Extending the Navy Family

A couple of months ago, I responded to a post on a Facebook group page for Naval Officers' Spouses.  A few people were looking for information on Japan.  I volunteered to answer questions out of the forum, via email, for a family who just received orders to Japan.  And, Jiza actually took me up on my offer.  She has been faithfully sending questions she has had and her husband, Mark, has had from what the weather is like to how much to budget for a car to local car seat laws.  I've had a great time offering information and advice to a fairly young couple (young compared to us). 

Unfortunately, the paperwork parade that the Navy loves caught up with them and Mark had to come to Japan without Jiza and their two little ones.  Hopefully, the separation is merely temporary as they wait for the i's to be dotted and the t's to be crossed by the powers that be and the family members get their okay to come on over.  Mark will join his ship, which is out to sea, next week.  This week, he is going through the orientation class and just getting acclimated to the climate, the time zone, etc. 

Each command assigns people to sponsor the newbies.  The sponsors are supposed to answer questions, help the new people get mailboxes, show them around, etc.  But, some commands just don't quite get how to properly assign sponsors.  Mark and Jiza's sponsor is married, but she doesn't have kids.  The sponsor is well-intentioned, but she and her husband don't have a clue as to how to help Mark and Jiza decide where to live, how to find a preschool, how to get to the best playgrounds, etc.  Plus, the sponsor is currently on the ship and her husband is here--with no car. 

So, that's where we come in.  We have dubbed ourselves Mark and Jiza's informal sponsors.  Tonight, we had Mark over for dinner.  Mark is a super nice guy who was content to hold Ryleigh all evening--well at least as much as she would let him.  We'll take Mark out this weekend and show him where the Ikego Housing Detachment is located as well as the most important things to know in Yokosuka--D2, LIVIN, Homes, and the parks with the roller slides.  We don't expect Mark to remember all of this stuff when he comes back from deployment in November, but every time you go off base, you get more comfortable doing it, so we might as well start him off now!

We have had fun extending our Navy Family to include Mark, Jiza, and their kids.  We look forward to meeting Jiza and their son and daughter--hopefully very soon!