First Time Taking the Metro

View outside window of Yellow Line Metro Train

We decided to get brave and take the train to Pentagon City's Fashion Mall in Virginia. It was an hour away from where we live taking the Metro. It wasn't too bad. The train isn't as packed as they are in Japan. Maybe because it was the weekend. I dunno. The people who take the train look a little rough though. I guess I should beware of taking the train in the middle of the night.

Nayeli loves putting on makeup already?!?
Pointing at Camera
Hmm... Reindeer are interesting.

Inside Subway, Chinatown, D.C.

We didn't get a chance to explore Chinatown yet. Maybe later. It was too cold and it was getting late.

Working Late at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center

Syphilis Test for blood donors

No Eating, Smoking, Makeup and Farting

Hours here can be long if there are a lot of blood donors. The bags of blood must be analyzed for diseases before being frozen and stored for later use.

We finally got our HHG!

Biomed Christmas Tree(Multi-channel Infusion Pumps on a stick.)

We finally received our household goods! It took exactly two months from packout to shipment arrival at our doorstep. As expected, some of our nice furniture got scraped up and our dining room chair set had mold growth. I figure that the move from Japan must've been really humid! We washed everything and most of it came out okay.

Weekend in D.C.

Last weekend proved to be an exciting and scary weekend. We decided to do a driving tour of D.C. with our electronic navigator. Washington, D.C. roads are VERY CONFUSING! If you are not from here, then you should get a navigator. I punched in, "California Pizza Kitchen" into our navigator and it gave me six results. The one I selected took us through the Capitol and landed us next to the Pentagon. Being next to the Pentagon was quite an experience. It is hard to imagine a plane crashing into it. The building really isn't as big as it is portrayed to be in photos and television.

I'm still culture shocked from being in Japan for so long. I keep sticking my hands under the public sinks expecting it to automatically wash my hands. I keep expecting that the hand dryer will actually dry my hands in 5 seconds. I keep expecting that there will be a 7-11 nearby so I can buy a gourmet freshly prepared meal ready-to-eat on the cheap. The vending machines here suck. I must drive to get anywhere. I'm craving Coco's Curry, genuine sushi, Ramen shops, Udon and Tonkatsu-wako. I miss Japan.

Halloween @ NNMC Bethesda Child Development Center

Child Development Center (CDC) did a Make-believe (Halloween) Parade. The kids got to dress up and show off their costumes.
Nayeli was a Puppy this year.
Nayeli danced to the music!
Nayeli's Teachers
"Don't be silly! Put away that camera." - Soco

Fun in Wheaton

Nayeli in her throne
Chocolate Face - Nayeli loves chocolate cookies
She is so excited to see a fresh bottle of Milk!
Playing with Fairies
Ghosts in our Apartment
Halloween Pumpkin

We made it!

Exion riding in the backseat with Nayeli

This is Nayeli's first roadtrip in the United States. We started in Little Rock, Arkansas and will end our trip at Bethesda, Maryland. I was kinda shocked at how much stuff I can fit in my little Nissan Sentra. I had to be creative and play Tetris with the inside of my car's trunk space and seating space. I wanted to have as much room as possible in the backseat for Nayeli and one adult. So yes, I had to be creative. Passenger seat was filled, the trunk, the spare tire bin underneath the trunk and one seat in the back was completely filled. I prayed that all the extra weight wouldn't take a huge toll on my poor car. Well, it didn't. Thank goodness, Nayeli's bathtub was an inflatable duck.

Soco driving through Virginia
Nayeli at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Aristocat Baby

We decided to have Nayeli try out a cat costume at the Disney Store in Roanoke, Virginia. It was too funny.



Building 3200
We are the first ones to live in this neighborhood.

Now, compared to our living situation in Japan, this place is almost double what we had in Japan. 1,700 square foot! High ceilings, utilities paid for, close to work, the works. Our apartment search was finally OVER!

Soco's Hybrid. It gets 34 miles per gallon which is kinda like a car. Not great, but good for a SUV.
Our Cars. Believe it or not, Soco's SUV uses less gas than my car. Mine gets 22-27 mpg. Go figure.

Driving thru Tennessee

Memphis Skyline from Mud Island

We made it to Memphis, Tennessee! I had to catch up with my old friend from high school, Garth. He is doing fine and will be getting married soon.

Nayeli fascinated with the brick flooring at the reenactment of the Mississippi River at Mud Island Park, Memphis, TN

At Memphis, we visited Mud Island Park and saw the reenactment of the Mississippi River. The only one of it's kind. Really neat to see and photograph.
Mississippi River



Corky's BBQ - The Original One that started it all... Memphis, Tennessee.

We also wanted to check out some authentic Memphis food, Corky's BBQ! It was the best BBQ that Soco and I have ever had. It doesn't taste anything like the frozen meals that you can purchase at the grocery store. The fresh BBQ was so delicious!





Our first stop, Millington, Tennessee. I had reserved a room for a day at the Navy base in Millington. The people there were very friendly and the room was spacious. We got a kitchenette and two large beds for $45.00. The only bad thing is that we didn't have any hot water to shower with. It got fixed the next day by maintenance. I haven't had a cold shower since field medical service school.





Nashville, Tennessee:

At the Apple Barn @ Opry Mills, Nashville, Tennessee
Fishes in the Aquarium

Hotel Hyatt in Opryland

Little Rock Zoo

Nayeli had a fun day at the Little Rock Zoo. It wasn't a big Zoo like San Diego, but it is big enough to spend a whole day to actually enjoy watching and seeing all the animals.
Sloth Bear



Gold Fish


Nayeli getting her haircut