About Us

                                                     THE CREATION STORY

I'm Meredith. Meredith Novario. Once upon a time I lived on Okinawa. And in the beginning when Joe left for work it was just me, my baby boy, my morning sickness with a brand new baby boy, my quiet house and the life I did not have. We kept each other company except for those times when we actually had to leave the house to get food or gas. Everyone in the commissary, at stop lights and on the beach had friends and schedules and laughs to laugh. I couldn't find my place and I wanted a place. I wanted to know and learn and appreciate this mysterious, humid, wise island.

Okinawa Hai was born from my conviction that I wasn't the only one feeling this way. I wanted to create a community where people shared information and experiences so that others could do the same.

I'm now faraway in a land called Virginia. And with the support, intellect, humor and patience of all of the women behind the scenes here we have created something bigger and better than I could have imagined. I partner with each of these women to make this blog closer and closer to what you all want and need.

Get to know these women. Take their words to heart and let them help you custom-make your best Okinawan life.

Please send your comments, suggestions and feedback to me HERE.

                                                       MEET YOUR EDITORS

Kandy is the editor for Monday's TO LIVE category. Contact her HERE.

Hai there! I'm Kandy.  I was born in a small Idaho town to a Japanese mother (who's from Naha, but never returned to live in Okinawa since 1972) and a father in the Army.  Being raised in Hawaii, Georgia, California, Germany, Washington and all of the roads in between,  the military life is as home as it gets.  After high school, I became a cosmetologist.  Doing hair full time and pursuing a degree in elementary education full time didn't leave me with much quiet time. However, after a summer of reflection, I discovered that I needed a new path.  The break just before my senior year led me to join the Air Force as a linguist at age 24.  I learned Vietnamese in beautiful Monterey, CA and met a fellow linguist who finally translated to me what love meant.  We shared our first duty station at Fort Meade, Maryland.  We married two years later and planned our first son to be born in the Spring.  I've always felt in control.  Then motherhood changed everything.  When our son was eight months old,  the familiar queaziness told me not to get rid of any baby stuff just yet.  With a toddler and a newborn in tow, we knew that being a dual military couple was not for us.

Three and a half years ago I became a stay at home mother. It is the most challenging and rewarding job in my life.  My husband changed his job in the Air Force which brought us to Okinawa.  I never thought I'd get the chance to live here...from where my mother's childhood memories came.  But here I am, smelling that same Okinawan air, running through the same typhoons and seeking shade from the same blistering sun. We've lived here since Aug 2006.  Along with play dates, doing hair, managing the house, exploring the island, and reading blogs, I'm here to offer my experience and hear others' insights on how "to live" life to its fullest.

Joelle is the editor for Tuesday's TO WORK category. Contact her HERE.

I travelled outside the US for the first time when I was 16. After that, anytime I could save up a few extra dollars, I was on a plane again. I even quit my job, sold my house, bought a backpack and travelled around the world during my 29th year. And though I had never really considered marrying "the military" it certainly has worked to fuel my passion for travel!

My husband and I dated and married while in Hawai'i, then moved to Cornwall, England for three years, and then happily got stationed here. Since my husband is half Japanese, it's fantastic to be here. However I am always amazed to find fellow military personnel who don't ever go anywhere... who just stay on base!! I hope that through the Saturday's posts I'll be able to encourage you to travel and enjoy this amazing country even if just for a day trip here or there.

Larissa is the editor for Wednesday's TO SHOP category. Contact her HERE.

I have been a wife to my Marine for over 15 years and I wouldn’t change a thing about our life that we like to refer to as “the great expedition”! I met my Marine in Oregon, on recruiting duty, and this is our second tour on Okinawa. We have been stationed in Klamath Falls, OR; El Toro, CA;  Okinawa x 2; Quantico, VA and 29 Palms, CA.

We are the proud parents of our four-legged, furry family member, Socks. We rescued her from the Kadena Marina in 1998 and she has enjoyed being our travel companion all these years. She reminds me to have fun daily and that a walk around our block can be very exciting! She’s also my number one supplier of great things to blog about!
 
My favorite pastimes are eating out, scrapbooking, eating out, stamping, eating out and “doing” lunch with friends!!! I am a member of OIWC, PWOC, MOSC, NIOSC, NOSCO – I’m obviously very social. We live outside of Camp Courtney and love living off-base. I am turning 40 this year and my favorite quote is by Anne Quindlen “The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you’ll have.”  My goal is to truly believe that and live my life accordingly.

