Today I got to spend my morning with two incredible chaplains; Chaplain Derek Ross (Commander) and Chaplain Robert Bradshaw (Lieutenant). These men are such incredible human beings. (Oh, and I was in uniform today so there were all kinds of fun protocol pieces like saluting-which I do remember how to do-and walking to the left of my superiors). Chaplain Ross is so kind and he loves thus sushi so we got along famously. We told me all about his joy of serving in the navy-the diversity was what he loves best.
After we spoke for a little while this morning and I told him that my father was so proud of what I am doing here that he is going to burst, the Commander invited me to sit at his desk and call back home to say hello. (So I did and I left a message-I got to leave a message for Andrew too-it was just nice to get to reach out and touch…). I then was officially signed in at PSD before I was designated UA (Personnel something something before I was designated Unauthorized Absence). I was handed in to Chaplain Bradshaw’s care at that point.
Chaplain Bradshaw is a Southern Baptist Minister, very tall (they are all very tall),married to another Lieutenant, Cheryl, who is at the hospital pharmacy) and he loves travel, walking everywhere, running, working out and touring strange places so we got along famously as well. He is also the keeper of my schedule. We checked me in with PSD, toured the base briefly, returned to the chapel where I was shown my office, got my picture taken for my official Navy bio, and then we were off again to tour the hospital because Chaplain Frank Carver (I think I remembered his name correctly) wanted me to see the place. So I did.
I think hospital chaplaincy is fascinating so I loved the tour. I did not get to find out what Chaplain Carver loves about the Navy and being a chaplain here but I did learn a lot about the hospital. I also might have found myself a shofar blower from the base high school band for this week (in the background noise of my brain, I am sweating this one big time because if no one else can do it…well, I will have to spit into the shofar and try not to embarrass myself before God and Country.) We then had lunch at the O Club (Officer’s Club) with Chaplain Ross and I got to learn more about base chaplaincy life.
Chaplain Bradshaw and I then went to see Mao, the travel guy, and we planned our big trip to Tokyo and the fish market on Friday. We will be taking a 0526 (that’s 5:26 AM!) subway train to Ginza and the Tsukiji fish market. I am thinking this will be like Pike’s Peak on speed. This is so GREAT! A wonderful chaplain AND a tour guide!
What I love is the value system ingrained in this culture. I had to change a reservation for my return trip. The guy who booked me on a bus to the airport handed me back my reservation paper with two hands and a respectful bow of the head. Everything matters and everything which matters is treated with respect. My favorite is money. When you hand someone cash, or even your credit card, you hand it with both hands. It is a way f saying, hey, I worked hard for this money (or credit) and I am proud of it/treat it as something well earned. It is a constant reminder of the value of THINGS. The things we have matter to us. We work hard to make the money to earn those things. Things should be treated as earned, valuable items. Things represent hours of blood sweat and tears (or in my case, government loans and future hours of blood sweat and tears as I try to pay those back.) I also suspect that people here may just have fewer things. Fewer, more respected things.
That and the young girls wear wicked short skirts. I am not into that ,but is another pervasive piece of life in Japan, apparently.
This afternoon, I received a call from a Lieutenant who heard I was here. He wants me to do a baby naming for his 16 month old daughter. Absolutely! (I have never done one before, but I am super excited about it. The ceremony is beautiful and thank goodness I schlepped all those books-two different rabbi’s manuals and On the Doorposts of Your House because putting this together is totoally manageable)
Ok, let me just say that again. I am doing a BABY NAMING! I love this job! I mean, I cannot believe I get paid to do this-toured around a foreign country, meet the menschiest people ever, name babies, write an official bio…too much fun!
Tonight I am going to Sushi-go-round (this link is especially entertaining...) in the Mikasa Mall with Anna, the only other woman here, who is in the room next door. She is bringing a friend of hers along as well. She said I was lucky since I am only staying for two weeks (she is here for two years) and I am curious to learn what that is about.
And, I am excited for more sushi!
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