Starting to get really nervous....

[NavyChiefs_Wife]

We leave in about 5 months for Japan and it's really starting to sink in that we're going to be leaving the country and I'm starting to get nervous. I've heard a lot of good things about Sasebo but I'm getting really nervous about living in a foreign country. The language barrier, learning my way around, the deployments, making new friends, my baby starting school, not being able to come home often, is all starting to sink in and I'm scared.

This is going to be a HUGE change for us and it's going to be a difficult change, especially for my kids. Sydney will be starting kindergarten, and DH will probably miss her first day of school along with a ton of other things. I just dread him going back to sea duty. The kids will be old enough to understand that daddy will be gone for months at a time and I just don't know how I'm going to handle it all. I know I will figure it out and I'm not the first to go through this but sitting here now and thinking about is overwhelming, I'm in tears writing this because it's just sooo much that I'll be taking on.

How do you ladies who have lived or are living overseas handle the change and the stress of a new country? When your SO deploys how do you explain it to your children?

[navygirl8407]

with me--I just got to Guam and it's just me and him..but I looked at it as an adventure. He will be deploying too off and on for the four years we are here. I am still thinking about the positives.
everything will be ok!

[autumnarun]

You'll be fine, Sasebo is great since its close to Fukuoka. My daughter loved Japan but she grew up there I guess. The locals are usually pretty nice but we have ran into some rude ones. You'll have a great time

[laurak]

Well, I do not have any words of advice, but I do know how you feel. If you still want, I would love to meet up when we are both settled in. They told everyone on my husbands boat that we will all be living out in town at first, so no base housing for us.
Do not freak out, It will all be ok. It will be an adventure and ou will have alot of support. Let me know exact dates when you know. Hopefully I will see you there

[NavyChiefs_Wife]

Originally Posted by laurak Well, I do not have any words of advice, but I do know how you feel. If you still want, I would love to meet up when we are both settled in. They told everyone on my husbands boat that we will all be living out in town at first, so no base housing for us. Do not freak out, It will all be ok. It will be an adventure and ou will have alot of support. Let me know exact dates when you know. Hopefully I will see you there

That would be great! What ship is your husband going to be on?

[Navgirl]

Originally Posted by autumnarun You'll be fine, Sasebo is great since its close to Fukuoka. My daughter loved Japan but she grew up there I guess. The locals are usually pretty nice but we have ran into some rude ones. You'll have a great time

It's the same in Korea, most of the people are very friendly but there are a few who are rude but they are few and far between. I have also found that many Koreans speak English, some just a few words and others are fluent so I haven't had too much trouble communicating. I try to use Korean when they let me, LOL! A lot of them want to speak English to practice.

I was scared coming to Korea because I had never been out of the US, not even to Mexico the 8 years we lived in San Diego. It's been fun, it's been an adjustment, sometimes scary because they are maniacs on the road here... I swear my blood pressure has gone up driving in Seoul! But their public transportation is one of the best in the world and I know Japan has a really great public transportation, too.

I bet you'll be fine and even if you end up not liking it you'll look back and appreciate the experience. I tell you what, living overseas for me has been an eye opening experience. I don't love Korea, I don't hate it and I am ready to go but I love that we got to do this. We will be leaving Korea in July 2010 and I will miss it.

[laurak]

He is on the Defender, its a mine sweeper. What boat is your husband on?
DH is there already and loves it. They have been sightseeing (saw monkeys on the side of the road and a waterfall). He has only run into a few people who do not speak english. He said there are a few stores that have a symbol that means American are not welcome. I do not know why, but its a red square with a blue X. It could be a blue square with a red X, im not sure. But he said its great. Big culture difference but a great experience. We will survive

[NavyChiefs_Wife]

Originally Posted by laurak He is on the Defender, its a mine sweeper. What boat is your husband on? DH is there already and loves it. They have been sightseeing (saw monkeys on the side of the road and a waterfall). He has only run into a few people who do not speak english. He said there are a few stores that have a symbol that means American are not welcome. I do not know why, but its a red square with a blue X. It could be a blue square with a red X, im not sure. But he said its great. Big culture difference but a great experience. We will survive

DH will be on the Tortuga. Part of me is excited about the "adventure" of living in a foreign country but the other part is sooo nervous. I know I'll survive, I guess it's just all of the unknowns that are getting to me.

[laurak]

I am with you on that. I do not have any little ones (I think I am the only wife on the boat) but I am sure that adds more stress. But just know you are not the only one (especially at that time). We are all moving in about 5 months. Do you know how long you will be there?

[NavyChiefs_Wife]

Originally Posted by laurak I am with you on that. I do not have any little ones (I think I am the only wife on the boat) but I am sure that adds more stress. But just know you are not the only one (especially at that time). We are all moving in about 5 months. Do you know how long you will be there?

We will be there 3 years. How long will you guys be there?