Kelly is the editor for Thursday's TO EAT category. Contact her HERE.

I’m supposed to offer up some sort of biographical information. I’ve been wracking my brains to come up with a juicy morsel of who I am without being either a) pompous or b) boring. So, I’ll cop out and give you Me in list form.

Age: 32

Hometown: None. A military brat. Answers may include southeast USA/Europe, everywhere, North Carolina.

Profession: English as a Second Language Teacher

Favorite style of cooking: Transitioning from Mexican to Korean

Most Memorable Meal: Peking duck at restaurant off Tienamen Square. On first night in Asia. With Chinese lady. Amongst red glowing lanterns. Old men playing ma-jong in the street. Crispy, fatty duck with plum sauce and dish after dish of soups, vegetables, meats and sauces. And the perfect, cold thirst-quenching Chinese beer.

Favorite Restaurant Off-Base: Mintama in Yomitan

Favorite Restaurant On-Base: I’d have to say the Subway at the Spot on Camp Foster, if only because the workers’ efficiency never fails to impress me. Although, those little pink stamps are annoying as hell, if you ask me. Which you didn’t.

Favorite Okinawan/Japanese food: Fried cheese. Okay, so I guess that’s not necessarily Japanese. But they do it very well here! Not that chewy mozzarella crap. I also like goya champuru and benimo. Oh, and the cream puffs from Michelle’s bakery in Yomitan.

Japanese food that I wish I liked, but don’t – yet: Natto. Sorry natto lovers.

People, alive or dead, that I’d invite to a dinner party, if I could invite anyone: Oprah (love her), Pablo Picasso (seems like he would be a fun guy, plus maybe he’d scribble something on my napkin), and, I don’t know, maybe James Brown for dancing. Or Prince.

And finally…

If I were to be able to choose a last meal on earth, it would include these things: My husband’s made from scratch buttermilk blueberry pancakes, my husband’s garlic, prosciutto grilled cheese sandwich, my brothers mouth-watering steak, my mom’s chocolate cake. Paired with a café con leche, a glass of red wine, a cool black and tan, and a tall cold glass of milk, respectively.

So, now that that’s done, food lovers one and all. We at Okinwahai invite you to proffer up your culinary discoveries. Regail us with your gastronomic adventures on the island. Unveil your secret gem of a restaurant. Your favorite bento place, soba shop, izakaya, or oasis of a café. Unleash your questions, your suggestions, your anything having to do with food or eating here on Okinawa. Just send it in and we’ll post it. Include directions please! Until then,

Itedakemasu!

Dasha is the editor for Friday's TO DO category. Contact her HERE.

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s – SUPER-MOM! (yea! The crowd goes wild!) If you’re like everyone else, eyes skyward, straining to catch a glimpse of this amazing woman, then you won’t see me. I’m not flying through the sky delivering cupcakes to the 1st grade while coaching soccer and blending organic smoothies. That’s not my bag, baby. I’m the one on the edge of the crowd, digging around in the planter trying to catch the mouse I just saw. Yeah, there I am, that’s me. No make-up, hair up in a haphazard pony’, wearing a T-shirt that’s more my husbands size than my own (er, actually it’s exactly his size because I took it out of his drawer when I realized mine were all dirty). Funky sunglasses – no, not “fun”-ky, but “funk”-y: I threw a screw an' now the lens pops out and swings from the remaining screw at the most inopportune times! I keep forgetting to pick up a new pair. Yep, that’s me. An unusual woman, perhaps, because I truly couldn’t care less about my appearance – life is too short, and some adventure is always calling. Who has time for hair?! I’d much rather toss on a ball cap and go exploring. And that’s precisely what I’m going “to do” as editor for Okinawa Hai. I’m going to explore every inch of this island, and blaze a trail for you to follow. Heard of a place-to-go or a thing-to-do but don’t have time to check it out yourself? Drop me a line and I’ll draw you a map to adventure!

Staci is the editor for Saturday's TO LEARN category. Contact her HERE.

I'm Staci, the new editor of To learn. I am a bay area native (Livermore) but have lived lots of places since college. I am lucky enough to have called Japan my home for the last (almost four years). I've known my husband Steve (Navy doc-whose deployed on the Essex)  since I was sixteen.  Not to bore you,  I 'll write about my life in vignette form.

My Loves: A picture is suppose to tell a thousand words, but not with Sebastian. Even when I see his name in print, my heart smiles. Sometimes I google his name to find out what great things other Sebastians are doing, but usually it's in another language. I think the most surprisingly aspect of having a son is just how sweet they can be.

