First off, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
We don't celebrate it much in my family, but I wanted my Mom to know I didn't forget.
- - - -
I'm here in my new country. It's SOOOOOOOOO nice to be out of Korea. I will have a new set of challenges to meet and overcome here, but Vanessa is by my side, so I can accomplish anything with her and God.
Germany is a beautiful country. From the airplane ride in, to the drives through the countryside, it is postcard beautiful. Even on the rainy days.
My office is nice...I've worked with about 1/4 of the people in my office already, so it's nice to have that friendly environment...my boss is a great producer, too, so I'm looking forward to learning more about my craft.
This email is sounding pretty optimistic. That's probably because I have only just gotten up and running. Time will tell if this will be a great assignment, or a good one, or a "growing experience" like Korea was. That's what I tell people when they ask me how I liked Korea...it was a "growing experience." I don't want to bad-talk it, because MY experience is unique to me, and no one will have one like it.
But enough about that.
I'm here now, and will be for a long time.
Here's to the future!
So, I should be better about blogging again. I keep my laptop handy (either by the TV, or by the bedside) so you, my readers, can expect to know more about my life day-to-day or week-to-week.
- - - -
No more counting days to leave Korea...so should I start counting the days until the wedding? I know everyone else is. :)
ULI
13 May 2007
16 April 2007
My Last Day!
Well, it's been a long time in the making...a year to be exact, but I had m last day of work at AFN Korea today.
I got to have a farewell show - though I mostly sat back, and let the new guy take the controls...mostly.
Then my office held a going away lunch for the three people leaving this/next month. I got quite a few compliments, and even felt a little, like some of the pain was worth it. But then I came to my senses.
I'm not going to say that my time here was miserable. At times, yes, and at others, unbearable, but I think there were moments, that I actually liked working here. For example, when the offic moved me to radio - oh, wait, I had to seriously injure myself for that to happen...well, there was the time I got to be part of a 4-Star General's enterage for a few days - oops, ordered to do that, plus anchor and put together stories at the same time. Okay, I got to shoot some great video of a Star Wars exhibition, and got prise, and even gifts from George Lucas for it. That was nice.
Okay, so I spent 89% of my time here, counting down the days until I could leave. At least that's almost over. Now I get to spend my time getting my things together to ship to Germany, and Vanessa.
She, I have to remind myself (VERY OFTEN), is the reason I came here in the first place. I wanted to be with her, and I knew getting this assignment almost guaranteed that. Through the contacts I made here, and the dedication of a few people that worked hard for me, because the saw that I worked hard for them, I am now heading to the Fatherland, to be with my beloved!
I'll be honest, this year could have been better for the both of us. We went through a lot of tests and trials, as we tried to keep a long-distance relationship alive. We had ups, and downs, we had highs and lws, and even momens of doubt. But so far, we've survived. We understood that i we can make it a year apart, we can make it a lifetime together.
I have to give Vanessa a lot of credit. There have been times when she could have cashed in her chips, and said it's too hard, or we're too far apart, or we're not connecting...or a host of other tings she could complain about, and be justified in doing so. But, she's stuck it out with me, through everything...the late nights, the days without phone cals, the poverty-induced woes, the verbal tirades because of work, the frustration with my superiors, the misunderstandings, the arguments, the uncertainty, the...well, you get the picture.
She's who I want, now and forever. I can write it so eloquently. She makes my life compete. She brings me up when I'm down, she shows concern when I'm sad, she is my shoulder when the depression hits, and she's there to share in my joy, when I'm happy. To be honest, most of the time I'm happy because of her. There have been days, where her calling me to simply say, "I Love You," has icked me up just enough to help me make it out the door in the morning. There have been other times, when not hearing from her, has caused me to doubt myself. She's my bright, shining star, in the darkness that is Korea.
I'm not sad at all to leave here. Mostly, as you've read, because I am getting away from somehting that hurts, and going to someone I Love. But in addition, it's because I never felt, "at home" here. It was always a place I "have to be,"not somewhere I'd "choose to spend my time."
I'd like to thank a few people publicly...for helping me make it through these past 12 months:
God - for being there in my times of ned, for answering despirate prayers.
My Parents - I've grown by leaps and bouds this year, and I've learned a lot about family. I've known it, but I realized it this year, that family has to come first. Your job doesn't care what happens to you. I've also gained a lot of respect for them, as they've both given me inspirational words at just the right time. They're always there for me, though I hate to fall back on the help.
Vanessa - read above, and so much more!
My Commander - for helping push my paperwrk in the right direction to get me out of here and into Vanessa's arms again.
My in-laws (soon to be) - for raising their dauhter with so much Love, that she radiates with it. For teaching her about family, and friendship, and to hold on with both hands to both.
