In today’s news, I paid the rent. Two years in advance. In cash. $94,000. Here’s what it looked like:
That’s the most cold hard cash I have ever had in my hands at one time. I could get used to that kinda walkin’ around money. Alas, it was not to be. Handed it all over to the landlord tonight. Easy come, easy go I suppose. Or pehaps I should just say “your tax dollars at work!” Thank you everyone for providing me such a fine place to live!
I’ve been working hard, so I rewarded myself with a haircut today. It was good. Very good.
I took my camera to work today for that money shot, so I took advantage of the opportunity to photograph my co-workers. Let me introduce you:
Three of our Korean employees. L-R are Ms. Yi, Ms. Kim and Ms. Choe. None of them report to me, but they are all kind and friendly. In fact, Ms. Kim rode in the taxi with me to the Yongsan electronics market to get a part for my cell phone. She handled interpratation. Unfortunately, the part was not in stock, but it has been ordered.
Ms. Yi (another one, no relation) and Carl. Both direct reports to me. Ms. Yi is a very efficient administrative person who is always very pleasant and a joy to work with. She is smiling, cheerful and helpful and you can’t ask for more than that. Carl will be leaving me soon, but he is quite the character. He is very good at what he does and I am going to be hurting in a big way once he is gone.
Another one of my employees, Mr. Yi (again, no relation to the other Yi’s). I have been working this man like a dog. Never complains, just keeps on keeping on. A very nice man.
This is Lori, admin support for the Director of Civilian Personnel. She is married to an Army sergeant.
This is my counterpoint and fellow Chief, Arceilia. A great person who is very knowledgable and is someone I feel comfortable enough with to pick her brain about the issues I’m dealing with. Great part of the team.
And finally, on the left is Mr. Kim, a 50 year USFK employee and the most valuable member of my staff. This guys oozes intelligence and he is both very wise and soft spoken. He is our representative for the Korean Employees Union (KEU). On the right is Mr. Kang. He is the President of KEU and one of the more powerful labor leaders in the ROK. He has friends in high places and uses those contacts to benefit his membership but also to be a voice for USFK interests on many issues. A very impressive man, powerful, well spoken, but humble. He is extremely effective, and has earned the respect of the top generals and brass here in Korea.
Alright, y’all must be bored silly by now. I will do penance by stopping here and devoting the remainder of the evening to my Korean language homework.
More tomorrow.
Now that is what I call a money shot! /TJ
For sure, a money shot. 😯 I counted 9 x 10K but is that the 4K trying to peek out behind the last big bundle. It’s a “little bit” more than 2 years of a mortgage back here in VA. Did you have a bodyguard? Did the landlord? Did it hurt a lot to turn it all over to him? ❗
YIKES!
sja
That is a ridiculous sum of money for two years rent. Perhaps we should be investing in property in Korea to rent back to the US government. I find it hard to imagine that Koreans are paying a similar amount. Thank goodness it isn’t coming out of your pocket, but shame on the government for not doing a better job of minding taxpayer money.
Yes, Susan that $4000. is hiding at the back of the pile. And I had fantasies of keeping the money, but it was about 4.9 million short of my threshold of resistance. No bodyguard, but my realtor did drive me home. We did the transaction right on my dining room table, and sealed the deal with a toast of Merlot.
Carol, this area is very expensive, even for the locals. Obviously, the military housing allowances drive up the price, but the military requires “fair market value” for any rent paid. Part of the problem is that the UN is much more generous than Uncle Sam. There are places I can’t touch for $47,000 a year because the UN has skewed the rents so far upward.
I bet your landlord was very happy last night! I’m a little curious though… $94,000 for RENT for only two years? So you’re paying just slightly under $4,000 a month for an apartment? Completely ridiculous! However, makes my government job feel slightly less wasteful (not that it’s wasteful to pay your rent, but come on $4,000 a month?!?!).
Pingback: buy valium