This past weekend I went to Okinawa. Although it is part of Japan it is not part of Japan. The flight from Tokyo took two hours and because of the typhoon we had to land twice! Yes, twice! The first time we touched the ground and then took off again because we were rocking too much. It was a little nerve racking. Once there my friend picked me up and we started from Naha back to her place in northern Okinawa a bit more than an hour away. The car broke down and we had to stay near Naha with some friends of hers. The next day we got her car fixed, went to a castle, went to a historic house, and to a haunted hotel. We also went to America Town. The day after that we went to an island, to a school, to the aquarium and had pizza dinner with an excellent view. Then late that same night we went to her adult language class where I got to chat with adult Okinawans in english, pretty much. The next day it was back to Naha where we did some shopping and walking around and then the next day I came home. How is that for a short sweet description?
The trip was really nice. It was nice to see my friend again and it was nice to go to Okinawa. I'll just mention in detail a few things that really stuck out. Okinawans do not look like mainland Japanese. They are taller, thicker, and darker. Probably from the influence of many of the Pacific islanders over a long time. The jungle is noisy. When thousands of bugs and animals are competing for the same small space they tend to make some noise about it. The ocean is beautiful. When I went to the aquarium I saw three whale sharks at one time! Plus a lot of other marine life was observed. Whale sharks and named such because they are big and vegetarian. They are actually sharks, but not the type from our nightmares.
America Town had an uncomfortable feeling to it. Its where all the service men hang out. It used to be part of the base but was given back to the Japanese. Now there is a lot of American businesses and franchises there so many of the service men go there. I did not feel comfortable. There are a lot more foreigners on Okinawa and a lot of them are military. Locals don't exactly like the military being there and I don't blame them. I wouldn't want them in my town either. Another friend of mine had an ecounter with some AirForce men this weekend and it was also not pleasant. In a way it makes me sad. Young men from America, mostly with nothing better to do and not a lot of education, sign up for the military in some capacity then get shipped around the world being stuck in situations they are not accustomed to. It's dangerous, which I guess is the point.
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5 comments:
The military should provide some kind of orientation to the culture, wherever in the world they are stationed. Americans behaving badly while abroad leaves a bad image of all Americans.
Is that a whale shark in the 2nd picture? What is all the patterns on it?
you thought the Okinawans were taller? really? hmmm.. i think they're rather shorter. but then again i've been seeing quite a few mainlanders and they are short as well.
to Kevin's mom: the military does provide courses and cultural classes for the servicemen and families stationed on Okinawa. Mingling within the culture is encouraged and the schools often have day trips to see the island. But not everyone takes advantage, sadly, and we i often see young am
ericans behaving quite rudely around Okinawa.
Mom,
Yes! that is a Whale Shark. I saw three of them at the same time in a huge tank at the Aquarium. Yes Elina, I still tell people I meet this fact with great excitement! It was so cool. I am not sure why they have spots like that, but that is what they look like.
hey kevin! where did all the hair on your face go?
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