Doors

I like to look at all the doors when I travel. These pictures aren't very good, but I am hoping tomorrow during the day I can get some good clear photos to share.

Wandering Around Waegwan

Some images from tonight's walk

Affordable Housing

Notice anything about the upstairs apartments? I didn't the first time we passed them, but on the second pass we did a double take.

I'll bet they are especially hot in the summer. The inside one had an air conditioner in the window but the other didn't seem to.

Give up? Shipping containers!

Dinner - Classic Korean

Went for classic Korean tonight. Pork Bulgogi, Kim Chee, and Rice.

Why?

Having grown up in the land of Big Gulps, I have to ask the question:

Why do Asian countries have very small drinking glasses (not holding enough to wet the throat) and little tiny napkins (you have to use a hundred of them to do any good)?

Observations

Just a few observations since I have been here in Waegwan, Korea:

When we eat in the restaurants, our drinks are brought to us in bottles. It has been many years since we've bought our soda pop out of bottles back home--at least not the glass kind. When we were on our cruise in Mexico, I noticed the same thing there. I would assume that reusing bottles is more economical than aluminum cans, but that is just my uninformed opinion.

Our food is prepared from scratch in little open kitchens in the front of the restaurant. The restaurant is the owner's home too. The cook usually prepares our order fresh and in small quantities (I don't mean that our portions are small). For example, when I ordered coleslaw, the cook cut just enough cabbage off of a head to slice up for my order or just enough meat and vegetables are cut up for a fried rice order. Nothing seems like it is wasted.

When we enter a restaurant, if we are the first ones there, they usually turn on more lights and turn on background music (American in the places right outside the post). It's like they don't want to waste the electricity unless paying customers are inside.

The restaurants are usually heated by portable gas heaters placed somewhere between the tables.

Some have as few as four tables. They must not need a lot of money to live on.

Wiring is not concealed inside the walls. It runs up the walls with plastic covers to make it look a little nicer.

I think we may have gotten way too spoiled in the US. Maybe we could learn from other countries and be satisfied with simpler things in life.

Like I said, just a few observations...

Another Day

Just another training day today. Nothing new to speak of. The day started dreary and ended much worse. It was cold and overcast this morning, but by the time we left the training site it was snowing lightly.

The walk to dinner was in a drizzle that by the time we ate and started back to the lodge had turned into rain. Tomorrow is supposed to get cold and snowy. It is a good thing we will be inside all day.

Dinner tonight was sweet and sour pork, rice, and kim chee followed by a couple of bottles of Fanta orange drink.

I Can't Get Over The Tall Housing Complexes

It is lonely on the road. That is one of the reasons that having somewhere to go to like church is so important.

We travelled back to Daegu today. This time we drove in to the Daegu Military Branch for church. There is a Korean Ward that meets there, but the branch is composed of military people and their families.

Sacrament meeting was attended by less than 30 people, which includes the two of us. As we entered the building, we were greeted by welcome handshakes and smiles. The branch president met us as we entered, closely followed by missionaries and other members.

We swapped "where are you froms" and then settled in for sacrament meeting. Even though the chorister was accompanied by a DVD player, the sound of the congregation singing hymns was as if the chapel benches were completely full of members.

With only a handful of kids in attendance, it wasn't surprising to see the only two young men blessing the sacrament and one of the single brethren passing. It only took one tray for water and one for bread to pass the sacrament.

It never goes away, the amazement of being thousands of miles from home, in fact it was only 8 pm Saturday night in Utah, but there I sat in a chapel with members of the church, taking the sacrament.

I was surrounded by members from Idaho Falls. It makes me think of my own ward. I always say that I think most of our ward is from Idaho and specifically Idaho Falls. I thought about our Bishop (not from Idaho Falls) but one of the first people who shakes my hand on Sunday back home. I thought about my home teaching companion and his ever friendly smile and handshake. Then, my home teachers who make it over to shake my hand.

And of course, all the kids. I miss their smiles and laughs. But most of all I miss sitting next to my lovely wife. Sundays are meant for families. That is the best part about it.

Being a member of the Church means I can find safety and security for three hours on Sunday, usually within minutes of wherever I am staying in the world. We had members from the US, Phillipines, Korea, and New Zealand all gathered together to worship.

