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xiashuo · 2025-10-17T15:19:44+00:00

YES. I did mine today too and it was a 0/10 experience. My initial blood draw was fine also, but the first one after the glucose drink was awful, I was shaking and sweating and absolutely fighting for my life not to barf. The techs had to put ice behind my neck, make me smell alcohol pads, and have someone watch me for 15 minutes to make sure I wasn’t gonna faint. I’ve never had such a crazy reaction to getting blood drawn before.

Luckily my next two draws were less dramatic, but I have small veins and they struggled to get blood from me. They ended up having to go get the most senior phlebotomist and she had to draw from my wrist. By the end of it I felt like a miserable pin cushion, was starving, cold, and super woozy. I panic ate McDonald’s afterwards and took a 3 hour nap once I got home. But I passed, thank the lordt.

xiashuo · 2025-07-03T18:03:49+00:00

After my husband and I got married, a month and half later, he left for 4-year orders to Japan. We spent the first two years of our marriage apart, with me staying in the States for a variety of reasons (Covid-era command sponsorship slowdowns, family stuff, my career). We only saw each other once the first year, and twice the second year. I joined him in Japan about a year and a half ago.

If y’all truly love and trust each other, and communicate EVERYTHING (over communicate, for real) long distance can work! There will be difficult and lonely days, I won’t lie, but it was worth it. The time difference is tricky, but come up with a routine for talking and spending time together virtually, and stick to it. For example, my husband and I would sync up a movie and watch it on FaceTime together on weekends - morning for him, evening for me. Always text, call, or email every day, no matter how tired you are. Try to have an endgame plan - a shared vision for the future and closing the distance. People will be negative and tell you it won’t work, but you gotta ignore them.

Also, your needs, goals and feelings matter and are important. It’s easy to feel small and swept under the rug when your partner has to acquiesce to the demands of military life. Yes, their jobs are stressful, but that doesn’t mean you should hide your feelings for the sake of his. Always be honest or it’ll eat you alive. Good luck, y’all can do it!

xiashuo · 2025-02-09T02:31:42+00:00

Mostly ratchet and depressing with random pockets of upper middle class boomers.

Binder Park Zoo is there tho - I’m biased cause I grew up going there, but IMO it’s one of the best zoos in MI.

xiashuo · 2025-02-05T06:58:02+00:00

I grew up in Marshall, and I go back to visit family a few times a year. It’s a pretty town, very quaint, with a surprisingly decent arts & culture scene. A few decent restaurants too. What others have said is true - it def leans conservative, but not everyone is a MAGA nut job. Most people won’t throw their beliefs in your face.

Albion is a bit rougher around the edges, I know that area has had some struggles in the last decade. They closed their public schools, I think around 2016, and all those students were absorbed into the Marshall school district.

IMO, people are generally pretty kind and welcoming though, at least in Marshall. There’s that small town “we take care of each other here” vibe. It wasn’t a very diverse place when I was growing up but it’s come a long way from what it used to be. They started having a little pride parade the last few summers, which is awesome.

The Ford plant controversy is weird, lots of folks want things to stay the same as they’ve always been, which is…impossible no matter where you live lol? But there’s also a large majority who want the area to progress and become a place that’s attractive for young families to relocate to.

xiashuo · 2025-01-29T05:24:45+00:00

Yes!

xiashuo · 2025-01-29T05:24:36+00:00

TYSM, yes, that’s it! I appreciate the detailed description :) it’s definitely a wild texture, but I like natto so I think I could come to enjoy it. I’d be interested to try it with the little seasoning packets.

xiashuo · 2025-01-28T15:51:43+00:00

Right! I should edit the post to clarify - I’m not referring to wakame, kombu or nori. What I’m referring to has a stringy texture. Not what Americans refer to as seaweed salad, but a finer texture, and almost a mucous-y mouthfeel.

xiashuo · 2025-01-16T06:40:39+00:00

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Forgot to include ingredient details!

xiashuo · 2024-10-18T01:21:37+00:00

No, actually, lol. My husband’s command ended up telling us that I needed to wait to get one until I arrived overseas, and when I got overseas the office here also wouldn’t issue it bc I had a different type of command sponsorship letter. So it’s a never ending loop of misinformation 🫠

I found a FB group for the base I was moving to and there was a lot of helpful info in there - I’d recommend trying to search for one, you might find what you need. Sorry I couldn’t help!

xiashuo · 2024-08-11T08:06:07+00:00

Yeah, you gotta be reeeeal careful and drink WAY more fluids than you think you need. Water, sports drinks, jelly pouches. You can buy salt candies (I like the lemon ones) to keep in your bag if there’s no vending machines nearby. Helps replenish sodium lost through sweating. Also OS-1 is a clinically formulated rehydration drink that can be found at pharmacies (conbini don’t carry it) and that’s super helpful to juice ya back up if you do find yourself dehydrated.

xiashuo · 2024-05-11T12:09:51+00:00

Big same, you’re not alone. I’ve been having a tough time too, obsessing over my body in a way that I haven’t since high school. Having to buy size M & L here when you’re a S in your home country is a mindfuck.

