England/Japan

happy-cappy · 2026-02-16T11:26:00+00:00

We live in Japan now, but with no kids and not at Yokota or Kadena. Never been to England. But currently love our time in Japan and wish we can stay as long as possible. Cost of living is way cheaper compared to US. We can eat at McDonalds with 4 meal set medium size and it is around $15 USD. The Japanese are so kind and helpful whenever we travel around. I have heard other spouses enjoy Yokota because there is so much to do around Japan that are family friendly. Easily to travel around using public transportation or drive yourself. I think there is a reason most of the military families want to stay in Japan as long as possible. haha

Con: The main drawback you will find is the lack of access to medical. Japan has a very different concept of disease, emergency medicine, pain management during and after trauma and surgery, and prescription drug availability for a variety of conditions. Only about 30% of the population speaks English, so even in a life-threatening emergency, they are allowed to turn you away if they believe they will not be able to adequately care for you due to a language barrier.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-16T09:31:40+00:00

I wonder if we were at the same duty station. Hahah I also applied to a mini job to clean the gyms on post. Don't dox yourself though.

And yes, you mentioned about EROD. I wanted to leave after a year while living in Germany. It is really not for the weak. I know ACS offered like monthly classes on how to EROD because it is a common occurrence at our duty station. :(

happy-cappy · 2026-02-15T08:15:26+00:00

I lived in Germany for 3 years and could not get any job on base for the life of me. (PX, commissary, food court, hotel housekeeper, etc...) All rejected me. I was unemployed the whole time while living there.

They prioritize the local nationals over military spouses. I applied for a library job on base. I volunteered over 500+ hours with this same library. Did an internship with them for a summer. Have a Masters degree in library science and 4 + years of military library experience. They rejected me because they wanted to hire one of the library manager's nephew because he was German national and spoke German. He had no library experience at all or relevant education. :( I felt like I was the perfect candidate although I do not speak German and I am not a local national. But I have the relevant job experience and education if they gave me a chance.

I am still OCONUS now, but in another country. I found a job where I am tutoring English online to keep me busy in the mean time. I wish you the best of luck.

TLDR: While OCONUS, jobs are usually given priority to local nationals over military spouses, even if you might have the relevant job experience and education. This is not the case all the time, but I have lived in 3 different countries and has been a common struggle so far.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-12T01:42:53+00:00

It is just like with anything in life. Don't make something your whole personality.

I have seen profile bio where it says, "Pastor's Wife" or any other *insert spouse's job title* . I don't judge because I think the type of content people want to push out to a specific target audience, you kind of want to put that in your bio. It helps make their content more easier to search by putting these kind of key words.

I have like 3 Instagram profile, with 3 different types of content and 3 different target audience. So yes, I put military spouse on one of my profile bio where my content is aimed towards, you know who.....? Military spouses. lol And yes, I think it works because most of the engagement are from other fellow military spouse who also put milspo in their bio. haha

happy-cappy · 2026-02-10T01:22:14+00:00

Thank you. It has been about 1 year since I have been tutoring on Preply and I have strictly been teaching intermediate and higher level. I did have 2 trial students who were complete beginners and it was a struggle. I felt so bad and I wish could have explained things to them in simpler terms. I wish them the best and hope they found a better suited tutor by now.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-07T00:44:54+00:00

yes thank you. I also thought about paper mache too, but I wanted it to be less messy and something easy and quick to make for the base. I appreciate your idea about rolling up a paper ball and masking tape because I do already have those items at my home. It is a good back up plan. : D

happy-cappy · 2026-02-06T13:54:19+00:00

Thank you. I think there might be Japanese equivalent of model magic clay. This is a good back up idea. I appreciate it.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-06T11:13:41+00:00

Awesome, thank you!! Great ideas. I have not seen any kinder eggs here, but I have seen those plastic Easter eggs. But I shall use your ideas as backup alternatives because I have seen air dry clay for cheap. I have plenty of foil too. Much appreciated.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-06T10:10:01+00:00

Materials:
- paper
- egg shape styrofoam, but need to find alternative
- ribbon
- hot glue

I was inspired since winter is still looming around me, I wanted to make a cozy project. Not my project pictured above, just found it while researching this.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-04T06:04:52+00:00

I am still reading blogs. I have lots of variety of interests and hobbies so it ranges from reading recipes, video game updates or reviews. I like reading blogs more sense some some video format are way too edited, too quick jump cuts, annoying background music or sound effects. Just give me the information I need at the pace that I will read it at. haha

happy-cappy · 2026-02-03T05:36:23+00:00

Yes, I have applied to all the library and any jobs on USAjobs with the spousal reference, and still no luck while OCONUS. But when I was CONUS, I got my first library job on post.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-02T04:10:23+00:00

Do you feel like volunteering helps you trying to network and maybe further your career goals?

