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SAPPHIREBABY!

jeanacorinajeanacorina
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OMG I WAS BORN IN JAPAN TOO!

I was only there for like 4 weeks before my parents came back to the States, though... so I don't remember any of it, obviously. My parents were in the Navy. They met, got married, and had me in Japan.

HOW RANDOM AND COOL.
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Re: SAPPHIREBABY!

  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
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    edited December 2011
    ZOMG REALLY?!?

    My parents met in Greece then my mom went back to the states for awhile and divorced her ex-husband. About a year later I think they got married and my dad was stationed in Japan. I was about a year old when they moved him to England. My dad was in the Air Force.

    If you say you were born in Misawa that'd be really cool
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
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    edited December 2011
    Nope, Okinawa. But still cool!

    What was your mom doing in Greece?
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  • catemegcatemeg
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    edited December 2011
    Not to threadjack, but how did you guys feel having been born in Japan?  Did your Moms say anything about the healthcare?  How was it being a military brat (though I hate that term)?

    Clearly things I'm concerned about... Okinawa is a huge Navy/Marine base and where a lot of JAG officers do some time, so my BF might end up stationed there at some point.  It's definitely a consideration that we might be there when we decide to start a family.
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
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    edited December 2011
    Her ex-husband was also in the Air Force and he was stationed there so she lived there with him - him and my dad worked together on the base. My dad is the one who helped my mom get back to the states when she'd had enough and was finally ready to leave the ex.
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
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    edited December 2011
    It doesn't really affect me at all - it's just an interesting fact. I wish we didn't move around as much as we did growing up but that's just how it is being in a military family sometimes. I don't know anything about the healthcare but I know we always went to the doctor if something was wrong, we went to the dentist twice a year and had yearly eye appointments so I imagine the healthcare was okay.
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to Re: SAPPHIREBABY!:
    [QUOTE]Not to threadjack, but how did you guys feel having been born in Japan? 
    Posted by catemeg[/QUOTE]

    Well, I was a baby, so I dunno how I felt at the time. I probably wanted to be put back in!

    Anyway, my mom has told me the military hospital was.... umm... well, they didn't sugar-coat anything. They did what was necessary and no more, no less. She wanted to breast feed me, and told them so, but they gave me a bottle for my first feeding because she was asleep and they didn't want to take the time to wake her and bring her a crying baby. She was so upset about that.

    She apparently also had a very rough episiotomy (when are those NOT rough, I guess?). The doctors and nurses had poor bedside manner, and the Mama-sans didn't understand English very well.

    Anyway, I don't really know what you want to know. You'd probably be best talking to someone on the military brides board (or the Nest equivalent?) who has been through it. All I know is what my mom has told me 20-something years later.

    I always hated being born in Japan when I was younger. People would ask if I was Japanese, and sometimes even said "Oh, yeah, now I can see the Asian features" as if I have any. It was annoying. I don't mind it now... much like lots of things I've just gotten used to as I get older. It's not something I tell people upon first meeting or anything. There are way more interesting things about me to talk about.

    I much more like the story of my parents meeting in Japan, and getting married less than 3 months later. And still being together! I think that's amazing and romantic. Me being born in another country? Meh.
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  • NarwhalNarwhal
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My sister was born on an army base in Germany. She almost died and they cut my mom open to get her out instead of having an actual c section.  They used the forceps and almost ripped her arm off.

    So there's that.
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  • catemegcatemeg
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    edited December 2011
    Cool, thanks!  Just wondering... I'm sure healthcare is different than when you were born, given the time difference, but we'd said we're going to try to time having our family for when we're state-side.  Now I think that's probably a good idea, if only to prevent our children from being teased.

    And sapphire, our plan is to try to get him permanently stationed somewhere when our children are in middle school.  Apparently it's not unusual for JAG officers to do 10-15 years in one base after they're a few years in.  I totally can see that getting frustrating for a child.
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    That sounds like it fits with my mom's impression, Narwhal. The purpose of labor & delivery is to deliver a baby. Not to keep everyone comfortable, happy, and give them a good experience with childbirth.

    And, hey, as far as they were concerned a live baby is a success, with or without all their limbs!