One of the things that amazes me about Korea is that I was expecting to see Temples and Shrines everywhere I went. In Japan, you can see Temples and Shrines in just about every neighborhood. Here, you see crosses atop chapels in almost every neighborhood you pass and in the cities they seem as prevalent as LDS chapels in Utah. Someone told me that since the Korean War, christianity has become the major religion in Korea. I don't have facts to back that up.

It was a nice day.

Daegu Photos

Day Trip To Daegu

A taxi ride, two train rides, two subway rides, and ten miles of walking...equals a day trip to Daegu, South Korea.

People, people, people everywhere. Going to Daegu from Waegwan is like going from a sleepy village to a metropolis. Neon and billboards are everywhere on everything. Young people scurry about with their friends enjoying a Saturday out in the city.

You don't see many older people in the city. At Daegu market we saw them,
but mostly the young people are out and about. I guess the older folks
don't find much use for the shops that line the streets of the city or the
malls under the streets at the subway stations. I think that the older
Koreans are satisfied shopping at the neighborhood small market and eating
at the small mom and pop restaurants in their neighborhood. This new world is not for them.

The market was the most interesting place for me to see. It reminded me of
Nishiki market in Kyoto, Japan. The stalls are grouped by what the seller
is selling:

Herbs, beans, rice and grains, seaweeds, ground peppers, fresh vegetables, fish (live, dead, and dried) alongside squid and octopus.

Beef and all the parts that go with it (liver, heart, and blood a few).

Chickens, pheasants, and pork were also on display.

Used clothing alongside new clothing. Textiles, shoes, and household goods
all had a place at the market.

It was bitter cold outside with a nasty wind blowing at us all day. It was
great when we found the local Outback Steakhouse and settled in for a steak
and baked potato. Sometimes a bit of home is just the medicine for a
homesick heart. A stop at the Dunkin Donuts next door just topped it all off.

It was a wonderful day. Shopping, people watching, photographing, good
food, and plenty of exercise. Who could ask for more?

Glimpses of Daegu Market

Walking Around Waegwan

We took a nice long walk around a little bit of Waegwan before dinner tonight. It is a quiet little town. The narrow streets remind me of walking the back streets in Japan. As darkness fell, the lights came on, but in Korea, as in Japan, the residents do not light up their homes with 100 watt bulbs. They light only the room they are in and then with a more subdued light. I even saw an old lady with a candle in her hand going down some stairs in the front alcove of one home.

The homes vary in size and age. Most of the single homes that we saw were old, dirty and in pretty bad shape (at least from the outside). In Korea, it is prestigious to live in a high rise apartment building. I am not sure if they buy or rent them. I haven't had any conversations with Koreans so I don't know much about their lifestyles. I am just an observer making guesses. As we made the three hour drive from Incheon airport to Waegwan when I first got here, I saw high rise apartments in all of the larger cities and towns we passed by.

Tomorrow we will take the train to go to Daegu shopping. I am very excited to see the markets and take lots of photographs.

Friday Night At Big Johns

Friday night dinner at Big Johns Restaurant. Cheese Ramen and Cheeseburger Steak Dinner. It is hard to find a restaurant after work that is close enough to walk to that has English menus and tables. It is a guessing game and sitting on the floor for most Korean restaurants. So places like Big Johns are popular for us Americans without anywhere else to gather and eat. There are only six tables in Big John's and the family, since they live there, was eating dinner at one of them.

The Candy Hunt Is On

Started the hunt for Korean candy for the kids back home. I always have to bring candy and gum home to my kids when I go overseas. They have their Japanese favorites and some of what I have gathered so far look a lot like their favorites (if only I could read the Korean labels to tell what they are).

Was able to make it a few doors down the street for dinner last night--the American Restaurant--where their rules are:

1st: Very Clean

2nd: Delicious Food

3rd: Customer Service

And if you doubt that, they even post them on the wall for all to see.

I had the BBQ chicken and rice dish with a cherry juice and coke.

It was very good. I hope that I can get something more Korean as I venture in to town tomorrow on a picture taking outing.

In the US rice is the last thing I would ever order on a menu. In Asia I can't wait to eat it. Japanese and Korean rice is so succulent I love it.

Bon Appetit

Tonight we ventured outside the gate again for dinner. This time we ate at the Country Restaurant. I ate Kim Chee Fried Rice (with egg on top) and Fried Chicken. I washed it all down with a Korean Pepsi. It tasted very good. Nice change from the fast food mini mall.

Jet Lag Day Three...