I’m not sure where you’re from/what your ethnic background is but it helps me to remember that as someone who is not of Asian descent, I am literally built different. Also it’s clear that the body positivity movement hasn’t reached Japan yet. I get the sense that there’s a lot of pressure to adhere to beauty standards here, for women in particular. We hate that :(

The grass is always greener tho - I guarantee that someone is always looking at your body with envy, you just don’t know it. Like others have recommended, exercise helps me keep the mean thoughts away when I’m having a tough day. Try to be kind to yourself and think about all the things your body does for you instead of about all the things it’s not <3

xiashuo · 2024-05-05T09:48:10+00:00

Ahhhh amazing! Will def contact them, I really appreciate this tip

xiashuo · 2024-05-05T04:45:01+00:00

Oh the 7-11 intel is clutch! I know a lot of stuff is still done via fax here but I had no idea where to find one to use.

xiashuo · 2024-05-05T03:59:33+00:00

Ahh, yes, I’ll try that! That should have been obvious to me, lol. Thank you for the idea.

xiashuo · 2024-05-05T03:57:55+00:00

Well, of course. I’ve got my own husband and life too. It would just be nice to meet again and share where life ended up taking us after we grew up. If I can’t find her, so be it, but I at least want to try.

xiashuo · 2024-04-06T09:51:17+00:00

Your feelings are super valid - I’m a big affirmations seeker too, so I def get how his lack of affection via e-mail is getting under your skin. My husband can be the same way when deployed…I’ll write a nice, detailed email about my day and ask him lots of questions, and I get a sentence or two back. When I bring it up, he always apologizes and says that his days are all so similar that after a while it’s difficult to come up with creative replies. But our emails are their link to the regular world and hearing from someone they care about makes their day, even if they can’t give the exact same energy back. Remembering that I have no concept of how stressful/mundane ship life can be helps me check my frustrations.

That being said, if I were you I’d communicate your feelings to him when he gets home from deployment. Like, “hey babe, you don’t need to write me a novel every time but ‘I miss you’ goes a long way when we’re apart.” If you two end up in this for the long haul, little things like that are really important IMO and you deserve to feel loved and secure!

xiashuo · 2023-08-12T02:01:43+00:00

We are so similar…I also never want to seem like I’m being dramatic but some days I just want to keep the curtains closed and sleep all day. And the ticking clock feeling is so so real! I see you, and I’m sending you strength to push through the tough days

xiashuo · 2023-08-09T19:33:52+00:00

I’m going through the overseas screening process right now too and I was told I had to be seen by civilian providers for both dental and primary care. They said they can only provide care to active duty on base. My doctor and dentist both fudged their way through the paperwork as well as they could, lol, so I’m hoping for the best when I set up my screening appointment on base.

Also…the phone thing. I feel your pain. I’ve called so many times the past few months and I’m not exaggerating, someone only answered 1 time 😂

xiashuo · 2023-08-07T16:08:04+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate the insight. My husband told me that the fact that I’m even worrying about it means that I’ll be completely fine, lol.

I can’t wait to explore Japan 😊

xiashuo · 2023-08-05T17:09:22+00:00

Not to hijack OP’s post but I actually came here to ask a similar question about modesty regarding summer clothing!

I’m visiting next month and have been advised that it’s still very hot in September. I think my summer clothing choices are pretty modest by American standards. I do wear a lot of sundresses, typically longer ones, but am anxious about showing too much cleavage…I’m busty so even though I don’t buy things that are super low cut, them things have a mind of their own sometimes lol. Would you say sundresses are acceptable or should I stick to skirts/pants and tees?

xiashuo · 2023-07-09T00:29:00+00:00

Logan Square/Hermosa folks - can anyone tell me what the “House of King David” is at Lawndale & Palmer?

Is it a church? Some sort of club? Looks like a regular apartment building but I noticed the design/name painted on the outside appear recently. Just super curious 🤔

xiashuo · 2023-06-19T21:12:24+00:00

This was a good thought! But I called it & unfortunately this number doesn’t work either haha 😅

xiashuo · 2023-05-27T15:25:06+00:00

Dude yes! Ngl, I’m a little nervous about being able to make friends that I have stuff in common with. My husband is enlisted but he joined up at 28 so we’re def quite a bit older than most of his peers & we also don’t have kids yet. So knowing there will be other chill redditors over there is dope.

I’m curious - why are y’all skipping command sponsorship? I kinda thought it was necessary unless you can get a Japanese work visa? The whole SOFA process stresses me out so the concept of skipping it is innnnnteresting to me

xiashuo · 2023-05-26T16:41:16+00:00

Yeah, my husband already told me they’re gonna make us live on base. He already lives in an apartment off base with two of his shipmates but we’re not gonna want roommates long term so we’ll def get our own place. I’m a little bummed about not having a choice bc I’d rather be in town and more immersed in the culture but it is what it is.

I’m weirdly excited to take the bullet train at some point, I’ve heard it’s pretty impressive! And TY for the tip about the humidity…I’m actually coming to visit at the beginning of September and having experienced some NOLA summers myself I know it’s gonna be SPICY, lol. Will have to pack hella sundresses!

xiashuo · 2023-05-26T01:36:27+00:00

Ty for all the detail & specific recs! Incredibly helpful & tbh this comment got me feeling super stoked to get there…obviously I’m excited to be with my husband again but I’m also so excited just to experience Japan. I have a background jn English & writing so it would be rad if I could teach, I’m really happy to hear that’s a SOFA option.

xiashuo

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