If you have read my previous articles, you know I lived in Okinawa, Japan. I Lived there from January of 2014 to just last week on August 30th, 2016. I moved there to be with my husband and to start our life together. And what a great start we had.
When I first moved there I knew no one but my husband. I didn't know what to expect. Was I going to have to learn Japanese? Did anyone know any English? Was I going to be able to make friends? Was I going to be able to get a job? Would I find something I loved to do? None of the answers were a straight yes or no.
I did need to learn some basic Japanese so I wasn't seen as a rude foreigner. I never took a class but I tried to learn on my own. I admit I should have taken a class but I didn't have time. The few phrases I did learn I tried to perfect. I made sure to try and pronounce the words correctly, and I would ask for help if I needed it. Just by making an effort made a difference in how locals perceived you.
Some locals knew some English, but some didn't. It was better to learn some Japanese phrases than to assume everyone knew English. You would also be surprised to see some locals speaking perfect English.
I could easily make friends but I had to get out there in the world. I couldn't be the introvert I was. I had to go out with my husband and find groups to hang out with. Facebook was my best friend when I first got there. Thankfully technology has made things easier. I just went into the search bar and looked up whatever I wanted. I might have joined a ton of groups.
Jobs were actually easy if you knew were to look. But if you were to picky on a job, you weren't going to get one. When I got my job at a scuba shop I was excited. But it was one of the lowest paying American jobs on island that I know of. Many people didn't like the pay then would turn down a job offer. I would see on many Facebook groups, people complaining because they didn't have a job because they didn't have the qualifications. But I know my shop had job openings almost the whole time I was there.
I did find something I loved. I learned to scuba dive. I love the ocean, and I love seeing creatures in the wild. Working in a scuba shop I didn't get to dive often. Then when I became pregnant I wasn't allowed to dive. I then would snorkel, which is the next best thing to diving. The opportunity on the island is amazing. with it being one of the best islands to dive in the world.
My husband and I started our family on island. We learned what other cultures did as parents. We learned what we shouldn't do and what society has deemed "dangerous" but really isn't. We made lifetime friends on island, friends who will never change. My life on that island was one of the best things in my life, but I am glad to be back home. Okinawa will always have a place in my heart.
