October 27, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Thomas Alan Smilie
L
ife is complicated, but finding happiness is simple. It’s so simple, as superior beings of intellect, that we over-calculate and over-think how to pinpoint and sustain happiness, and we let it pass by. For as much as we like to romanticize ourselves to be, most joys are stupidly basic: watching a kitten learn how to drink out of a bowl, a breeze on a warm day, second dates or eating sâtâ andagî. Sâtâ andagî (meaning sugar, deep fried) is made of simple ingredients—flour, sugar, and eggs mixed into a ball and deep fried. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, sâtâ andagî is a cross between a sugar cookie and an old-fash-
inside
ioned doughnut. Happiness isn’t complicated when you realize that it can be created with three ingredients and a deep fryer. Sâtâ andagî isn’t as commercially successful as other Okinawan cuisines like Okinawa soba or gôyâ champurû. You see them mostly in tourist shops or an Okinawan grandma’s kitchen. But it’s so widely loved you might wonder why. Sâtâ andagî isn’t one for fanfare. Perfecting its form is what’s important. To learn more about this and many other unique aspects of Okinawan culture, check out Marine and Family Programs-Resources
Basic Mode | 3 Share Your Burdens | 3 Culture Corner: The Color Red | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"Sâtâ andagî is a cross between a sugar cookie and an old-fashioned doughnut." cultural workshops culturalawareness.
at
mccsokinawa.com/
Pick of the Week: Hale Noa Café | 7 Family Game Night | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
2 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
3 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
livingatlarge Basic Mode
B
asic Mode, a dynamic and exciting eight-member band which will be thrilling audiences in MCCS Clubs throughout November and early December, is sure to get you moving to the beat. Basic Mode will play from 8 to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays at The Palms on Camp Hansen, Wednesdays at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster and on
Thursdays at the Bayview on Camp Courtney. On Fridays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Basic Mode will be dialing the excitement level up to eleven at Surfside on Camp Kinser and they will also rock the house from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the BeachHead on Camp Schwab. The group will perform on November 30 at the Bayview from 8 to 11 p.m. and at Surf-
side December 1 from 8 to 11 p.m. Basic Mode will finish off their last two shows at the BeachHead on December 2 from 9 p.m. until midnight and the Ocean Breeze from 9 p.m. to midnight on December 3. For more information on these performances call 645-5821, visit mccsokinawa.com/entertainment or facebook.com/mccsokinawa. enter tainment.
events&happenings
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Kassebaum MANAGING EDITOR | Ryan Anastoplus ART DIRECTOR | Hector Nieves CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST | Ayako Kawamitsu GRAPHIC ARTS MANAGER | Henry Ortega GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Catherine Newquist EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Mike Daley DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER | Thomas Alan Smilie AD/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER | Roy Forster AD SALES | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Tomoko Taylor, Lisa Hicks, Carina Fils-Julien DISTRIBUTION | Gideon Juko, Kelli Kreider MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Andrew Menges ACCOUNTS & RESEARCH | Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Katherine Melrose, Jenessa Reutov, Allison Dixon BROADCAST | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. To advertise in Okinawa Living Weekly, call 645-2245, fax 645-0975, or email sales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. MCCS is not responsible for designing and editing outside ads. No Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Community Services endorsement of commercial advertisers or sponsors implied.
From top to bottom: Courtesy of Basic Mode,Wavebreak Media Ltd/bigstock.com
Share Your Burdens
W
e’ve all felt emotionally or mentally overwhelmed at some point in our lives. Maybe it’s job stress, relationship issues, transitions, grief, depression or a combination of a few of those. Maybe it’s something else entirely. Many try to handle personal issues alone or just hope that emotional burdens or
stressors will dissipate on their own. But it’s important to know that the option to talk to an unbiased ear is always there. Counselors at the Behavioral Health Community Counseling program are here to help. Come for a confidential, walk-in screening on Camps Foster (Bldg. 439) and Hansen (Bldg. 2631),
Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Individual, couple, family and group counseling sessions are available. For more information call the Behavioral Health Community Counseling Program at 645-2915 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ behavioralhealth.
This publication printed with
4 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
5 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
R
Toire wa doko desuka? Where is the restroom?
Clockwise from the top left: Maridav/bigstock.com, akiyoko49/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
The Color Red
ed is generally called aka, and is a very important color to the people of Japan. There are many shades of red that can be seen in many places and, in the old days, each shade of red had its own name. Shûiro (vermilion), akaneiro (madder red), enji (dark red), karakurenai (crimson) and hîro (scarlet) are among the more common. The Japanese especially love the red that is obtained from safflower (benibana), which was very popular during the Heian Period (794–1185). Many examples of clothing that were dyed with benibana can be seen at Nara prefecture’s Todaiji Temple—still as red today as they were 1,200 years ago. Many Japanese think of the sun as red (children usually draw the sun as a big red circle). The national flag (which is called kokki) of Japan has a red circle on a white background, and its formal name is Hinomaru—which
literally means “the sun’s circle.” Red and white mizuhiki (ceremonial paper strings) are also used as gift wrapping ornaments (similar to bows) for weddings gifts. Even babies are called akachan or akanbô, probably because their faces tend to be red. The color red also shows its importance in the Japanese language. Many expressions including “akahadaka,” which means “completely
nude,” “aka no tannin,” which means “a complete stranger” and “makkana uso,” which means “an outright, baldfaced lie,” show the connotations of the color red. So the next time you see or hear the color red in Japan, remember, it isn’t necessarily negative unless the word happens to be “akaji,” which is a term that translates to “red ink” and signifies a financial deficit.
