Yep. You read the title right. That’s literally the translation for Japan’s Ryukyu island of Okinawa. Like a twisted rope the island stretches nearly 70 miles from southeast to northwest with an average width of just 7 miles.

Many come here for the stunningly serene and glassy ocean water that hosts a wide variety of aquatic life. Others drop in for the incredibly delicious food such as the signature “Soba” dish of wheat flour noodles swimming in a pork broth.

My wife and I? We came because we had to. We were ordered to, courtesy of the United States military. Forced to serve on a subtropical island for a marathon 3 years… We couldn’t be happier. As we drive our little “kei cars” around the island we cannot mistake how noticeable the military footprint is here. Of the 1.47 million inhabitants, 50-52,000 are affiliated with the U.S. Armed Forces in some way. Look up from your acai bowl as you traipse along Naha’s seawall and within about 2-3 minutes you’ll likely spot several F-15C/D Eagles or a much larger C-130 Hercules running a maneuver above (you’ll most likely hear them before you catch a glimpse).

Anyways, yes, we are here for the long haul. My wife will be working at a Naval clinic while I managed to secure a postdoctoral scholar position in nearshore oceanography at the beautiful Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. So this is the launching point. The breath before the plunge. What does this mean for you, dear reader? I want you here, journeying with me as I navigate life in a completely different environment. Get ready for some insights into the oceanography and geology of the island, local customs, and fun anecdotes about the way life is lived that I think we could all learn from. It will be quite the azure adventure… Stay tuned.