My livelihood: I've been teaching (since I was five- my mother reminds me). My first "toy" was a chalk board. I started teaching high school English at the ripe old age of 23 in San Fransisco. Here on island I teach ESL through Central Texas College. An avid reader, I find words. A bit of a word-whore, I can tell you the grafitti on specific bathroom stalls. .Just don't ask me to tell you my phone number- or anything else with digits. You'll also find three or four books going at once, in a pile.

My Hopes with the blog: After four years in Japan, I am really starting to notice the subtleties of life here-  in the details and nuances of culture that you could never get a feel for unless you live here. I hope to uncover ( with research, of course) the deeper layer of all things Japanese.

Jannine is the editor-in-waiting for Saturday's TO LEARN category. Contact her HERE.

It’s never easy to try and condense into one or two paragraphs a summarized description of “who you are.” I mean, how do you take almost forty years of life experiences and pool them all into one short summary. I’m not sure really, so I’ve decided instead to share with you one specific period in my life which is in many ways the stimulus for what I hope to achieve as your To Learn Editor:

A former JET teacher (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program), I came out to Japan in 2000 to teach English on Yoron Island. I remember being excited at the time, and yet apprehensive at the thought of moving with a young child to a small Japanese island where no other foreigners lived. I also remember  friends questioning my decision (and sanity), and wondering why on earth I would leave my home in New Zealand where my daughter was obviously very happy. But what did they know?

Apparently more than me.  Life on Yoron was hard! No one to speak English to, nobody to help me identify all the weird looking food on the supermarket shelves, no females to sit with at my male-dominated work functions, no English schools for my daughter to attend, and no English TV, newspapers, or radio. I don’t recall how many times my daughter cried during her first six months at the local preschool, and I don’t recall how many times I called home seeking assurance from my Dad that everything would be okay (he’s the only one I knew would never say “I told you so”), but surprisingly life got a little easier as each day passed by.

Life on Yoron may have started out as a place which isolated me from all things familiar, but it ended up being a place which opened my eyes to so many new and wonderful things (it’s also where I met my Marine husband). But I guess what I am trying to say, is that the two years I spent on Yoron Island gifted me with lifelong friendships and memories that are so unique that I can never forget them. And as your To Learn Editor, I hope to discover many new and interesting things about Okinawa (and Japan in general), that will enhance your experience here and help make it as equally rewarding as my experience was on Yoron.    

Heather is the editor for Sunday's TO PARENT category. Contact her HERE.

My standard answer to the dreaded “Tell Us About Yourself” query is usually short and sweet, like this: I’m a 28-year-old Army wife and stay-at-home mommy to my 2 children, a 5-year-old daughter, and a year-and-a-half old son.

As you’ll discover, my writing is anything but short.  Sweet, perhaps, but not short.  I can be a bit… wordy.  So it’s ironic that when it comes to talking about me, I find myself lacking in ways to describe who I am.  But here’s my attempt:

I was born and raised in CT, in the house where my parents still reside today.  Both sets of my grandparents lived close by.  My roots were strong, and I’d planned on returning home after I finished college.  I stepped out of my comfort zone when I chose to attend a women’s college 600 miles away in VA, and while I was there I met a young man who convinced me that not returning home, and instead taking a chance on him, would be fun.  

We dated for a year and a half before we got engaged, and had planned our wedding for a year later, after I’d graduated.  But when he received orders to go to Germany with a report date 2 weeks prior to our planned wedding date, we made some changes.  Instead, we wed 2 weeks before I returned to school for my senior year, and on the day that I moved back into my dorm room, he moved into barracks for an Army school.  9 months later I graduated from college and a week after that we found ourselves on a plane to Germany; newlyweds more in the fact that we hadn’t yet lived in the same state than in terms of time.  In the 7 years since we made that first move to Germany, we’ve lived in SC and CO, and made the choice to bring our two children back overseas, this time to Okinawa in August 2008.  I am a full-fledged military spouse… and I’ve discovered that I really love that title.

Now I’m a stay-at-some mommy.  I’m also an improving-every-day home cook, a still-new runner, a voracious reader, a blogger, and now, the editor of Okinawa Hai’s ‘To Parent’.  I’m here to pass along what I’ve learned as a military parent and spouse, as well as help you and me both figure out how to make the most of being a military family on this strange and fantastic island.  I welcome the challenge of finding the answers to your questions, and hope we can learn about how to make this tour a great one for our families!

