OkinawaHai Local Manager

A few weeks ago, I was waxing poetic about all of the different jobs I have held since I was 15, alluding to a new job that was on the horizon. (I’ve been a receptionist, a lifeguard, a waitress, a content writer, a marketing coordinator, a business development manager, a marketing and outbound sales manager, a wine broker and a concierge. I’ve had the chance to work for some really fantastic companies: Disney and Tiffany are as magical as they come… and I’ve learned a lot of lessons from a few that were a *tad* less magical).

Each job I’ve ever held has taught me something, and I have been excited about all of them on some level, but I’m really excited about this one.

When we first arrived in Okinawa, we quickly discovered the website OkinawaHai. OkinawaHai is the English speaker’s “google” on this island. When you need directions: you OkiHai it. When you need to find a place to eat in Naha or Yomitan or Nago: you use the OkiHai Restaurant Index.

As soon as I started reading OkinawaHai I knew I just had to write for the site. When they published my first piece I gleefully re-posted it here and danced around, just excited to see my byline again for the first time in too long!

I’d only submitted four posts when I got an email from the OkinawaHai local manager, who said that she would be PCS’ing in April and wondered if I would be interested in an informational meeting about what it would mean to take over her job.

Take over her job?!

Be both the local manager and the submissions manager of Okinawa Hai?!

Manage a site that gets thousands of hits each day?!

Yes I was interested!

I called my husband. “What would be my dream job on this island?” I asked him. “I don’t know, working for Okinawa Hai?” he guessed. “What about managing it???” I squealed. He loves when I squeal loudly into the phone.

I called my parents. More squealing. “Don’t get excited,” I warned my mom. “It’s just an informational meeting.” She was still excited. The squealing had probably done that. She just can’t help herself.

I had the initial meeting with Marie. I loved her. (But I didn’t squeal.) I played it cool. She opened the meeting by laying her cards on the table. They had read my blog, liked my voice, but were also considering other candidates.

“Of course, I am just flattered to be in the running,” I told her and I meant it. Cool. Play it cool. I reminded myself. A week later we had a second meeting. Still no definitive yes or no. Still playing it cool.

A week later I got an email congratulating me on the job. There was no more playing it cool. I jumped around the house. The squealing recommenced. I called my husband. I called my parents.

I wanted to write a post right away. But I didn’t. It still all felt too good to be true, so I waited. I kept waiting while I trained with Marie. I kept waiting when we switched her email over to mine. I kept waiting as I started to schedule new posts, meet with new advertising clients, and correspond with our writers. I kept waiting until they put my picture on the “About Page” of Overseasyes.com (our parent company) and OkinawaHai.com. But now that that’s live, this post is too. No more waiting! Meet the new OkinawaHai Local Manager, yours truly!