ABOUT
We are from Minnesota! We are high school sweethearts who have been married for almost 3 years and together for 12.
Kellie: I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist. I currently work in early intervention, providing services for military families all around Okinawa. I speak English as my first language, and I studied Spanish in college. I’m also trying to learn Japanese, but it is a very complex language!
Ian: I’m an engineer for a medical device company. I’m fortunate enough to be working at my computer from a nice air conditioned home while Kellie drives around the island providing services.
Kellie: I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist. I currently work in early intervention, providing services for military families all around Okinawa. I speak English as my first language, and I studied Spanish in college. I’m also trying to learn Japanese, but it is a very complex language!
Ian: I’m an engineer for a medical device company. I’m fortunate enough to be working at my computer from a nice air conditioned home while Kellie drives around the island providing services.
Moving to Okinawa
When did you move to Okinawa? Why?
Kellie: We moved to Okinawa in January of 2023, so it’s been about 7 months now. My job brought us here. But interestingly, Ian is the one who discovered this job and suggested I apply!
Ian: I had always had a pipe dream of living in a different country, I’m just lucky enough to ride Kellie’s coattails. I think it’s a valuable experience to thrust ourselves way out of our comfort zone, into a world where we are outsiders, and to force ourselves to rely on each other.
Ian: I had always had a pipe dream of living in a different country, I’m just lucky enough to ride Kellie’s coattails. I think it’s a valuable experience to thrust ourselves way out of our comfort zone, into a world where we are outsiders, and to force ourselves to rely on each other.
What did you bring with you?
Kellie: We had a relatively small weight limit for household goods that we could have sent to Japan. We sent an air shipment of around 500 pounds of our belongings including clothes, kitchen items, books, board games, blankets, decor, etc. Otherwise, we each had two checked bags and a carry-on as well.
How did you find an apartment in Okinawa?
Kellie: Many people were surprised we had absolutely no idea where we would live before moving here. But it all worked out! We were very eager to get out of the hotel and settle into a home in Oki. After purchasing a car, we immediately started house / apartment hunting. I remember reaching out to many housing agencies and posting in a Facebook group with the details of what type of place we were looking for. After I posted in the Facebook group, I got endless rental agencies reaching out to me. We toured three places before we settled on our current home. Don’t be afraid to negotiate items in your lease! We talked down the rent payment 25,000 yen and included trash, internet, and all appliances (Japanese style washer/dryer and refrigerator). Also be aware that you may need a big chunk of change for the deposit, rental agency fee, and first two months of rent up front. I’ve heard this is typical when Okinawan rental agencies are working with Americans, especially those affiliated with the military.
How can Americans immigrate to Japan?
Ian: It is notoriously difficult to gain permanent residency in Japan. One of the easier methods to move to Japan, though it will be temporary, is via USAJobs.
Living in Okinawa
What fruits are eaten in Okinawa?
Kellie: There are lots of tropical fruits in Okinawa: mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, etc. My favorite fruit I’ve eaten while in Japan is strawberries. There are over 300 varieties of strawberries in Japan. They are typically sweeter than those found in the United States. And they are DELICIOUS.
What is your favorite Japanese island so far, other than Okinawa?
Ian: In Okinawa, I liked driving around Miyagi, Ikei, and Hamahiga islands. They had everything – Ryukyu cultural sites, scenic drives, an almost abandoned looking lighthouse, a salt factory, beaches, the list goes on! On the mainland, I enjoyed visiting the great torii gate on the island of Miyajima.
Have you seen any wildlife?
Ian: Coming from Minnesota, a lot of our wildlife encounters are squirrels and whitetail deer. Here in Okinawa, we can’t cross the street without seeing a cat (and sometimes they just take naps in the shade of the palm tree in our yard). When it comes to hiking, I’ve learned to keep checking down low and up high because we don’t want to cross paths with the venomous Habu snake or the not-so-venomous-but-still-really-gross Golden Orbweaver spiders.
Where is the best area to live in Okinawa?
Ian: It depends what you are looking for! There are loads of restaurants and nightlife in the central part of Okinawa, incredible jungle hiking in the north, and breathtaking beaches pretty much everywhere!
What are your favorite restaurants and bars in your area?
Kellie: Okinawa has a wide variety of food from all over-Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, American, Italian, etc. Many of the restaurants on the island appear to be local spots, rather than chain restaurants. We really enjoy this aspect of eating out in Okinawa. One of our favorite restaurants is an Indian place, Kebab’s, in Chatan. The naan is the size of a tennis racquet! We are also partial to Smiley Balloon Café and Smoothie, a café near our house. The owner has become our friend!
Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
Kellie: We are SCUBA certified and somehow haven’t done any diving here yet! However, I’ve heard that Okinawa has some of the best diving. We have been able to enjoy some fun hiking, sight-seeing, and eating around the island as well.
Ian: I love filling our cooler bag full of snacks and Pocari Sweat (like Japanese Gatorade) and then driving down the small, slow island roads.
Ian: I love filling our cooler bag full of snacks and Pocari Sweat (like Japanese Gatorade) and then driving down the small, slow island roads.
Final Thoughts
What has been the hardest aspect of living in Okinawa?
Kellie: There have been a variety of challenges we’ve faced since moving here: adjusting to the heat and humidity, driving on the other side of the road, learning how to sort garbage and recycling (it’s surprisingly complex!), and being away from our friends and family, to name a few. In each of these challenges, we’ve learned something new, and that has been a big goal of ours in moving abroad.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of?
Kellie: I’m just generally proud of us for taking the big step to move to another country! It is a ton of fun, but there are also things that have been difficult for us. We have learned so much from this experience and look forward to continuing to learn more.
Thank you so much Kellie and Ian for sharing your incredible experience with us! I have not yet been to Japan but it has always been on my list! I wish you the best in your adventure and can’t wait to see what comes next! Their IG here 🙂