Comments

[jamie Charles]

Hey i was just wondering how could i get my preschool on your website. My friend sent me your link and i saw you had preschools on there. I own Just For Me preschool near camp Courtney. please let me know thank you so much

[Will Marjenhoff]

Wondering if we could link each other. I created Okinawa Churches about 6 months ago and have just recently started updating it with a flash etc. My link is http://www.okinawachurches.com and every service on my site is FREE! Thanks

[Trampy Jane]

Hi there. I like your website and your desire to deliver useful information to others that may follow in your footsteps. My husband, infant son, and I have been traveling for a while now. We noticed a lot of peculiarities when traveling and also thought it would be good to find a way to deliver some of our experiences to others that may follow. We started a website and travelblog with another couple in an effort to do just that. I was wondering if you would be interested in exchanging url links? Take a look at our site and let me know if you are interested. Our website is http://www.magellanschild.com.

[dionna]

i want to know,do you guys have/sale cotton and fleece fabric? im new to the country i hear that house of 66,is the place for fabric..thank you for your time!!

[Julia]

I've never been to House of 66 but I've been to another fabric store in the same general area called Sanzo and they have cotton fabric for sale there. I wasn't looking for fleece at the time so don't know about that.

[Andrea]

Hey Meredith,

I was trying to e-mail you but like most everything, i have lost it...:( a sad thing that i have come accustomed too! So i will just ask you on here..i was needing some help on gathering the items on the school list for the kids. now did you make alot of the items, such as the bags and placemat, which alot have seemed to do, or were you able to purchase them somwhere..thanks once again for your help....

~Andrea

[Rosie]

Wanted to know if anyone recommends a good photographer. I want to take maternity photos and would like a reliable source?

Thanks,
Rosie

[Cambria]

I just had some pics taken by Cherry Blossom Family Photography - they specialize in maternity, hospital visits, infant, family and children. I really like Laurie (the photographer). Prices are VERY reasonable and they have special reduced session fees once a month as well. You can also shoot in their studio which is in their house on Shields or you can go shoot on a beach or at a waterfall. We chose studio because the weather is still so unpredictible - good thing, it rained the day of our shoot. Their website is: www.cherryblossomfamilyphotography.com You can go look at the galleries and see if you like them. They respond very quickly to emails as well. This is a home business, so keep that in mind when you go. They are very relaxed and I felt very comfortable there. Oh yeah, studio sessions are for one hour and beach sessions are 2 hours (photographers usually don't spend that much time with you). Laurie took tons of pictures to insure she got some great shots, and she definitely did. Good luck with your pregnancy - I only have a month left in mine!

Cambria

[Kelly]

backyard-photography is pretty good with maternity sessions too. She will either go to your house or to the beach. I loved mine.

backyard-photography@hotmail.com

[DiAnna]

I was just wondering where exactly the fabric stores were located at?

Thanks

[Julia]

Check the comment section of the following post for directions to House of 66 and Sanzo.

http://okimama.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/crafter-without-a-craft-2/#comments

[Bambi]

Jamie-
Where is the Just for Me preschool? How much does it cost and what ages do you take? Is it english or Japanese? We are looking for a place for our daughter.
Thanks

[Julie]

Does anyone know who makes usudeku in Okinawa? Or do you know where there is a good Okinawan drum maker that could make usdudeku? I need some before December 25, 2008. A friend is coming to Hawaii on December 26 and could bring for me.

[Meredith]

Julie,

I have no idea what usudeku is. I googled a bit and it sounds like it's a festival. Is it also a kind of drum? Would love to know more.

Thanks,

Meredith

[Vera]

Happy New Year! Imagine my surprise when I see the smiling faces of Koza Seibo moms on the editors page. Now that I've discovered you on line, Kaho and Meredith, please allow me to supply some info for you and the readers. We are in the process of creating a social justice center here on Okinawa. One of the first projects will be a bilingual resource directory. I know that many people reading this site are busy with family responsibilities, but this is a great opportunity to volunteer (translation: we can't afford to pay you yet), learn about Okinawa, create a lasting legacy and make a difference in the lives of children on the island. It would look great on a resume too! If you are interested in helping on a short or long term basis, please email me. The work is great for stay at home parents or career folks --either way you can work from home and decide how many hours to put into it. Also, you can work in teams or groups--a nice opportunity for members of a club or organization to collaborate. Here you are in Okinawa, so grow where you are planted!!For more info, email me at verafry@hotmail.com.

