any of your worries! :)

@ RosemaryS.  thank you for the info.  Hopefully I will hear something today. 

I found out about an option for a rail pass/Narita Express (Suica NEX).  You need a non-resident passport (check), and you can purchase a rail pass (Suica) combined with a Narita Express ticket http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/suica_nex.html.  A round trip Narita Express ticket to Yokohama with 1500 yen on Suica is 5500 yen.  The Suica is much like the Pasmo card and can be used virtually interchangeably ... based upon what I read.

abc, my G'daughter is "supposed" to meet me at Narita but may not be able to get off.  I used Hyperdia.com to plan out a train trip between Narita and Sagamino (the closest station to Atsugi NAS).  I take the Narita Express to Yokohama and transfer there to the Sotetsu line.  Now my question is how difficult is it to transfer between lines at Yokohama?  I plan to have destinations written out in Konji but there is such limited time between trains that I get a bit panicky.

Someone recommended to me that I should call my credit card company to let them know the dates that I will be in Japan.  I did call my bank to ask about ATM charges.  When I have traveled to Europe and Canada, I found it much more reasonable in terms of fees and exchange rates to use my ATM card than I did using a bank or exchange place.

Okay, we are not going to that "waaaaay older like 30" remark.  Now my G'daughter says I will be treated very well given my snow-white hair.  She says that the Japanese will bow low.  We will see.

Hi everyone,

Don't have much to go on. All I know right now is my son will be leaving for Yoko and part of the GW real soon. It's a bit overwhelming and exciting at the same time. Kinda was just assuming he would be based in the states but what an adventure. LOL. I really don't have much more to go on and don't even know what to ask at this point in time. Just glad to be part of the group.   

thanks heatherose! Three yrs, wow. So your a pro at this huh?

Does he come home to visit? Have you been there? Do you get to communicate with him often? I've gotten used to A school and the fact that we talk almost every other night. I though with all the classing up he would be on wait for a while but he went right into class and is almost finished. He only arrive to A school end of Jan. Sorry for all the questions. I feel like I was pretty knowledgable until now.  

DC G'Mother- i really do hope your granddaughter will be able to meet you as it just makes life much easier!  i have a huge map of the tokyo railway system and that looks correct.  you take the NEX (narita express) to yokohama and get on the sotetsu line...  yokohama is a very busy train station and you might "freak" out a little as i did.  i know this may sound bad, but i am ALWAYS keeping my eyes peeled for someone who looks like they speak english and before i head towards a train or platform, i double check to make sure i'm going the right way.  :)  as for missing your train, it is not a big deal as there will be another one shortly.  also keep in mind that there are "limited express trains" and "local trains" when going to atsugi.  if you get on the local one, you will hit EVERY single stop and it will take you longer to get to your destination.  limited express ones only make a few big stops along your route.

as for traveler's checks, i have actually never used them, so i don't know much about them.  i have always been a cash person.  you would be surprised at how many places do not accept credit cards around here, so i am not sure if they would take traveler's checks.   the main base has "bank of america" and "navy federal" atms.  since i'm w/ bank of america, i don't get charged ANY type of fee (no international fee, no atm fee). 

i wish i could be of more help, but i am not familiar with atsugi.  my friend says it's about a 45 min-1 hr. drive from main base.  as i've mentioned, if you are near the yokosuka base, there is a currency exchange in town that has pretty good rates which averages at about 80Y to the dollar...but i see it at 82Y to the dollar sometimes. 

also for the suica card, my husband has one of those while i have a pasmo card.  not sure of the difference, but i have had no problems whatsoever w/ the pasmo and i've taken the trains everywhere.  also, the pasmo card only costs 500Y. 

i think that just about covers it?  hopefully, this helps anyone else who is coming out here soon.  any more q's?  feel free to ask!

