The Glade 4.0

My son has been assigned to the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Japan. He will be there for 2 years.

Who's been to Japan? Anything to recommend for him to do or see while he's there?

Go Jake!

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“The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.” - Pearl S. Buck

Nice draw!

Be afraid of the tentacle hentai.

Also, with all the talk of Japan, my brain pronounced "Jake" to rhyme with "saké."

Congratulations (to both mom and son).

Yes, I did almost two years in Japan. We were underway a lot (I was out of home port over 70% of the time I was stationed there) but there is plenty to do.

Public transportation is clean, safe and reliable (but rarely run all night, so make sure he plans ahead).

Yokosuka (pronounced Yo ko-s ka not Yoko sooka) is not that big of a town, but there are plenty to do there and all over the country depending on how much of the culture he wants to explore.

Close to the base there is Great Daibutsu (Buddha) within walking distance of the gate:
http://www.geckogo.com/Attraction/Japan ... at-Buddha/

Landmark Tower (also called Queen's Tower) is a short train ride up to Yokohama and has lots of western (US) style shopping and food. I strongly recommend Garlic Joe's and there is a Hard Rock cafe.
http://www.geckogo.com/Attraction/Japan ... k-Tower-1/

Just off-base in Yokosuka (two blocks on the left before Yokosuka train station) there is a hidden little Italian restaurant, Capriccios.

For day trips or weekend trips there are many schedule through the base MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) to include trips to pottery factories, climbing Mount Fuji (only open during July and August, another strong recommendation) and the like.

Mostly, I really enjoy just experiencing the culture, walking around and finding fun places to stop and eat and shop taking in as many experiences from a local perspective that I can, but again, that's just me.

There are lots of other shrines and temples all over the area and plenty of shops located near the base (and a decent exchange on base, also have him look for Takusan Treasures (gift and furniture shop) on base run by the Yokosuka area spouse's club).


Just a few ideas, I'm sure he'll have a great time if he can get away from base now and then.

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Gorse

I've heard the women love sexin' Amuricans.

No confirmation on that.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

I've always wanted to go to Japan so I could tower over everyone there. It would be quite awesome, I think.

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

Jap guys aint that short actually (most of the old guys are but the young generation are quite normal) I'd suggest going to Vietnam if you want to tower above people.

Just warn your son that getting a Jap girl pregnant without marrying her may result in a whole family of ninjas hunting him down =P

I dunno...according to wikipedia, average height for japanese men is 5 feet 7 inches. Compared to average US at 5 feet 10 inches. I'm 6 feet 6 inches. But you are right about Vietnam(5 feet 3 inches)

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

The statistics are skewed cause Jap girls are so short >.< Seriously 5'' nothings (and thats in heels).

Although at 6" 6 you'll pretty much tower over people in any asian country.

Nah, the numbers I gave were for men only. Women are considerably shorter, on average.

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

Ya found it hehe... I totally need to move to europe. So thats where they hid the tall man. At 5''7 (and love my heels) I have no luck with asia or australia it seems >.<

Thanks, Gorse, for the information. I was totally butchering the pronunciation of Yokosuka. I'll send him your links when he gets his email going. I don't think they are shipping out until May (7th Fleet - subject to change). He's going to have some terra firma time.

He's there now and it already sounds like he's having a blast. His first days was attending a class for "How to be a US Sailor in Japan". They took his class and dropped them in the middle of somewhere then told them to find their way back. "You and your buddy better cross the quarterdeck by 18:00!!"

He's a foodie so I'm sure he'll have a good time trying all the different culinary treats. He was excited to try "real" ramen noodles.



and rightfully so!
(daydreams of adding some Texan Ninjas to our family tree) <insert "Walker - Texas Ranger" jokes here>

I'm just so damned proud of him I can't see straight. What a long road it's been with this eldest son of mine!! From the young boy who thought taking a dip in the lake counted as a bath to watching him meticulously adjust every button, crease, buckle and bar on his uniform. I must have been looking at him like he was a Martian. He winks at me and says "Military bearing, Mom." Then he smiles the smile of pride.

Der! I'm gonna start bawling again.

_________________
“The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.” - Pearl S. Buck

When I was a senior in high school the class took a field trip to San Francisco, Chinatown, to see a movie, a Japanese movie, 47 Ronin. There is a separate Japantown now.

I had just hit six feet, and like a lot of the guys in the class, we could spot each other a couple blocks away. I don't think much of anyone else there was over 5'4" It starts out, ooh, weird, neat, then it seems surreal after the few minutes.

Nowadays, I frequently feel short. So many guy tower over me anymore.

I came out of Arden Faire Mall one time to see three guys getting out of a limousine. They stood up and the shortest was about 6'8". turns out they were all players for the Kings, our professional basketball team, there for a promotional bit.

Why Europe Lydiaa?

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Total Congratz Teek, I can imagine how proud you are. I intend to send my kids into the army for a couple of years, if just to teach them some respect/morals/timeliness.

Michael, the perfect height to match me would be someone taller than 6'' (i'm about 1-2 inches shorter in heels).
Quite a few european countries have 6'' as their average. Sadly Aust has an average of 5''9, and China has an average of 5''7 (which is how tall I am). This stems from my love for heels, notabily stilettos.

We have some rather tall Gladers here Lydiaa, funny if your perfect match was right under your nose this whole time.

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Raell Kromwell

Six foot and single, but old enough to be your father and I don't dance.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Yes and you're all in the wrong country >.<

What do you have against the USA? We like Australia.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Due to job limitations, I'm pretty useless anywhere else in the world. Unless I completely luck out and 1) find a job there specifically tailored for aust (only 2% of the world's consumers so not likely) or 2) Find a rich dude so I can sit at home and farm for gold/play mmos all day (highly unlikely as it would bore me to death) or 3) go back to school in the US and do my masters in something (even less likely cause I'm anti university education.. but I guess you guys do have sororities there so that'll be interesting)