[Billy Fanska]

You have a very nice site coming along. We would like to offer our listing as something to do in Okinawa. We take people fishing, from 7 to 97 years of age. We are fully incorproated in Japan, and can be found on the Okinawa Prefecture official tourism site, "Mahae Plus". We have done a segment for Discovery Channel that is expected to air this month in Asia. "Okinawa Island Guide" featured us on a 2 page spread for offshore fishing. We are also listed in "Okinawa Explorer", "Okinawa Marine Arcives", US Army's "Eagle" publication, "International Angler", and listed in the 2008 issue of "World Record Game Fishes". We offer our service in English, Japanese, limited Chinese, and limited Korean.

We invite you to review our website. If we are included in your site we will place a reciprocal link on our website. We have received more than 6 million hits on our site over the last 4 years.

May 2008 be your best year ever!

[Kelly Larson]

Cherry Blossom Festivals. This is my first year here and I was wondering if anyone has been to any of the 3 festivals and what happens there? I know of 3, Nago, Nakijin Castle, and Mt. Yae. All three are in the Nago area. My husband and I are just wondering what they do at the festivals and if it would be a little more enjoyable to go to a smaller one rather than the big Nago one.

Thanks!

Kelly

[Jennifer]

I know there is a lot here in the comments section about the fabric stores on island but could anyone do a whole thing on them w/ directions for whenever this lockdown is lifted. I am really interest in the location of the one (Rainbow House?) that Kadena ITT offers a "tour" to.
Thanks!

[aviva]

Jennifer, check out: http://www.freewebs.com/beadingclasses/directionscraftstores.htm
thanks to Karoline on the "Crafter without a craft" post :)

My friend is into beading, and we're going to check that out when we're out again too!

[Shannan]

Assuming this "reflection" ends today, does anyone know where you can go see anything to do with Hina Matsuri, the Festival of Dolls which is today, Thanks!

[Heather Magnuson]

Kelly, If you are planning on going to the "Rainbow House" on your own, make sure you go into Schilling and ask them to show you on an actual map. The directions that they have printed up are horrible and you would never find it from them. I had the girl look it up on the internet then pinpoint it on the yellow pages map...made my life much easier. I would give you directions if I could, but I don't really remember. Good luck!

[MA]

Hi! I'm in the moving process from the US to Okinawa and so I started a blog to remember my trials and tribulations as well as to inform others! Seems like there's a lot of blogs out there like mine! Anyway, just wanted to share!

[Kaho]

Jennifer, I hope to do a post on fabric store, but I can't promise... I've got handful of kids, but will try! If you have been to any fabric stores and have some info. to share, I would love to use yours in the post!

[Caroline Hutto]

House of 66 Yen is on 330 south of Camp Foster. Conviently, there is another fabric store that shares its parking lot (2 for 1!) If you come out the Legion gate, turn right onto 330 until you see a huge sign on your left. If you miss it, you'll know because you'll end up back on route 58.

[MA]

Hi! Couple questions for ya... 1) are we allowed to bring a vehicle to Oki? 2) are my kids going to need footed pjs in the winter? 3) does the military lending closet have pillows or do we need to bring our own in our suitcases? Thanks a ton!

[Snuff]

Hey MA,

Welcome to the community and I'm sure you'll love Okinawa. I hope I can answer a few of your questions:

1. I'm almost positive you can't bring your POV to Okinawa. We drive on the wrong side of the road and the emission standards are different. Here's a link for some discussion: http://www.okinawahai.com/my_weblog/2007/03/whered-you-buy-.html#comments

2. The winters aren't that cold, but it does get cool. I think we had a low of 52 degrees this winter, so it depends on your kids. More discussion: http://www.okinawahai.com/my_weblog/2007/04/should-it-have-.html

3. Pillows...I'll let someone else answer that question...I recommend sticking it in your express shipment.

[Kimberly]

I've seen pillows at the exchange for $2. They'll certainly get you through a few weeks until your shipment arrives.

[Meredith]

MA,

There is some recent discussion in the Japan Update Forums about bringing your own vehicles to Okinawa. That issue is addressed in this (http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4730) thread. Not at first but in the second or so page.

I hope that helps!

[Michelle]

Hey everyone! Any suggestions of how to get a visa so that I can live with my boyfriend in Okinawa, without getting married??? I've got a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate and I'm a Yoga instructor! Also willing to do almost anything :-)

Any info would be greatly appreciated :-)