And the work begins...

Week one in Japan was memorable to say the least.  Before I get into what I saw and did throughout this first week on base, let me reflect for a second on something I just learned while on my way back from experiencing a traditional green tea ceremony.  On the bus we were watching the episode of Anthony Bourdain – No Reservations where he visits Tokyo.  He discussed how everything done in Japan is done with such focus and detail.  Even in my limited time here I have found that to be true.  This cultural trait is demonstrated in the various restaurants that only serve one type of food (Sasebo burgers, ramen noodles, tempera) and also in the detail involved in the execution of a traditional green tea ceremony.  I hope during my time here I will learn to appreciate the details in life, and focus on the execution of those details.  This attention to detail is also evident in the daily operations on a military base and within the Navy Child and Youth Program (CYP) – from step by step details as to how to change a diaper, to policies and procedures regarding what constitutes a fitness activity – the quality of the programs is illustrated in the detail, and in the dedicated people that work with these programs.

Sorry for the tangent, back to my internship experiences.  After I got to Japan I crashed (following a shower – had to get rid of my travel grime) and woke up just in time for mass the next morning.  Sunday consisted of getting to know a bit of the base, shopping in the commissary, lunch in the food court, and falling asleep way too early in the afternoon.  Jet lag got me.

Cannon on base

An image of the base...

Monday was my first day of work.  Jessica (my mentor and the Main Base Training and Curriculum Specialist) had volunteered to pick me up at my room but due to a mix-up I never got the message, so I went wondering in an effort to find the CYP offices (based on what I had learned at the Connections Conference).  I got a little lost, almost wandered into some guarded Japanese fort thing, but I eventually found the place.  My first day of work consisted of meeting people, discussing possible goals and projects, and enjoying a genuine Sasebo burger!  (Sweeter meat, which they happen to store right on the counter.)  All in all it was a good day.

My Sasebo Burger

Eating at the bar - with the lovely meat right in front of us.

Some highlights of the rest of the week included attending the MWR managers meeting in the officers club, getting fingerprinted (yet again), addressing background check discrepancies, setting up a library account, becoming a Girl Scouts troop leader, and getting a Navy Federal bank account.  I also spent some time getting to know the teens, doing homework with some of the school age kids, and attending a Parent Involvement Night at the CDC (which included songs and skits in every classroom).

Girl Scouts gear!

On Thursday Jessica and I visited the Hario base.  The Navy base in Sasebo is broken up by Main Base, which is where I live; Main Base Housing, which is across the street from Main Base (you have to go through security again) and is where the CDC, SAC, pre-teen and teen centers are all located; and last but not least Hario, which is about thirty minutes away and is where the majority of the base housing is located.  Hario has pretty everything that Main Base has, minus the ports.  There is a whole second CYP group over there, and I enjoyed touring the facilities and meeting the staff.  The training and curriculum specialist out at Hario, Ms. Patti, is very entertaining and she has a lot of experience.  I liked my Thursday morning conversation with her and I hope that I will have the opportunity to spend more time with her in the future.

The views on the drive to Hario...

Beautiful Mountains

Since the director of the SAC, pre-teen, and teen programs was back in the states for the week, I still have yet to meet her, and therefore I am not 100% sure what my schedule will be during my time here.  I do know that one of my big projects will be arranging all of the advertising and marketing for the big Easter Eggstravaganza, which will take place one week after I leave.  I am looking forward to my second week of work and really getting my feet wet, and hopefully spending some quality time in the CDC.

Outside Ra-Ra-Raman

My AMAZING lunch!

One week down…only 11 more to go.  My time in Japan is going to fly by, and I hope I truly make the best of it.  I am excited to learn all I can about working as a member of the DoD and CYP, and also exploring this unique country.  Hum…I wonder what surprises week two has in store for me!