Sleep: I was able to sleep in this morning until 3 am--one hour more than the day before.

Food: I'd had enough of fast foods. Fast food for breakfast. Fast food for lunch. Fast food for dinner. Enough already. So we ventured off the camp this evening, on foot, and into town for a good home cooked meal. It just happened to be Korean home cooking and not American.

The section of town outside the gates is no different than outside any other military post anywhere in the world. Bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, and more bars. Names like Big John’s Restaurant, Country Restaurant, Joe’s Store, and Italy Leather. It doesn’t sound very Korean does it?

We walked down narrow streets with old and well worn buildings; some surrounded by rice fields. These buildings are not at all like the clean, modern architecture of Orem, Utah.

We were told by one of the GIs about a Korean BBQ restaurant that served good food so we headed straight for it.

I would love to give you the name of it, but it was all in Korean. Once inside we removed our shoes in the little alcove lobby and proceeded to our table. Our table was only tall enough to get your legs under when you sat on the pillows on the floor that acted as your chairs.

The menu, like everything else in the restaurant, was in Korean. The waitress kindly pointed to two dishes and said, “pork” and “beef.” We chose the pork. She smiled as she walked away.

A few minutes later she returned with fresh green lettuce leafs, bright red kim chee, an orangish red hot bean paste, pink pickled turnips, white garlic slices, and a few other very colorful pickled leaves and vegetables. She served us steaming hot rice, plump and juicy, in a shiny stainless steel covered bowl. And of course, the pork, which she cut up with scissors into pieces small enough to cook on the hibachi grill in the middle of the table.

We artfully maneuvered our chopsticks around the table and devoured everything placed in front of us. It was a wonderful meal. It was pleasant to the eye and to the pallet at the same time: a sound alternative to the fast food we have been eating.

Finally, I feel like I am in Korea and not just on a tiny American island in an ocean called Korea.

Just A Quick Note

Jet lag...

Where we are training is a very small place. It is an island of Americans. Since we train all day and prepare for the next day in the evening, I haven't seen anything but eating establishments, the lodging, and the training room.

The only way I know we are in Korea are the signs in Korean I can see over the fences around the compound, the local workers, and the small architectural hints on the buildings around us.

We will get a chance to be tourists this weekend, but for now I am tired enough to sleep standing up. Goodnight...or good day...depending on where in the world you are right now.

Jet Lag Blues

So it's two in the morning on Monday (10 am Sunday back home) and I am sitting in my hotel room--wide awake. I don't have to go to work until 7:45 am today. The dreaded jet lag has begun.

The flight over the ocean went better than I expected with a few minor flaws. Getting to it was another story:

Cruising over the western US in an exit row seat on a 757, legs stretched out as far as I can extend them, seat back reclined and relaxing tunes on the Zune; now if you have to fly the redeye at 10 pm, this is the way to go, I thought, I have it made.

Since we were already 45 minutes late out of SLC, the advantages of my assigned seat were huge. I had about an hour and a half once we got to LAX to get over to my international flight to Korea. If you miss an international flight it is usually a long time waiting to get the next one. So I was a little anxious over the situation.

The exit row seat on a 757 is right next to the boarding door. That meant I would be the first off the plane and could easily make it to my connections. So said the airline representative at the ticketing counter. The flight was smooth and uneventful, until I exited the aircraft in LA.

When the airline representative at the gate told me that the international terminal was three terminals away and I asked where I could find the shuttle or moving walkways I only got an extended arm with finger pointing toward the seemingly endless concourse and the words, "you will find it down the concourse, out the doors, between terminals 3 and 4."

"Security?" I inquired. "I have to go back through security?" I asked. Expecting to hear the welcome phrase, "Of course not." But I didn't. "Yes" was her only reply. "*#&$" was mine.

Have you seen the Hertz commercials from the past with O.J. Simpson running through the airline terminals? That was me. My camera, passport wallet, eyeglass "man purse", and Zune "man purse" were all tangled together around my neck and swinging to and fro as I ran toward the direction she pointed. I had on three layers of outerwear (fleese vest, jacket inner fleese liner, and jacket) with every pocket stuffed full trying to avoid overweight luggage fees and a baseball cap that chose this inopportune moment to challenge my abilities to keep it from falling off my head. It was ugly.

"Is the international terminal this way?" was my mantra (when I wasn't cussing out the authorities who designed a system that had me huffing and puffing, drenched with sweat toward my connecting flight).