Thanks, abc.  I also hope that my G'daughter can meet me.  I have traveled alone before and alone in foreign countries.  I think it is the different alphabet that uneases me.  I took Russian and that has a different alphabet but it does not combine stokes to make a word, each letter is a different symbol.  That seems easier. :-)

I appreciate the warning about Yokohama being large.  Okay, deep breath!  I have looked up alternative trains to Atsugi.

I have a NFCU account and am planning to use that when there but if the G'daughter doesn't get to the airport, I will have to exchange money at Narita.  I wasn't planning to use travelers cheques but plan to use the credit card if I go shopping.  I called the fraud department to warn them that I would be in Japan and not to refuse the card.  But after learning that credit cards may be hard to use, perhaps I will re-think that.

Sue, we should have coordinated when we made travel plans.  I will overlap with Ant's Mom and hopefully we will be able to get together if our sailors are working.  Want to join us, abc?  Maybe you could show us some good places to shop, although I'm not really a shopper.  I have a couple things on a list but not souvenirs.  DH ordered me to avoid souvenirs since we already have a full house. 

dc gmother, when are you out here again?  (sorry, can't keep all these dates straight).  i have a friend visiting me March 20th, but hopefully, we can all find a way to meet.  if anyone needs, i'd be glad to help you find places to shop/eat/etc.  :)

and if yokohama is the easiest route to atsugi, i'd suggest going that way.  it is a pretty straight forward train station...it just gets crowded at time and can be overwhelming.  just remember to breathe & read the signs.  before getting on any train, try to find someone to double check that you are going the right way... it's better to find out then rather than 20 min. into your train ride.  :) 

sue, will you be able to fly out as soon as narita opens back up?  from what i know, everyone is ok so far.  i am pretty upset because the gw asked those who work tonight to stay put.  but at the last minute, they changed their minds.  so my husband had to WALK to the ship at 9 pm, while there are still rumblings going on.  i understand that the ship may need all their sailors, but at the same time, the city of yokosuka is advising everyone to stay put. 

everyone is waiting for now, to hear what is going to happen next.  it has been 8 hrs. since the big one and i just felt a rumble about 30 min. ago.  no damage that i have seen around here, so i don't think there's a need to worry.  maybe a picture frame falling from the wall is the extent of damage that i've heard.

Hi, I found an article on Stars and Stripes and posted it to my Facebook account in case anyone wants to check it out re the situation in Japan. Very informative.

Carol McGuinn

My son has not yet reported to the ship and have not heard anything from him.  going a little crazy here not knowing anything.

FYI

Troops React to Japan Quake, Tsunami

www.military.com

 This article is provided courtesy of Stars and Stripes, which got its start as a newspaper for Union troops during the Civil War, and has been published continuously since 1942 in Europe and 1945 in the Pacific.

This should give you more info. :::)))

SueS...   :(    is all i can say.   of course we want our sailors to be safe & to help in any way they can...but the timing....

i hear that narita is opening back up soon.  i will msg. you if i hear anything new.  i am still hoping that you can travel here safely to see your son.  fingers crossed!

SueS, many hugs.  I know that you are very disappointed but relieved about your son.

Ant'smom, You have expressed it well.  Disappointment over a postponed/canceled trip is nothing compared to the devastation being experienced by the people of Japan.

I checked on the United site and they have posted a travel waiver through Tuesday, March 15.  That means one can get tickets changed at no cost.  We had to do that when my G'daughter was here in January.  She had been scheduled to fly through Chicago when that huge storm came.

abc, First of all, I'm glad you are okay.  The easiest way to get to Atsugi Air Station from Narita is to catch the Narita Express to Yokohama.  There I would transfer to the Sotetsu line and get off at Sagamino.  Assuming normal travel resumes, my g'daughter is planning to meet me in Yokohama.  She can't get off to meet me at Narita.

Now, personally, if she is going to be completely tied up or away assisting, then I am better off canceling or postponing my trip.  I am staying at the Navy Lodge and would not even be able to get to my hotel if she is not around.