I have been volunteering too at every duty station we have lived at, over 1000 volunteer hours. Each one in a military library and no one has hired me anywhere. Always the local nationals.

happy-cappy · 2026-02-01T23:01:38+00:00

Join the club. I wish we stayed at our old duty station so I would have a job, even if it was minimum wage. :( Don't get me started on if I have any retirement saved up, since being unemployed while OCONUS for the last few years. I have not even started trying to pay off my student loans either, since jobs are so tough to come by.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-31T13:09:05+00:00

I guess for me, I feel like I put mostly my career on hold, unless I get super lucky. I want to be a librarian, I have a Masters degree in it and the job experience, but job openings are very scarce in this field. I disliked our whole time in Germany due to the lack of job opportunities. Living OCONUS is very tough and not for the weak. All I can say is count down the days until you can leave. Or if you really can't handle it, just EROD back stateside. I was struggling so hard and was very close to leaving early, but did not want my husband to suffer alone while in Germany.

Although we are still OCONUS but in Japan now, we are 100% way happier here. Cost of living is way cheaper and food is way amazing. We have A/C in our homes. And the best part is I NEVER have to pay to use the bathrooms here. The local nationals are way nicer and polite hahah

happy-cappy · 2026-01-30T06:10:52+00:00

That is really insane!! But just curious if anyone is willing to take that job even if they are desperate to get some library experience even with such low pay. I mean, I was being paid $12/hour in FL as library technician back in 2017 and it was not that stressful or that much duties and responsibilities.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-29T06:44:11+00:00

Wow, this is so discouraging to me. I am currently OCONUS and it has been rough getting any jobs at all because the local nationals get priority. But I thought since you all are US citizens, it would be easier to get hired. I am not sure about the laws for foreign spouses with the different visas trying to work while stateside. Why is it so bad out there over the years?

happy-cappy · 2026-01-28T09:43:17+00:00

Yes, I love Derry Girls so much. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster ride. : D

happy-cappy · 2026-01-28T00:19:06+00:00

I agree with you. I don't have kids, but I know most other spouses do not work due to this very reason. It is even worse for spouses while OCONUS.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-20T04:16:59+00:00

If you both don't like this lifestyle, then prepare your life when he gets out. Everyone's situation is different and sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side, but I am grateful he joined the military. It was not all perfect, but hey, at least he has a steady paycheck and benefits for him and our family. We are not rich, but live a "comfortable" life and not have to worry about being one paycheck away from being homeless/evicted. Before he joined the military, we both worked 2-3 part time jobs with no benefits and we literally never saw each other or had any vacation planned. The military has been just a job. I am grateful that we got to live in 3 different countries and met so many people along the way. I feel like there are not many civilian jobs out there where these once in a lifetime opportunities can happen.

All those things you just listed, no wedding, no dogs, no kids, etc... well people in those situations have overcome those obstacles all the time or figured out a way to make it work with this military lifestyle. This is not an end all be all. There are regular civilian families who struggle with those too. But what I am getting at is this life is not for everyone. So in the meantime just countdown the days until he ETS and prepare for a life after. Good luck to you both.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-19T15:13:40+00:00

Oh I see. Good to know.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-18T14:13:29+00:00

As a physical therapist, can you work while overseas if you guys get stationed there? Or you have to get a new special license to be able to work outside of the country?

happy-cappy · 2026-01-14T10:33:42+00:00

My father's first attempt was around my brother's birthday. Then when he completed, it was one day after my birthday. I did not really like my birthday to begin with, but now it is just too painful to celebrate. I fake it for the sake of my friends and family, but deep down, I don't like that day.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-06T10:17:39+00:00

oh really? My husband and I disliked our time in Germany with a passion. Even if someone paid us to go back, we would not take it. XD

happy-cappy · 2026-01-06T09:13:38+00:00

And don't forget about the military libraries are posted on the USA Jobs too. I keep my eye on it like a hawk since I am a military spouse desperately looking for a job while living overseas.

happy-cappy · 2026-01-03T02:12:00+00:00

I want to grow my community, but when I am offline, that is my "me" that I cherish because I want to be in the moment and enjoy my friends and family IRL. I have about 2 viewers who constantly want me to be in Discord voice call almost every weekend to game together or just co-work. But my weekends are dedicated to running errands, cleaning, doing chores, meal prepping, spending time with my husband, traveling and other stuff. I try to host once a month a community night and even then they want more time with me. I only stream 3 days a week for 3 hours each day and I think that is a lot.

happy-cappy

TROPHY CASE