    That was sarcasm. I hope it's not offensive, but I'm upset that your mom and sister went through that. It's awful.
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  • NarwhalNarwhal
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Haha no, they both kind of laugh about it now. Something my family overcame. That's why she's so much older than me, it took forever for my mom to convince my dad to have another one because he was afraid of it happening again.  It was just a strange experience all around.  My mom was only 19, the doctors were speaking no english, and my dad was translating the whole time.
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    OMG Narhwal! That's frightening - if my mom had a traumatic birth she certainly didn't tell any of us about it. I don't know about my brother and sister but she had an epidural with me and the nurses told her she was having contractions and she was all 'OK thanks'. She apparently didn't feel a thing.
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  • catemegcatemeg
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Narwhal, wow that sounds like a really traumatic experience for your parents!  I'm glad you can all laugh at it now, hopefully your sister, too!

    Definitely something no one wants to willing put themselves through... note to self: avoid getting pregnant while stationed overseas.
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_sapphirebaby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5df2f69-b95d-4666-b55f-95634ad358b6Post:044a4cac-1e7d-4092-b55b-4e470554630e">Re: SAPPHIREBABY!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm sure healthcare is different than when you were born, given the time difference
    Posted by catemeg[/QUOTE]


    Yeah, I'm sure it is, too. I really think it's a great question for the Nest or the Bump ladies who have been through it more recently, or are going through it now. It's certainly something you should know about.
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  • hetshuphetshup member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Cate-- I would really expect to be moved every two to three years. Even if he is JAG. Also, many of the base hospitals are now filled with american drs and nurses, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Many times, if there really is an issue, mom will come home and stay with parents in the states and dad will take leave around the time of birth. That way you can be more comfortable. But I would still say you have several steps to take in the interm.


    Narwhal-- I have a friend whose sister was also stuck, so instead of using foreceps, they inserted a needle into the baby's head and used this "new method" to pull her out. 2/3 of those babies have brain damage.
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Okay, no more birth horror stories. Neither DH or I will ever be in the military, but it's freaking me out. I don't want to know all the things that can go wrong and all the ways doctors can put the mom or baby at risk. I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

    It's random and cool that Sapphire and I were born in the same (foreign) country, isn't it?
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  • NarwhalNarwhal
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Totally random and also quite cool, Jeana.
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  • hetshuphetshup member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Yesh. Coolest thing evah. I kinda want to make you awesome friendship hair wraps.

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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_sapphirebaby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5df2f69-b95d-4666-b55f-95634ad358b6Post:6b5556a1-090e-44c2-90e9-590c5bfb9d57">Re: SAPPHIREBABY!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I kinda want to make you awesome friendship hair wraps.
    Posted by hetshup[/QUOTE]

    I don't know what this means, but it sounds neat-o!
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  • NarwhalNarwhal
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You never had a hairwrap?!




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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_sapphirebaby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5df2f69-b95d-4666-b55f-95634ad358b6Post:6b5556a1-090e-44c2-90e9-590c5bfb9d57">Re: SAPPHIREBABY!</a>:
    [QUOTE]Yesh. Coolest thing evah. I kinda want to make you awesome friendship hair wraps.
    Posted by hetshup[/QUOTE]

    WANT! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />
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  • catemegcatemeg
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Question is, have you ever been back as adults?  I'd love to visit Japan - it might have something to do with my addiction to sushi, but ya know...
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I feel like we should have wonder twin rings Jeana - I tried to find a picture but this came up first and I stopped looking because it made me giggle




    If I have twins I want his shirt
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_sapphirebaby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5df2f69-b95d-4666-b55f-95634ad358b6Post:c51ff4de-118a-4adf-a4f1-408bded819d7">Re: SAPPHIREBABY!</a>:
    [QUOTE]Question is, have you ever been back as adults?  I'd love to visit Japan - it might have something to do with my addiction to sushi, but ya know...
    Posted by catemeg[/QUOTE]

    No but I want to - we have pictures from the cherry blossom festival that my parents went to before I was born and I really want to see it in person
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    No, I haven't been. I'm not opposed to going to see Japan, but it's not a must-do. I'm much more interested in going to Hawaii.

    Really, it's not a big part of my life or anything. Certainly not something I think about daily or consider to be something that defines who I am or something.
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  • NarwhalNarwhal
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    If y'all are the wonder twins.. which one is going to be the crappy one that turns into a bucket of water while the other one is a tiger?
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  • sapphirebaby926sapphirebaby926
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    According to wiki that one can transform into weather patterns involving water. I'll take it and then I can be a monsoon and seriously rain on some beebee's parade
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  • jeanacorinajeanacorina
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    RAWR!
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