Trip to the store

Just some stuff we we saw on the way to the store.  Sgt Sather is standing next to a japanese SUV.  It cracks me up how small they make the cars here.  The little pond is just down the hill from the barracks I am staying in.  It just rained so the water is all mucky but normally its crystal clear.  There was a little memorial stone by it that said its part of an ancient spring that used to provide water the little village that used to be here.  No we didn't blow up the village to build the base.  The village was gone a long time ago.  At least I don't think we blew it up? hmm

Marine Corps slang

Here is a link to a site with some Marine Corps slang so you civilian folk can understand what I am talking about half the time.  I know there is at least one old Jarhead in the family that won't need to it.  Just copy and past it in a new window.     

   

 http://www.thefontman.com/marinedictionary.html

I made it to Japan.

Well after like 30 hours of flying and sitting in airports I am here in Japan.   Its safe to say I was a little tired and looking forward to getting some sleep.  I am in the JRC barracks which is where all the single marines come for orientation and such when they get to the Island.   So far it has been nothing but formations to let everyone know when the next formation will be.  I've never understood why they think Marines need to stand in the shape of a rectangle just to hear when we need to form up again.  At least I get my own room cause I am an NCO and don't have to deal with some PFC fresh out of bootcamp asking a million questions.  Thats what the formations are also good for.  "CPL what is the fleet like?" "what are those wings on your camies for?" (thats the favorite question so far) I guess I can't blame them though cause I remember what is was like to have no idea what was going on when I went to my first duty station.

I didn't get to see much of actual japan yet.  It was night when I was driven from the airport to the base.  I felt like I was in a need for speed video game.  It was just lots of blue and red neon lights, crazy looking cars, guys on scooters all over the place, and us packed into a little tin can of a van ( which the duty driver drove like a corvette ).  Once I get out of JRC next week and get to the fleet I will be able to add some pictures and things for you all to see.