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
6 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
An out-of-this-world dining experience...
I N T E RNAT I O NA L F U S I O N NOW, with a FREE Friday/Saturday shuttle bus service on Camp Foster. Visit TERRA International Fusion online or more information. mccsokinawa.com/terra #MakesOkinawaHome #TerraOkinawa
7 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
getting there
pickoftheweek
A
Hale Noa Café
Hours: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily Phone: 098-989-8244 GPS coordinates: 26.306231, 127.760906
Hale Noa Café
quaint Hawaiian-themed café just seems so fitting here in tropical Okinawa, and when you pair a cute café with delicious food, it doesn’t get much better than that. The specialties here are the French toast and pancakes of your dreams. Try to imagine (without drooling) warm French toast smothered in crème brulee sauce with berries, or their Fruit Medley Pancake topped with fresh fruit and a large scoop of whipped cream. Are you hungry yet? If you’re in the mood for something a little more savory, the eggs benedict is supreme. Choose between apple bacon, smoked salmon, kahlua pork and basil chicken. It’s impossible to go wrong. Each meal comes with your choice of coffee or iced-tea, but don’t let that be your sole drink. They offer a variety of smoothies served in mason jars that are hard to pass up. If you’re not a breakfast person, do not be discouraged. Hale Noa
Café has a large selection of lunch items that are sure to satisfy. Kahlua pork sandwiches, salad topped with bacon, or a delicious “Triple Poke Bowl” are just a small sample of the delicious options you can have for lunch. The atmosphere is relaxed,
Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
Water Lily season peaks during June and July, but they bloom through most of the year.
and between the Hawaiian music that plays in the background and the friendly staff, it’s a nice break from the daily hustle and bustle. - Jenessa Reutov
8 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
9 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
didyou know?
spotlight
N
urbanbuzz/bigstock.com
The longest game of Monopoly lasted 70 days.
Family Game Night
owadays, there is rarely time to sit back and relax with family and friends. We are so accustomed to jam-packed schedules that it can be difficult to decide what to do when you finally get some free time. Face it; you will probably just play phone games. Well, before phone games we played games with people, on pieces of cardboard. Join us for the old timey tradition of “game night� at an MCCS library near you. There will be plenty to do for the whole family this holiday season at the libraries. On November 4, check out Military Family Game Night from 5 to 7 p.m. at the libraries on Camps Courtney, Foster and Kinser. Here, patrons can get together with loved ones and play board games (library provided or bring your own). Refreshments will be available. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/libraries.
10 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
11 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | October 27, 2016
tours+
adventure begins here Spooky Sites (South) October 29, 6–10 p.m. Adults $20, Children (3–11) $13 (under 3) FREE Get into the spirit of Halloween on our haunted excursion. We’ll visit well-known spooky sites in Southern Okinawa. How brave are you?
Last c Spooky Sites (North) h for 20 ance 16! October 30, 6–10 p.m. Adults $20, Children (3–11) $13 (under 3) FREE Get into the spirit of Halloween on our haunted excursion. We’ll visit well-known spooky sites in Northern Okinawa. How brave are you?
Shuri Castle Festival* October 30, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Tour this ancient 15th Century castle, once home of the 19 Ryukyu kings and the only fully restored castle on Okinawa. The Dynasty Parade includes the king, queen and sapposhi (Chinese envoys) in colorful costumes.
Tea Ceremony with Kimono Dressing* November 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $48, Children (3–11) $38 Take part in a traditional tea ceremony. Discover the history behind kimono and dress in a yukata, the traditional Japanese summer kimono. A complimentary photo of your immersion into Japanese culture will be provided by the tea house. Afterwards, we will travel to Naha Main Place for lunch and shopping.
*Bring yen for additional food, drinks and/or purchases. For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster 646-3502 | Camp Hansen 623-6344 | Camp Kinser 637-2744
off-baseevents get out and explore
Onna Village Beautiful Ocean Fireworks Festival October 29, 6–8 p.m. Hotel Moon Beach Onna Village FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
From top to bottom: bigstock.com/grouplee, bigstock.com/harrisonr
645-3521/3522
Aquatics 645-3180 Courtney Ironworks 622-9261/7297 Futenma Semper Fit 636-2672 Gunners Fitness Center 645-3985/2235 Hansen House of Pain 623-5558/4831 Health Promotion 645-3484/3910 Kinser Fitness Center 637-1869/1114 Schwab Power Dome 625-2654/2442 Taiyo Golf Club 622-2004 Tsunami SCUBA 645-9500 Youth Sports 645-3533/3534
Yomitan Festival October 29–30, 1–9 p.m. Yomitan Athletic Park Yomitan Village FREE
The Tobu Festival and East Coast Fireworks October 29–30, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Okinawa Comprehensive Park Okinawa City FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open Ultimate Frisbee November 11–13 Camp Hansen House of Pain Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m on November 7 for $90. Tournament brackets and rules will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to the top three teams. Details: 623-5569.
Southern Commander’s Cup Softball Tournament November 18–20 Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m on November 14. This FREE event is open to eligible units on Camps Foster, MCAS Futenma and Camp Kinser. Tournament bracket and rules will be emailed to each participant. Awards will be given to top two teams. Details: 645-3003.
classof theweek Turbo Kickboxing Kick start your day with this high intensity, invigorating class. This class provides toning and cardio while utilizing punches, kicks and other techniques used when training to box. Camp Courtney 9–10 a.m. For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.