When I Lived In Okinawa
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15960)
United States
March 8, 2016 8:26am CST
It was eighteen months of a completely different way of life. We lived in the village of Kitamae. My oldest son was born there at Camp Kue. My daughter was not quite two years old when he was born.
Although we didn’t have a lot of money, I had a maid two days a week, who was a very sweet lady. Her name was Shigeko Inamane.
Our life was very different, but interesting too. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to experience it.
The island is very small and completely dependent on ships bringing supplies. We lived very simply and ate tons of fried rice that we purchased at a nearby restaurant. Forty-five cents would purchase enough for dinner for both my husband and me. I would prepare something different for the children.
We experienced several earthquake tremors and two typhoons while we were there. There was also a drought while we were there and it actually snowed for the first time in recent history. The snow fell from the sky but melted before it hit the ground.
We were glad to get home, but will never forget what we experienced there.
The picture was taken outside our front door.
7 people like this
8 responses
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Okinawa, of course, is an island off the Southern coast of Japan, but it does now belong to Japan again. I learned to speak quite a bit of the language while I was there. I taught English to my maid and she taught me Japanese. I still remember a lot of the language, but I have forgotten more than I remember, unfortunately, because I have not had occasion to use it.
2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Mar 16
I am always intrigued by Okinawa because the people there have the longest lifespan in the world.
3 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Mar 16
@IreneVincent Some people say it has something to do with the vegetable Bittermelon which is popular in Okinawa. They were available In the US via asian stores I think.
In Okinawa I think they sautee it with mushroom, tofu, pork, eggs and soy sauce.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker I think its probably a combination of their lifestyle and their diet and their environment. It all combines to create a healthier life.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Yes, that is a true statement about Okinawans having the longest average lifespan in the world. My son, who was born there has hoped it would apply to him. LOL
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
8 Mar 16
What a beautiful family! I have used coral calcium from Okinawa...it was uses to make the drinking water more alcaline and better for health. 
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Mar 16
Thank you. I am not familiar with coral calcium, but I do know that the coral dust was to blame for some severe urinary tract problems I had while I lived there, or so I was told. So, it's ODD to me that they would put it in the drinking water.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@buenavida Yes, some research on it would probably be a good idea. We certainly drank the water there for 18 months.
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Apr 16
this is a place I want to visit someday
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Apr 16
@IreneVincent was in Japan for an earth quake, not a large one, but that itself was quite scary
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
10 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt I have experienced several other earthquakes. Three in California. Tremors when I was out there for a few weeks. And the latest one here in Virginia, which affected much of the East Coast about two and a half years ago or so. I really can't remember the date. I should look it up. Our whole house shook and it was very scary. I was sitting right where I'm sitting right now, typing on the computer and all of a sudden this loud noise began. At first, I thought it was a low flying airplane and then it got louder and the house began to shake. I was, at first, unable to push my chair with wheels, away from my desk, but finally I was able to get it away from the desk and I got up and started down the steps, which were moving back and forth and I ran to the other side of this house where my son was at home. The house was still shaking when we both said simultaneously, "it's an earthquake."
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Apr 16
It was a very interesting experience. I have some fond memories of Okinawa and some scary ones too, because of the typhoons and the earthquakes.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
22 Jun 16
The year was 1963. There was no talk about climate change back then that I can remember. We only had ONE station on TV, and very rarely watched it, although we did have a TV.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Mar 16
Yes, living in Okinawa was an experience that I will never forget. It was such a very different way of life than what I was used to. Also, my husband and I were very young, just 22 years old when we left Okinawa.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
23 Jun 16
@JudyEv It was quite an experience. I was happy to get home safe.
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@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar 16
@IreneVincent That is young. What a great experience.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Thank you. My husband was in the US Air Force at the time.
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
9 Mar 16
Thanks for sharing! So one can thrive on rice? I met an 104 year old man and he told me the secret on his long life was eating rice but whole grain rice. Rice is nice!
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Mar 16
Hello Felix. Nice to see you again. Yes, we pretty much survived on rice, at least, two days a week. I do believe that rice is healthy and that's why there is so much rice being produced and harvested in the world. Many countries depend on their rice crop.
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