My few friends - they kept in touch, even over long distance, and bringing a slice of home to me in a land so far from home. I've felt forgotten before, and I've been forgotten. It's nice to be remembered once in a while.
The troops that stuck it out - they stayed the distance right beside me on some of the long work nights. Your dedication to a craft that isn't even your own, is commendable, and respected.
The troops that failed - for helping push me into the position of NCO, rather than letting me believe that everyone s generally good. For teaching me that sometimes a piece of mpaper is all I need to get a point across...or for teaching me about respect, and what it feels like to lose that respect.
That's going to do it for this blog update. I'm tired, and it's almost time for me to hit the sack. I have a lot of cleaning and packing to do tomorrow. 14 Days!
ULI
I got to have a farewell show - though I mostly sat back, and let the new guy take the controls...mostly.
Then my office held a going away lunch for the three people leaving this/next month. I got quite a few compliments, and even felt a little, like some of the pain was worth it. But then I came to my senses.
I'm not going to say that my time here was miserable. At times, yes, and at others, unbearable, but I think there were moments, that I actually liked working here. For example, when the offic moved me to radio - oh, wait, I had to seriously injure myself for that to happen...well, there was the time I got to be part of a 4-Star General's enterage for a few days - oops, ordered to do that, plus anchor and put together stories at the same time. Okay, I got to shoot some great video of a Star Wars exhibition, and got prise, and even gifts from George Lucas for it. That was nice.
Okay, so I spent 89% of my time here, counting down the days until I could leave. At least that's almost over. Now I get to spend my time getting my things together to ship to Germany, and Vanessa.
She, I have to remind myself (VERY OFTEN), is the reason I came here in the first place. I wanted to be with her, and I knew getting this assignment almost guaranteed that. Through the contacts I made here, and the dedication of a few people that worked hard for me, because the saw that I worked hard for them, I am now heading to the Fatherland, to be with my beloved!
I'll be honest, this year could have been better for the both of us. We went through a lot of tests and trials, as we tried to keep a long-distance relationship alive. We had ups, and downs, we had highs and lws, and even momens of doubt. But so far, we've survived. We understood that i we can make it a year apart, we can make it a lifetime together.
I have to give Vanessa a lot of credit. There have been times when she could have cashed in her chips, and said it's too hard, or we're too far apart, or we're not connecting...or a host of other tings she could complain about, and be justified in doing so. But, she's stuck it out with me, through everything...the late nights, the days without phone cals, the poverty-induced woes, the verbal tirades because of work, the frustration with my superiors, the misunderstandings, the arguments, the uncertainty, the...well, you get the picture.
She's who I want, now and forever. I can write it so eloquently. She makes my life compete. She brings me up when I'm down, she shows concern when I'm sad, she is my shoulder when the depression hits, and she's there to share in my joy, when I'm happy. To be honest, most of the time I'm happy because of her. There have been days, where her calling me to simply say, "I Love You," has icked me up just enough to help me make it out the door in the morning. There have been other times, when not hearing from her, has caused me to doubt myself. She's my bright, shining star, in the darkness that is Korea.
I'm not sad at all to leave here. Mostly, as you've read, because I am getting away from somehting that hurts, and going to someone I Love. But in addition, it's because I never felt, "at home" here. It was always a place I "have to be,"not somewhere I'd "choose to spend my time."
I'd like to thank a few people publicly...for helping me make it through these past 12 months:
God - for being there in my times of ned, for answering despirate prayers.
My Parents - I've grown by leaps and bouds this year, and I've learned a lot about family. I've known it, but I realized it this year, that family has to come first. Your job doesn't care what happens to you. I've also gained a lot of respect for them, as they've both given me inspirational words at just the right time. They're always there for me, though I hate to fall back on the help.
Vanessa - read above, and so much more!
My Commander - for helping push my paperwrk in the right direction to get me out of here and into Vanessa's arms again.
My in-laws (soon to be) - for raising their dauhter with so much Love, that she radiates with it. For teaching her about family, and friendship, and to hold on with both hands to both.
My few friends - they kept in touch, even over long distance, and bringing a slice of home to me in a land so far from home. I've felt forgotten before, and I've been forgotten. It's nice to be remembered once in a while.
The troops that stuck it out - they stayed the distance right beside me on some of the long work nights. Your dedication to a craft that isn't even your own, is commendable, and respected.
The troops that failed - for helping push me into the position of NCO, rather than letting me believe that everyone s generally good. For teaching me that sometimes a piece of mpaper is all I need to get a point across...or for teaching me about respect, and what it feels like to lose that respect.
That's going to do it for this blog update. I'm tired, and it's almost time for me to hit the sack. I have a lot of cleaning and packing to do tomorrow. 14 Days!
ULI
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