After security decided they wanted to send my computer case through the machine 800 times to identify every cable and electronic device within I located the signs to my gate. Gate 101 it said. Good, first gate I reach will be mine. WRONG. Gate 101 is the last gate and there are one million gates in this specific concourse!

Fully drenced in sweat, out of breath, madder than hell, I finally make it to gate and onto the airplane.

The Korean Airlines 747 was clean and there was ample space for legroom. The flight attendants were all young attractive Korean men and women with nice smiles and were very helpful.

The only complaint I could possibly have about the 12+ hour flight was the young girl from Guatemala that sat next to me. She slept most of the flight and took it upon herself to beat the heck out of me as she did.

She kicked, tossed, turned, hit me with her legs, hit me with her stuffed animal, extended her legs into my leg space, leaned into me, and basically kept me from ever getting comfortable enough to sleep. Which is one of the reasons I am sitting here at two in the morning writing this blog post and wondering why I can't sleep anymore.

I'll keep you posted.

Safe And Sound

Arrived safe and sound in Korea after a 26 hour trip. Will gather my thoughts and write a little later tonight.

More Photos From Mexico

Pictures At Last

Here are a few pictures from the trip. Off to Korea...

All Good Things Come To An End

We docked in Ensenada today at 1 o'clock. Boy has it changed since we last
visited. They have added a pier for a second ship and a nice little
shopping center at the pier.

Since the Carnival Paradise was in the spot we were in last time we came
here, our ship docked at the new section of the pier.

After disembarking the ship, we walked into town along the Malicon. Ladies
with little children, dirty and well worn, met us along the way trying to
get us to buy gum, dolls, whistles, and necklaces. Working on our
sympathies, I told my wife they probably aren't what they seemed to be. But
it worked. I gave a little girl a couple of bucks for two pieces of gum. I
am always a sucker for little kids.

We found the fish market on our way into town. It was stinky and dirty, but
fascinating. One of my favorite things to photograph are the vegetable and
fish markets. We saw some of the ugliest fish meet I have ever seen. I am
sure that even though it would never make it into one of our supermarkets
back home, some poor families in this part of Mexico will more than enjoy
it as their dinner.

Ensenada has changed too. It seemed cleaner to us.

While wandering around we found one of our favorite spots--the panaderia--
the bread bakery. We walked around inside with tray and tongs in hand
picking out our favorite Mexican cookies and sweet breads. My wife was
disappointed that they didn't have any Tres Leches.

We ate a fashionably late lunch (3 o'clock) at El Charro, a restaurant
advertising organic chickens that rotated in a spit oven inside the window
front. Right beside the chickens a couple of ladies flattened balls of
dough into tortillas and flopped them onto a hot a grill to cook.

I ordered the chicken mole accompanied by those fresh hot tortillas. The
sauce was heavenly. It was a deep chocolate color with a wonderfully rich
sweet taste. The sauce was thick and seemed to make its way onto anything I
got close to it. Mouth, fingers, back of hand, lips... it was everywhere.

It was divine.

The food was great and the decor fabulous. I just wish that the Mariachis
wouldn't come around every five minutes to see if we want them to play a
song for us--for a fee of course.

We shopped a while after eating and walked of our lunch on the way back to
the ship. It was a great day. Too bad it had to end.

And now we are in our stateroom. Bags packed and in the hallway ready to be
taken down to the holding area for our disembarkation tomorrow morning.

Bummer.

Another fabulous cruise. Can't wait to see where the next one takes us.

Sea Day

Our day at sea yesterday was very relaxing; that is if you don't take into account the actions of several of the senior citizen guests on this cruise. It is unfortunate that as you get older you have to say everything you think - OUT LOUD. And the fights that almost broke out between then over saving theater seats was embarassing.

We spent the day reading, sleeping, and of course eating. Lots and lots of eating.

It seems that we left all the sunny hot weather behind us in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas because as we headed North again the fog and cool weather crept in.
One of the ladies that eats at our table counted the fog horn blows in the night and said that they went off every 35 seconds...all night long. Fortunately, our stateroom is in the middle of the ship, both deck and lengthwise. We hear little noise from thrusters, elevators, engines, or other distractions that our fellow guests complain about. We feel the movement of the ship, but the drastic movement that is felt at either end of the ship. We are so lucky to have a great travel agent that looks out for us-thanks Melissa.

