When did you first realize that a driver flashing their hazard lights was actually saying thank you for letting them merge? It’s one of those small gestures that starts to make sense the longer you live in Okinawa. Some people call it the “Oki wave.” Here are 10...
Living off base in Okinawa introduced me to the unexpected challenge of figuring out how to take out the trash. Japan’s garbage system can feel like a puzzle at first. There are different categories, collection days, designated bags and enough rules to make you...
How long did it take you to realize Google Maps doesn’t actually take you everywhere on Okinawa, more specifically, military installations like Kadena Air Base?For me, it took about five reroutes, several wrong turns and one growing suspicion that my phone was just as...
If you’ve been on Okinawa for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard someone say, “You should get a government job.” Easier said than done, right? The good news is that landing a civilian position on base isn’t some mysterious insider process. Once you...
Summer has arrived in full force, and one of the must-do experiences in Okinawa is island-hopping. If you’ve just arrived, you’ve probably already heard people rave about their trips to the Kerama Islands and may be eager to hop on a ferry and see them for yourself....
If you’ve ever ended up outside a bar doing the classic “OK … how am I getting home?” routine, you already know this is where the night can either end smoothly or turn into a mild crisis. Let’s keep it smooth. We all know about the Drink and Dash program. It’ll hook...
