Who all is there? DH & I were considering taking orders to Massachusetts but we are now thinking of taking orders to Yokosuka.

Care to give me your input on housing, schools, etc?

We've been checking out the Navy website for some info but I would love to hear directly from you guys what you think. ;) I also tried to join the wives group for more input but am waiting on the approval from the moderator!

TIA!

I will say good luck! DH is over there but lives on the ship.

Thanks, Dani! We've never been stationed overseas so this will definately be a huge change I am sure!

Oh wow that should be neat! It will give the kids something new and they may like it. :D Good luck with what you choose!

Oh wow that should be neat! It will give the kids something new and they may like it. :D Good luck with what you choose!

Thanks Stacey! It's a pain in the butt trying to decide what to do though! :arg

Thanks Stacey! It's a pain in the butt trying to decide what to do though! :arg

Oh yeah it's a big change and you need to think about it. :) Have you talked to the kids to see what they think? Either way it will be something new. :D

http://militarysos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20315&highlight=yokosuka

Oh yeah it's a big change and you need to think about it. :) Have you talked to the kids to see what they think? Either way it will be something new. :D

http://militarysos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20315&highlight=yokosuka

Yep we already talked to the kids! They don't care where we go. They are just ready to leave!

I read that thread but was wanting a little more updated info from someone currently there or just recently there since that was started in '06 & updated over a year ago. I'm sure it is all still about the same but still! :teehee

Yep we already talked to the kids! They don't care where we go. They are just ready to leave!

I read that thread but was wanting a little more updated info from someone currently there or just recently there since that was started in '06 & updated over a year ago. I'm sure it is all still about the same but still! :teehee

Yeah I figured you already read it but thought I'd put it up just incase. :D

I'm sure they will be happy no matter what mainly if they get to see their dad more. :)

DB will be over there once the ship actually makes it out of the US... which requires it stop catching on fire.

As soon as I graduate I'll be moving over there. Everyone I've talked to says that it is AMAZING.

There is a really small forum of women that are over there, sort of like this one:
http://yokonavywives.proboards59.com/index.cgi?action=search

I don't have anything personal to tell you about that place. DB's mom was in the Navy and they were stationed over there for half of his middle school years and all of high school. He absolutely loved it and he wants to go back someday. Maybe that helps? He was a teenager back then.

DB will be over there once the ship actually makes it out of the US... which requires it stop catching on fire.

As soon as I graduate I'll be moving over there. Everyone I've talked to says that it is AMAZING.

There is a really small forum of women that are over there, sort of like this one:
http://yokonavywives.proboards59.com/index.cgi?action=search

Thank you! That is actually the site I joined & am waiting my approval for! :tu

So far everything I have read is positive & encouraging. The only real negatives I have read all come from single sailors who complain mostly about the wives infront of them at the store or McDonalds or that the alcohol is too expensive & foreigners not being allowed in a lot of clubs. I see no issues with those! ;)

Thank you! That is actually the site I joined & am waiting my approval for! :tu

So far everything I have read is positive & encouraging. The only real negatives I have read all come from single sailors who complain mostly about the wives infront of them at the store or McDonalds or that the alcohol is too expensive & foreigners not being allowed in a lot of clubs. I see no issues with those! ;)

I haven't heard one bad thing about Yokosuka. Believe me, I dug deep too :D

I don't have anything personal to tell you about that place. DB's mom was in the Navy and they were stationed over there for half of his middle school years and all of high school. He absolutely loved it and he wants to go back someday. Maybe that helps? He was a teenager back then.

Thank you, Bridget! It does help & I appreciate any replies! Our kiddos will be in middle school & elementary (5th & 2nd grade) by the time we get there. DH said if we like it enough there, he can eventually try to stay for sea duty (he's going for shore there).