Baja Ports of Call

Our first and second ports of call were extraordinarily different from each
other.

Cabo San Lucas is a modern, tourist-driven city. Upon entering the bay, the
cruise ship passes numerous resorts as it makes its way past the
picturesque Los Arcos and into its resting place for the day in the bay.
From there we are required to take a tendor from the ship to the pier.

On the pier, we passed by beautiful yachts, a pirate ship, and a harbor
full of pleasure craft and fishing boats waiting in berths for their next
excursion. A swarm of locals met us at the pier and all along the
waterfront trying to sell us everything from cheap jewelry to the
opportunity to photograph a man with an Iguana on his shoulder. They are
relentless in their pursuit of your money.

It doesn't stop there. Waiters, hosts, and hostesses from the restaurants
along the waterfront call out to us as we pass in an attempt to lure us in
for a Corona cervesa or an authentic mexican meal.

Cabo San Lucas is a popular tourist spot made famous by celebrities who
vacationed there when it was the place to be seen. Sammie Haggar's club
Cabo Wabo is still one of the places to see while you are there.

The problem, as I see it, with Cabo San Lucas is that the prices reflect
this status as a tourist hot spot. Even haggling with the locals brought
prices to what I consider exhorbitant for what we were buying. They have
learned to price things very high and hope you tire before getting them
down to what they are really worth.

La Paz is to me what Cabo probably used to be. You dock at an industrial
pier at the Port of Pichilinque and a half hour shuttle bus ride is
required to get into the city proper.

There are a few resorts in La Paz, but mostly humble homes that we would
find in lower class neighborhoods in the states. Where a beachfront home in
Cabo San Lucas might bring in a millon and a half bucks, our tour guide
told us the same home in La Paz might be $350,000. But most homes were around $35,000.

The prices for goods are very reasonable. I purchased a hat in Cabo San
Lucas for what I thought was a good deal: $13. The same hat in La Paz was
only $10.

We visited a weaver's shop,in La Paz, where artisans spun wool, carded it,
dyed it, and then wove it into beautiful blankets, jackets, and ponchos on
traditional wooden weaving looms. The prices for these goods were far lower
than those we experienced in Cabo San Lucas for the same goods.

We also visited a family run potter's shop where they took clay from Oaxaca, formed it
into plates, mugs, pitchers, and other assorted items. Then they painted
them and fired them in the kiln. These beautiful items were only available
from this family run pottery plant and for very reasonable prices.

The rest of the day We walked around the local market where we saw stands
full of colorful vegetables next to stands full of poultry, beef, and fish
sorted into numerous different sized cuts. It was amazing. And of course we
had to visit the bakery where I devoured some Tres Leches and enjoyed some
fresh cookies with the wife.

We enjoyed our visits to both cities. Tomorrow, is a sea day where we take
a rest from the walking and sightseeing as our ship makes its way up to
Ensenada.

First Day At Sea

Our first full day at sea was the relaxation we both needed.

Being on a ship in the ocean is a great way to get away from it all. The
sun was shining and the sea was calm. No cell phones or constant email
alerts to bother us. The rhythm of ship's motion as it rides on the water
is calming.

We spent lots of time on the Lido deck, reading in the warm sun beside the
swimming pool and later on the aft deck watching the wake of the ship as it
left a trail of bubbly evidence behind. We saw whales blowing their spouts
high into the blue Pacific sky; mothers and babies playing side by side.

Three ships passed by on their way home from their adventures --two
Carnival Cruise Lines ships and one Princess Cruise Lines ship. It was
wonderful to see other ships. It was hard not to wonder what their
passengers were experiencing, and what they thought, as they watched us
sail by.

As we retired to our stateroom, after a wonderful day at sea, we were
greeted by a monkey towel animal playing on our turned-down bed; and
chocolate mints on our pillows.

It's so nice to be spoiled once in a while.

(Due to the poor capabilities of our shipboard internet connection, I am unable to post pictures. I also have no access to my web-based email accounts.)

Bon Voyage

It finally came. It was cruise time.

A 2:30 wakeup call on Thursday morning came early. But with the anticipation of our 6 day Carnival Cruise Lines cruise to Baja, Mexico fresh in our minds, we were geared up for the 40 minute trip to the airport. The air was frigid, but our spirits were red hot.

