Here I sit on Thursday night drinking wine from a coffee cup. Day is done for me, and you readers back in the States will be waking soon to start your day. Sorry, you will have to wait to find out what is going to happen on Thursday. Under the terms of the International Dateline protocols I am precluded from revealing your future.

All right, enough with the BS. My day was pretty routine. I shared the webpage I found on the curfew [see post below] at work and it generated quite a bit of discussion. I just can’t get that worked up about it, but a couple of my colleagues are chafing at having their Constitutional rights infringed upon. Well, whatever.

Oh, I took my driver’s test. And passed. I missed four, which surprised me because I actually did study. Of course I don’t know which four I missed, but I guess I will find out some dark night when I turn the wrong way on a one-way street or something. So, I passed the test but I didn’t get the license. Yep, can’t get the license without my permanant ID. Went to HR and I am still not in the “system” so no ID is forthcoming. Good thing DoD has all the latest computer technology or I may never get that ID. I understand there are security reasons for this drawn out process, but come on, four days to input me in the database?

I did get my paperwork in for my salary advance. Now that I can get without being in the system, which makes no sense. Stopped by the JAG office to get a power of attorney and find out if I have to pay taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia while overseas, but they can’t help me. No permanant ID. Ditto on my travel voucher. This is sorta like living in a Joseph Heller novel.

Oh well. I did meet with a major on a pending reorganization, and it was good to be back in the advice giving business. I am really anxious to start doing the work they brought me here to do full time, instead of spinning my wheels while waiting for that elusive ID. It just better be gold plated or something when I do get it.

I’ve been walking all over the base and I can actually find my way around pretty good now. Even took a short cut which gave me some confidence that I am gaining a sense of direction. Tomorrow I plan to venture into the infamous Itaewon district. Half of Itaewon is “off limits”, but I am a little unclear on which half. I am sure those helpful MPs will let me know if I stray off course.

I have taken a couple of pictures and I will try to upload them later tonight. They aren’t real good because it has been pretty much overcast all week. Plus, I have to be sensitive about using a camera on a military installation. They do take security very seriously here, and I am guessing they have reasonable cause to do so.

Enough writing for now, I want to go read my favorite blogs and find something that is actually interesting to share with you.

By the way, it really means a lot to me that y’all drop by to read me. It keeps me connected. I love your comments, even when you disagree with the obvious rightness of my viewpoints. Thanks!

Well, I came across a link to this webpage that is critical of the curfew imposed on DoD civilians.

As I have said before, I personally have no problem with the curfew, but I can understand the feelings of those who have a contrary view.

All I will (and can) say about this issue here is that there are legal and administrative processes available to those who feel aggrieved. Until this matter is resolved I believe we have both a duty and an obligation to abide by the command decisions of USFK leadership. It is a recipe for anarchy to only follow the rules you agree with. As federal employees, we have an obligation to “obey now, and grieve later.” I sincerely hope no civilian puts his or her job at risk by challenging the curfew in an inappropriate fashion.

hat tip: Lost Nomad

So I added a weather pixie in the right hand sidebar of my blog. She works cheap and you can follow the climate here at Yongson if you are so inclined. It is going to be relatively nice again today, but there is snow forecast on Saturday and Sunday’s high will be 25 degrees. Figures.

Well, at least not on tour buses. Japundit has the story here.

Just a little glimpse of Korean life and culture for your reading pleasure.

Or tired and bored. I need sleep so I’m gonna go catch some. Nothing of interest happened today. I couldn’t do the SOFA training without my permanent ID. Did register with the housing office. Also got my temporary ration card so I was able to peruse the PX. Just another department store. Looking forward to getting off base for awhile this weekend. Weather is holding steady, just too dreary out to take photos. Maybe tomorrow.

I did get a little CivIII play in tonight, so don’t worry about me. I am easily entertained. Fair warning, I’m getting the urge to write about politics but I will resist it tonight. Be sure and check out The Wide Awakes. I’ll be posting there on a semi-regular basis. I’m scheduled for Friday.

See you in the morning.

Ok, slept a few hours last might and I am feeling refreshed and ready to start my first day in Korea. Koreans call their country “the land of the morning calm”. Well, I have been up for an hour or so and I can attest to it being the land of the morning quiet anyway. I have been waiting for the sunrise but that ain’t happening yet, so I guess I’ll give up and get dressed for work.

Today I expect will be devoted to administrative paperwork getting me on the Army payroll. But I should come out of this day with that coveted DoD ID card which will allow me free movement on the base. Then maybe my ration card so I can access the PX and commissary. My room has a microwave and refridgerator, so I can start eating like a bachelor once I stock up on the requisite comfort foods.

I’ll be back tonight with news of the day.

I have arrived in Seoul.

It was snowing when I left the house for Washington Dulles International. I took that as a bad omen, at least as it applies to air travel. We arrived at the airport without incident however. That last goodbye turned out to be the hardest.

So, my ticket said Delta but it was a code-share flight which means I actually flew on Korea Air. Fortunately I didn’t waste time waiting to check in with Delta, because it took me an hour to work through the KAL line. I did have a nice chat with a woman from Australia who was returning to Sydney after 6 weeks in the states with her husband and teenage daughters. Hope they made their connection in Seoul.

The good news is we boarded on time for a scheduled 12:30 departure. The bad news is we sat on the tarmac for 3 hours. Anyway, we finally got airborne for the 14 hour non-stop flight. The served two decent meals and had seat back video screens, so I watched parts of several movies. Most were dubbed in Korean with English subtitles. It was pretty funny hearing the characters from A Sharks Tale speaking Korean, I have to think that some of the nuance was lost in translation, but then how would I know?

It was a pretty full flight but I was glad the middle seat in my row was empty. Gave me a little more room, but I still was not able to catch much sleep. Ok, I will admit that sitting on the plane there was no denying the gravity of the situation I was getting myself into. Yeah, I was freaking out a little bit, but I’m ok now. Just can’t believe I am really doing this.

The other interesting thing on this flight was crossing the international date line. It was weird seeing Saturday’s sunset and Sunday’s sunset without a sunrise in between.

So, my new boss was supposed to meet me at Incheon airport (he was arriving on a flight from Hawaii around the time my flight was scheduled). Since my flight was now 3 hours late, I figured I would be on my own when I landed. I was surprised and relieved to see an American customs agent holding a sign with my name on it as I deplaned. He got me through immigration (as a VIP) without a wait. Had to wait 30 minutes for my bags, but he was my personal customs inspector and with nothing to declare he walked me to the counter for military transportation.

It was there I learned from Sgt. Mendez that I could take the shuttle bus to the base but could not actually get on the base (where my hotel is located) without a DoD ID. Nice little catch-22 since I won’t get ID until I in-process tomorrow. So, my boss met me at the gate and signed me in on a 24 hour pass.

Anyway, I am in my room which is very comfortable. Tomorrow is Monday in Korea and my boss is picking me up at 0800. I haven’t slept a real sleep since Friday and I am whupped. So it is to bed with me now. First impressions will have to wait until tomorrow.