I haven't heard one bad thing about Yokosuka. Believe me, I dug deep too :D

That is what I have been doing most of today! I have a bunch of links saved! :)

DH has a friend who used to live with us that is there with his wife & kiddo. So they are intouch! It helps to have a trusted friend there as well who will give an honest opinion. They are super picky like we are. He went there for sea duty & is now staying for shore as well! :tu

My DH has gone to Yokosuka about 6 times for the Navy Reserves and loves it there. He keeps saying he'd love to move there!

the more I read about it the more I get excited about it! at first I didn't want DB to pick Japan but now I'm totally with it.

What an amazing opportunity!

My FIL was there briefly & loved it as well! DS just called my MIL to tell her we are considering it! She told him to tell us not to go because DS will be forced to wear the "wooden flip-flops!" Now DS is all freaked out! :grumpy

My FIL was there briefly & loved it as well! DS just called my MIL to tell her we are considering it! She told him to tell us not to go because DS will be forced to wear the "wooden flip-flops!" Now DS is all freaked out! :grumpy

HAHAHA poor girl! Tell her that she can have pretty kimonos and that should change her mind :D

HAHAHA poor girl! Tell her that she can have pretty kimonos and that should change her mind :D

:teehee DS is her son. :D DD is daughter. ;)

He can have kimonos too :D

OR A SWORD!!!

I'm getting so excited and I'm not the one moving to Japan...

Who all is there? DH & I were considering taking orders to Massachusetts but we are now thinking of taking orders to Yokosuka.

Who all is there? Care to give me your input on housing, schools, etc?

We've been checking out the Navy website for some info but I would love to hear directly from you guys what you think. ;) I also tried to join the wives group for more input but am waiting on the approval from the moderator!

TIA!

Lived there for 6 years; youngest child was born in the hospital there. having said that, please keep in mind that we returned stateside in 2000, so some of this info may be dated.

The base was undergoing a HUGE construction boom while we were there and as we were leaving; this is good, because it means that housing is available much sooner (we lived in town almost 3 years before getting housing). Base housing is nice enough, typical navy huosing, decent community activities.

I was very pleased with the schools on base in Yokosuka. My kids went to the elementary and high schools on the base and I feel their education was at least comparable to what they'd get INCONUS, if not better. There aren't a lot of disciplinary problems in the schools because there is direct, complete access to the parents so the kids aren't allowed to get away with too much before the parent (and the parent's command) get called in.

We both worked at the hospital. I really liked the hospital there; most people don't realize how good it is until they go somewhere else. I was always struck by the distinct lack of patients wandering up and down the halls; for the most part, there was an OB/GYN department, an ortho wing, and basic surgeries. Comp OB cases get sent to Okinawa; women with known delevery complications will be sent to Okinawa for the last few weeks/months of pregnancy and they board there at the Stork's Nest. Clinic/appointment access was good, pharmacy was very fast (no such thing as calling in refills and picking them up three days later).

On-base athletics for adults and kids was good. Lots of intramural leagues, plus my husband played on and coached the varsity football teams that played against the Japanese club and corporate teams. THAT was a ton of fun- the Japanese teams loved to come on base to get knocked around by our ballplayers, it was a party every Sunday.

Lots of opportunity to interact with the local Japanese community. Young kids go mikan picking (tangerines; it's Yokosuka's regional crop) and/or sweet potato digging as part of their cultural exposure. Lots of the spouses taught English as a means of making a little money; the japanese will pay something like $40 for an hour of class. the trick is to market yourself as something 'different;' like American cooking lessons in English, or crocheting/sewing, or some special craft. Most Japanese learn English in school and they do speak and understand; what they want is conversational English.

It is extremely safe to be over there. Young kids will become familiar with the mass transit system and can take the trains just about anywhere. if you get lost, a Japanese will probably escort you to the place you ened to go, and then literally hand you over to someone else who will ride the train with you and tell you where to get off. Incredibly safe.

Japanese baseball is a HOOT. We used to go to Yokohama and watch the BayStars play. The game is the same, but the experience is distinctly Japanese.

Fun, fun, fun place to go. I hope to go back someday.

Oh- also talk to LittleBit84. She was about 8 when we got there and 14 or so when we left, so she can give you that perspective.

eelo~Thank you so much for all of that! I appreciate it very much! :tu I will definately PM LittleBit! :)