Welcome to the Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!

 I suppose it's about time for an update as so much has happened since my last.  Most of you already know the excitement in our world, but I wanted to give everyone a better picture and view into our corner of the world.

Since my last update, we received our HHG's (Household Goods) after 70+ days and then I spent many, many hours studying, reviewing and stressing while I prepared to take my NCLEX. For those of you not of the medical world, that is the HUGE exam that determines I am a competent nurse, worthy of receiving a license to take care of people's lives.  Out of superstition, I didn't share with too many people the date that I was taking the exam.  I did let a few people know and they supported me from afar.  I also had some Angie's Angels that made this all possible.  Allow me to introduce you to Michelle, Janell and Nancy!  Michelle, is a Navy wife that I was introduced to by a mutal friend in Pensacola.  We were both moving here from Pensacola and didn't get a chance to meet until here.  She is the mama of the boy that Jonas knew from after school care at Blue Angel.  She is a most gracious woman!  She offered to keep Emma on multiple occasions so that I could devote my time to studying or receiving our HHG's.  She loved on and played with my little girl so that I could focus on what was in front of me.  I would not have been nearly as prepared had she not been strategically placed in my life.  Next, I'd like to introduce you to another Angel, Janell!  She is the good friend of one of my AMS-2 spouses that I hold very close to my heart.  She introduced Janell and I just before we got here and the moment I met her, she held out her arms to hug me!  She was an instant winner!  She is one of the kindest hearted, thoughtful women I've had the pleasure of meeting.  She jumped at the opportunity to be my moral support on the journey north to Osaka for my boards.  She cheered me on during my long days of studying and built me up with encouragement before and after my exam. It felt really good to have someone tell you just how amazing she thinks you are for all you had to overcome to get to this point. She also makes a darn good navigator!  That woman has an amazing sense of direction!  Last, but not least, is a dear friend Nancy that Jaret and I have known since before we got married.  She is Okinawan and was gracious enough to accompany us for a Girls Night in Osaka.  She brought us many laughs, served as our translator and was the other half of my personal cheering squad.  These 3 Angels saw me through a huge milestone in my life and career and I am so grateful for them!

After having to go through quite the ordeal to schedule my exam internationally (calling Hong Kong, to speak to a woman in India to schedule my American exam in Japan) and paying a ton of money, it was time to get on board this train heading to Osaka.  We took the Shin aka bullet train which got us there in 3 hours.  Now, this is where the Hunger Games comes in to play.  For those of you not familiar with the topography of Japan, it is quite mountainous.  My Angels and I sat at the Shin station waiting for our train...we had to be early, as Japanese are very punctual and the train is always on time and only sits at the station for a VERY short time...I was surrounded by mountains and a train (not stopping in Iwakuni) blew through the station so fast, that Emma could've been picked up and swept away (or so it seemed) had she been standing on the platform. That was where I made my first reference to the Games.  It also helps that Janell's notification tone on her phone is from the movie.  When it was time to board, I felt like I was getting on the train bound for the capital to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.  And in a sense, I was.  I was going to fight to the death in my own personal game to become an RN.

2 of Angie's Angels, Nancy and Janell, ready to take Osaka

Ready to ride the bullet train

On the way up, I came up with a little jingle in my head (to the tune of 'Twas the night before Christmas). 

 'Twas the night before NCLEX and all through the hotel,
Not a creature was stirring, not even Janell.
The books were all studied by the student with care
In hopes of passing the NCLEX that soon would be near
She was all nestled, snug in the bed,
With practice questions dancing around in her head.
The lab values, therapeutic levels and CPAP
Oh my, it's just too much crap!
When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter
And Nancy sprung from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window she tore like a flash,
Threw open the curtains and turned around in a dash.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
A very anxious Angie trembling in fear.
NCLEX day was finally here!

Once we arrived in Osaka, I was overwhelmed by the amount of people and the intricacy of the stations.  Luckily, I brought these 2 amazing women along who figured out where we were going despite my head being in the clouds.  We got settled at our hotel and went to find the testing center (aka Hell) and dinner.  The testing center was close and very convenient, so I felt very good about the morning.  Dinner, well, that's another story.  We found this area that was just aisle after aisle of restaurants!  Poor Nancy was trying to translate a few things at each place that didn't have the trademark plastic food displays for us Americans.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and night of conversation together before doing a little window shopping and heading to bed.  We came upon the most amazing flower shop that teased your nose and delighted your eyes.  I wanted so badly to purchase something, but, flowers don't last long and the plants can't go back to the States with us, so...I enjoyed them with my senses and left them in the store.  When the morning came, I found myself at peace, having slept pretty well, and ready to do this thing.  My Angels and I had breakfast and they deposited me in Hell making sure the ladies inside spoke English before they left.  It was go time!  I sat down at my station and answered question 1.  Then, question 2 came up and the panic hit!  I was failing!  There's no way I was passing this exam.  I stopped a few times and closed my eyes praying that the Lord would give me clarity of mind.  When I hit submit on question 75 (the minimum you can get) I held my breath.  The computer did not advance to another question...phew, no more questions, but there was no way I passed.  For those who have never taken this exam, you can't fathom the difficulty of these questions.  I mean, we have to be competent to save people's lives, right? As I walked out of the testing center, the tears stung my eyes and I wanted to collapse in a heap right outside the door.  I was emotionally exhausted. 

The arena in which I would fight to the death

The building the housed Pearson Testing Center aka Hell

See, I was a hot mess afterwards!

The area full of restaurant after restaurant.  We didn't even see them all!

One section of Osaka Station.  People were everywhere!

This Ferris wheel was on top of a building...it was huge!

Just one of the many malls in Osaka.  Floors upon floors of shopping!

 So, what do you do when you just completed the hardest exam of your life and feel like you failed, but know you probably passed? You go shopping!  We took to the streets of Osaka for some sight seeing, eating and shopping!  We took a trip up the the Floating Gardens.  It is 2 skyscrapers connected together in midair.  The 360 degree observation deck is absolutely breath taking.  It is hard, even having seen it, to fathom the enormity of this city.  We had an amazing time and were all ready to crash on the shin ride back to Iwakuni. 

Pass or fail, it was over! Cheers!

Heading up to the Floating Gardens

All the way up at the top of that building.  The 2 pieces in the middle are the steep escalators we took the rest of the way.

At the top of Osaka

And the wait began! I guess since I took the NCLEX internationally, it caused delay in processing my results.  The pop-up trick indicated that I passed, but I didn't have an official result.  I checked incessently (often every 10 minutes) to see if my results were available.  I finally, on Tuesday morning (3 days of waiting), before getting out of bed, saw what I had been waiting for...I passed! I am officially a Registered Nurse!  It was over! I had done it!!! 

I had finally completed nursing school after trying to get into a program for almost 6 years, 3 moves,1 being to a new country, 3 kiddos to raise, the youngest being 4 months when I began the program.  I aced nursing school because it was my own personal goal to not just do it, but to excel.  I (with my hubby) orchestrated our move overseas almost flawlessly and got right into studying and setting up our home.  And, I traveled 3 hours to take the biggest exam of my life to totally KILL it!!!  This is all to say, that if I can do this, despite the many twists and turns I've had over the last 8 years, you can too!  If you have a goal/dream, don't let anything stand in your way! I didn't!

She believed she could...so she did!

Thank you to each and every one of you who provided me with support over the last several years.  To my biggest cheerleaders, you know who you are, thank you for never wavering in your enthusiasm and encouragement!  Now, time to enjoy Japan!!