Let’s review now what we have learned so far:

Today we began our indoctrination class. Lessons learned:

1. Although all the documentation received to date indicated that a courtesy shuttle would be provided, picking us up at the Navy Lodge, taking us and children to the Child Development Center (CDC), then returning to the Fleet and Family Services Center (FFSC) in time for the briefing to begin it took at least 5 phone calls to make it happen such that service members were dropped off at FFSC while leaving spouses to figure out the litany of paperwork at the CDC and hopefully returning before the apocalypse occurred. As it turns out, a decision was made that the shuttle service would no longer be provided effective the beginning of the month. This was never fully conveyed to anyone. When I called at 7:30 I was assured that the shuttle would be there at 7:45. At 7:55 I called back again and was told that the service was discontinued. When I asked for recommendations on what to do, they said they would call back. About 8:00 I was called back and they were sending a shuttle right over. Finally, about 8:15 the shuttle showed up.
   
2. The indoctrination briefing we were attending was Area Orientation Briefing / Intercultural Relations. For most people it simply flows from their lips as AOBICR. For me, it was enough letters that it might as well end in M-O-U-S-E.
   
3. Uniforms are not required at the AOBICR, as I found out, being the only person in uniform there.
   
4. Presentations given by civilian employees of the various agencies were usually well thought out and presented. Presentations by military personnel were, for the most part, weak. The civilians seemed to take great pride in putting their presentations together and organizing them. The military personnel seemed to put it together by whoever drew the short straw today.
   
5. Most presenters listed off a tremendous list of activities you could do that would end you up in jail, in the brig, in the morgue, or other pleasant situations. The amusing part of it was the fact that almost all of them presented all sorts of things that seemed like you would burn in hell for doing, but ended their brief with, "But welcome to Sasebo, get out, enjoy and have a truly great time." Almost hearkens back to the days of Mom saying, "Have fun and don't get in trouble;" two statements that have nothing to do with each other when you are a teenager.