The flight from Salt Lake City to Phoenix was on one of those Canadair commuter jets. Eyes shut, Emma Shapplin on the Zune, it was a heavenly flight. As the jet sliced through the air over Utah and into Arizona, I soared to the sound of Emma's operatic voice and the gentle hum of the aircraft engines. I was alone, above the clouds, at peace with the world.

In the landing pattern at San Diego, we passed over the ships at harbor in Coronado. A couple of aircraft carriers and a white hospital ship were a few of the beautiful ships we saw as we began our descent into San Diego airport.

Approaching closer to the airport, the Carnival Elation, our home for the net six days appeared out the cabn window below us. So many times I'd seen her, on the web cam, in port at the San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal and now it was a reality.

It was a beautiful sunny day. The Midway Aircraft Carrier and Museum sat valiantly beside our pier. Aircraft descended into San Diego Airport and Naval vessels returned home to the nearby naval base as we got familiar with our ship and surroundings.

With everyone on board, we were called to our muster station, where We learned how to put on our life preserver. Life vests securely in place, we were lead to our life boat and then deemed worthy to sail away on our adventure.

As we passed the Point Loma lighthouse and entered Pacific Ocean, we bid adeau to San Diego and the United States of America. We were on our way.

(Wireless connections on the ship provide limited access to the blog web site, so posting may be delayed; as this one was)

I Voted Today

I voted. I did my part as an American.

That said, the radio news broadcast on my way to go vote, reinforced my feelings toward the political process.

The shennigans being played back east by Huckabee and McCain showed me that playing the politician's game is more important to them than being honest.

It is not about representing yourself as an honest, citizen serving politician, but instead it is about winning at all costs.

The sad part is that I have no choice. I only get one vote. If the choices are poor, I can decide not to vote, but that is not a choice.

I am so upset at some of the tactics that I just might even consider a candidate from another party. Unless it is Clinton.

Stay Tuned

It's not easy to write everyday. When I am on the road, it is much easier to concentrate on writing something. So tonight I am forcing myself to make an entry.

We leave on our cruise Friday. I am taking my laptop and camera so I can get some serious blogging in. And the day after we return from the cruise it is off to Korea for three weeks.

Stay tuned.

Travel Day

Yesterday was travel day.

We arrived at Fayetteville Regional Airport on a beautiful, sunny day. Our flight didn't take off for a couple hours. As we entered the terminal it felt like it was siesta time. Fayetteville Regional Airport serves small commuter airlines. I would think that the largest plane that visits is a 737, and probably not very often.

Turning in the rental car was painless. The lady behind the counter was very friendly but I couldn't help wonder what she did all day. There were at least three other rental car agency counters next to hers. All silent.

Next, on to the airline counter to check in. US Airways and Delta service the airport and their counters were just as abandoned as the one we just left.

Check in complete, on to the security screening. CLOSED. Not to be reopened for 30 minutes. I felt like Opie checking in at Mayberry Regional Airport.

As we sat around the empty terminal, people began to emerge one by one to wait with us for the 11:10 flight to Atlanta.

Finally, we are on the plane and taxiing down the runway. The pilot comes on the PA and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are number one in line for takeoff." I chuckled lightly to myself. Number one? Other than our aircraft, there was only one other sitting at the terminal.

The engines roared to life, the brakes released, and we rolled down the runway picking up speed. Barely down the runway, the pilot pulled back on the throttle and applied the brakes enough to slow to a taxiway. Mechanical problems. Crap.

After about ten minutes on the tarmac, the pilot came over the PA again and said that the mechanics checked things out and all was well. We were off again.

The takeoff was a bit scary. It seemed that as soon as we lifted off the ground the aircraft slowed and groaned. We leveled for a short while while she made some strange noises then we accelerated and were off to Atlanta.

I guess after such an uneventful trip, a little aircraft problems were in order. It is good to be home. At least until the next trip.

Coming Home

It's time to go home. Tomorrow we fly home. It has been a good trip. Not much happenng during the off hours, but the training went really well.

You never know what you will miss when you decide to take on a job that requires being away from home for extended periods of time.

It has been hard to be away from my lovely wife, she is my best friend and not a day goes by that I don't think about her. It has been difficult to be away from the support network of friends, family, and coworkers.

The Internet has been key to my survival. Being able to have email and IM conversations with family and friends is great. IM will be especially important when I travel overseas. I am thankful for this great tool.

Last but not least (I am full of cliches), this blog has helped me to express myself and not feel so alone.

All is well.