here are a few short lessons:

1) Be organized... that is, have 1500 file folders with titles and subtitles to designate medical information, financial stuff, accounts, taxes, immunizations, workouts, important beauty tips, random gift giving ideas, Justin's swim workouts from teh past 10 years, vital records, work accolades, oh and Japan info of course...and then carry half of them with you on the plane and send the rest via snail mail. 

2) Ask...ask again...ask again again. This is how the Navy works. Nothing gets done quickly. If oyu start too early, they won't know what to do with your stuff b/c "you still have so much time." WHen you have no time and you ask as it is approaching the NORMAL time to start these things, they say "why did you wait so long?" It's important that you do your regular job AND theirs...because goodness knows if you don't, the job will NOT get done. Everything will be done on time...even if your plane is leaving in 2 hrs...the system, despite my suspicion of it, seems to come through most of the time...UNLESS, of course, you've asked them to advance you money. We're still waiting.

3) Pack light...(for an elephant). We sent 2 shipments overseas...one was 600lbs (good for us! and we thought we sent half of our apartment). The other was 4000lbs. okay. Here's how the typical discussion went:

   -Justin: "Do we really need the extra turbocharged mixer and hte cappucino maker in Japan?"

   -Franchi: "What if we need to bake something for a party or we have guests over and they're tired?"

   -Justin: "What about this chip platter?

   -Franchi: "WHat if we have company and we're having a mexican fiesta -- you know there is no mexican food there?"

   -Justin: "Do we ever have company?"

   -Franchi: Well, just in case. 

seriously, we only brought the bed, the couch, kitchen table, 4 chairs, and baker's rack...oh and the TV. And our entire DVD collection. TV is kinda difficult to translate there. oh and Cranium. We love Cranium. And we're going to have people over. sheesh.

And then we packed all of our clothes...sent like 10 boxes full and then had 4 full suitcases...more on the suitcases later.

4) Learn the language. The Rosetta stone is on the way...so we've been brushing up on our already strong Japanese: Kannichiwa (Welcome.) Hai (hi).  Sayonara (bye bye). Sushi (good food). Sashimi (raw good food). Toyota (economical car). Mitsubishi (cheaper car). Sony (who cares - we love the stuff). See how much Japanese you know, too? 

5) Shop for things you can't get there (without succumbing to a deep depression about suddently going from a Small/medium to an XXL in Japanese-women sizing) --> raincoats, JEANS (depressing anyhow), makeup, warm clothes, cute undies, shorts, etc...then fit them into your suitcase. 

6) Relax...play in the water...exercise...eat lots of mexican food...this is your only vacation for the next year. First, you don't know the new job. Second, you don't know the new language. Third, you dont' know what the hell you're doing. Done.

7)  Get on the plane. You'd think this was easy...but when you have 20 magazines you haven't read, Justin is toting 1700 CDs he's made that he wants to upload for all eternity onto Itunes, and we think we need about 100 changes of clothing before we arrive (after all, we're displaced for almost 2 months)...the bags are kinda heavy. I mean, American Airlines says, after weighing the first one, that'll be "$100." Ok. How about flaunting those military orders. SWEET. No charge, 2 bags a piece. Amen. the good news is -- we're down to 4 lighter, more streamlined bags...as long as someone else carries them.

More lessons to come...sayonara US. We'll be back before you know it.