Tina is in the Navy?!
Tina's medical education was paid by the US Navy. Not a bad deal when you think about it. In exchange for not having to pay back about $150,000 in student loans, Tina gets to practice medicine for four years while on active duty as an officer in the Navy. (If you're curious, she's already a Lieutenant.)
Normally, she would have entered the service immediately upon completion of med school in June 2005. But Tina rocks - so she got special permission to do her residency training in the private sector at LA County USC, thus delaying her military commitment.
Tina completed four years of residency this past June. Again, normally she would have been sent immediately to wherever the Navy needed her. But this summer Tina was 7 1/2 months pregnant with our son Nathan. Her commanding officer deferred Tina's orders until October.
Why Tokyo?
For medical assignments the Navy sends out a list of potential billets — open spots around the globe — of where they could use you. Locations include Cuba, Italy, Spain, the States, Guam, etc. You're asked to "rank" them and send back the list. Tina and I had picked spots in Italy as our top choices. Dreams of swimming in the Mediterranean and skiing the Alps danced in our heads.
Well, I think this was a big joke on us. That is, I suspect there is a military bureaucrat in some windowless office in the bowels of the Pentagon processing these billet lists. He probably has a good laugh at all of the wishful thinking put into each ranking, then sends each doctor to wherever he feels like it. I kid. The bureaucrat's office probably has at least one window.
Actually, the hospital in Tokyo apparently has the most billets for Tina's speciality OB/GYN. We had volunteered to be sent overseas and the Navy needs Tina's skills in Japan. So Tokyo it is.
Do you guys speak Japanese?
Ironically, I took a quarter of Japanese freshman year in college and failed the course miserably. Flash forward a decade, my parents graciously gifted us a copy of Rosetta Stone. Tina has blazed through the lessons. I have a lot to catch up on.
We're both trying our best at this strange tongue. It will definitely be an adventure communicating with the locals in Japan let alone trying to navigate the street signs. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but we will be asking people this question a lot: Eigo ga wakarimasu ka? ("Do you speak English?") It will be exciting nonetheless.
We're both trying our best at this strange tongue. It will definitely be an adventure communicating with the locals in Japan let alone trying to navigate the street signs. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but we will be asking people this question a lot: Eigo ga wakarimasu ka? ("Do you speak English?") It will be exciting nonetheless.
The Yokosuka Naval Base will be our home for the next two to three years. Yokosuka is basically a suburb of Tokyo approximately a 90 minute commute south of the heart of the city - so we have been told. We don't yet have an mailing address. Once we do, trust me, we'll let you know.
When do you go?
As of today, our plane tickets are for October 15th.
Wait, don't you have a newborn son?
Yes, I never said Tina and I took the easy route in life. Our son Nathan will be joining us on this adventure to the Land of the Rising Sun. In fact, I'm very jealous because Nathan will probably grow up with an ability to pick up foreign languages so easily. Don't forget, Tina and I have already dragged Nathan to San Diego, Seattle, Sacramento and Hawaii in the last five weeks — half of his entire life — visiting friends and family. He's already a frequent flier.
Where will Charlie work?
In a perfect world I would remain employed by Google and transfer to our Tokyo office. (Do you blame me? It is the best company to work for.) I am doing my best to land a spot in that office. For months I got no leads, but recently a spot on a very big project has opened up. Understandably, this involves a lot of logistics and hurdles. Most likely, the three of us will have to leave the States without an official guarantee of my employment in Japan. Cross your fingers that things move forward smoothly.
Are you all set?
Oh, hell no. Dealing with the Navy's red tape, the logistics of trying to keep my job and of course our first experiences in parenthood has made the last three months extremely stressful. Fortunately our families, friends and co-workers have been so helpful and accommodating. Thank you!
No matter what, I know that I love Tina, I love Nathan. And I know all three of us are thrilled about this move. Tina and I have always talked about living abroad. Now it's really happening! Wish us luck.
ja mata ne,
Charlie
1 comment:
This is Dad/Grandpa/Gary:
Wishing you all the best, and your Mom and I will miss you. A lot. I'm glad you're starting a blog so we can keep track of what you're up to. We'll work on the video conferencing later.
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