October in Okinawa

Wow. October sure flew by! On one hand its hard to believe I've only been here for three months (a little less than that actually)... on the other hand I can't believe its November already.

This month has been a month of settling into a routine here. It's amazing how you can just pick up your life and keep on living it somewhere else. I've added many friends to my worldwide collection of them, and have managed to stay in touch with most of my friends and family back home. I talk to my mom more now than when I was at school in California. Funny how that works.

People keep asking me what I miss about the States, what food I miss, etc... to be honest, I'm doing just fine here. Yes there are things that I sometimes miss but I have everything I need and am content. I miss Target/Walmart and In-N-Out... but other than those few things... everything I want is pretty much available here. I have a lot of military friends that have taken me on base enough that I get my "American food" fix quite often. Maybe I'm low maintenance or I just easily adapt easily, but I really am just thankful for what I have.

One thing that I noticed the other day when I was watching a movie was that I was thrown off when they were driving on the right side of the road in the movie... then I thought, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe I'm already used to the left side..." It was pretty easy to get used to the left side of the road, so I'm sure it will be that much easier to go back to the right side when I'm back in the States, but it is funny how we just adapt to the situations we're in.

Have I mentioned I LOVE my church? I am there a lot and have gotten involved in a lot of ways. I'm there every Wednesday night for Youth band practice (I'm directing them... trying to teach them how to be worship leaders and work together as a band), Bible Study, and then Band/Choir practice for Sunday services. I've met some amazing people and feel so blessed to have made so many new friends there.

So here is October in a nutshell since I was so horrible about posting...

the first and second graders singing Pharaoh Pharaoh in chapel

some of my Kindergarten boys...

Some of my Kindergarten girls...

cute preschoolers

Cody and Ty - I watched them one night... yes Cody (3) knows how to use an iPod touch. crazy kids.

Have I mentioned how much I love the sky here yet? The clouds are always beautiful!

I love the translations here... "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." LOL!

American Village. Great shopping area.

I got a Japanese pedicure... slightly different than the ones in America. They used acrylic to make the flowers so it makes a sort of 3D effect.

I sang a solo in church - if you want to watch it, I put it up on youtube for my mom... http://youtube.com/pinklyone.

I spent a weekend with my friend Kathi and her kids... these are the "sticky pics" booths in Jusco (the mall)... we did it, its really fun. :)

Jenna and Payton editing our sticky pics before printing them out

We went to the Pineapple Park up in Nago... we got to taste TONS of food... and it was a fun day trip.

Kristen, Rachel (Kristen's friend that is visiting), and Me in front of the giant pineapple.

We stopped to watch the sunset at this gorgeous beach on the way back from Nago...

I have yet to see the sun rise here but the sunsets are amazing!

Leading worship in chapel at school, although it is a little different doing it by myself, it has been a lot of fun getting to do something I love again.

My friend Jo from church, she invited a bunch of us over for dinner and caramelled apples. It was a fun night of hanging out with some of my new friends.