Well, I've arrived. USAG Humphreys (formerly known as camp Humphreys) is much much bigger than camp Stanley. I'll have pictures to follow in the near future. I'm currently settled into on-post officer's barracks. They're not too much to brag about, but it's a place to live so I'm not complaining. For those of you know that know that background with the housing situation, you'll know that living on post prevents Jess from being able to come and live. Currently, I am required to live on-post until my command authorizes me otherwise. This involves a lot of red tape that I still have yet to fully understand. Just keep us in your prayers that it will all get sorted out.
I met most of the individuals in my flight company today. It was a very surreal experience...much like that feeling you get if you have ever transfered schools mid-semester. It's all part of it I guess. Most people thought it was funny that my last named matched the post. I think I'll keep a running tally of how many times I get a "Humphrys at Humphreys" joke. I most likely will not be flying for some time. I will be busy doing other things (what I'm not exactly sure) for the moment. The rumor is also that I will be spending 4-6 weeks at K-16 air base (just outside Seoul) going through what they call "green platoon". Essentially it's a place where all the new pilots go to learn how to fly in Korea. That's all I know really right now. Hope everyone back home is well. I miss you all very much
Friday, February 25, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Same Old Same Old
Just checking in. There is nothing new to report here at Camp Stanley. It looks like I might be here another whole week due to some force protection exercises here at the camp. My day primarily consists of eating, studying, working out, sleeping. I wish there was more to say but it is what it is. I'll be sure to keep y'all updated
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Cultural Awareness Day
Yesterday we had our cultural awareness day. This consisted of a morning session on local customs and courtesies, lunch at a local Korean restaurant, a visit to the the 2nd Infantry division museum on camp Red Cloud, and a visit to a DMZ observatory.
The customs and courtesies class was interesting based on the fact that some things are so different than what we are used to as Americans. For example, Koreans don't really talk during meals. This will prove to be difficult for me. Also, Koreans hand and receive objects to one another with tho hands (The right hand with the left hand underneath the right forearm). I could go on, but I think you have the idea.
The local restaurant was a typical Korean style "Steak House". It was a table with a huge pan of cooking Bulgolgi (Marinated Beef) along with community dishes of Kimchi (pickled cabbage and other vegetables. It's the staple of korea...it's eaten with every meal), rice, and mystery vegetables for everyone to eat from. It was pretty good!
The 2ID Museum was pretty cool but very brief because we were short on time.
Here's a picture of a random city
We ended up at the unification observatory. It's an observatory that you can see North Korea from. It's hard to make it out, but in the distance in the picture below is North Korea. You may be able to barely some buildings. These buildings were built as North Korean propaganda to give the appearance that they were making progress; however, no one ever lived in those buildings. It was strange to be that close to North Korea.
What's also interesting about being out in Korea is the language. I've learned some basic phrases but that's about it. What gets me though is the Hangul, or written Korean. It was kind of funny being in the Observatories museum because obviously nothing was in english. So...we just stood around staring at pictures with a bunch of hangul symbols. There were about 90 Americans in this museum all standing around pretending to be interested but having no idea what anything meant. Even things like the trash cans. There were three trash cans with different colors and symbols. I had no clue which one was for what, so I threw my trash away when no one was looking, crossing my fingers that it was the right now. I probably screwed up their recycling program.
The temperatures here are in the mid 30s with lows in the mid 20s. For those that have asked about flying, I won't start flying for at least another 2-3 weeks. It's still the same old same old here at camp Stanley.
The customs and courtesies class was interesting based on the fact that some things are so different than what we are used to as Americans. For example, Koreans don't really talk during meals. This will prove to be difficult for me. Also, Koreans hand and receive objects to one another with tho hands (The right hand with the left hand underneath the right forearm). I could go on, but I think you have the idea.
The local restaurant was a typical Korean style "Steak House". It was a table with a huge pan of cooking Bulgolgi (Marinated Beef) along with community dishes of Kimchi (pickled cabbage and other vegetables. It's the staple of korea...it's eaten with every meal), rice, and mystery vegetables for everyone to eat from. It was pretty good!
The 2ID Museum was pretty cool but very brief because we were short on time.
Here's a picture of a random city
We ended up at the unification observatory. It's an observatory that you can see North Korea from. It's hard to make it out, but in the distance in the picture below is North Korea. You may be able to barely some buildings. These buildings were built as North Korean propaganda to give the appearance that they were making progress; however, no one ever lived in those buildings. It was strange to be that close to North Korea.
What's also interesting about being out in Korea is the language. I've learned some basic phrases but that's about it. What gets me though is the Hangul, or written Korean. It was kind of funny being in the Observatories museum because obviously nothing was in english. So...we just stood around staring at pictures with a bunch of hangul symbols. There were about 90 Americans in this museum all standing around pretending to be interested but having no idea what anything meant. Even things like the trash cans. There were three trash cans with different colors and symbols. I had no clue which one was for what, so I threw my trash away when no one was looking, crossing my fingers that it was the right now. I probably screwed up their recycling program.
The temperatures here are in the mid 30s with lows in the mid 20s. For those that have asked about flying, I won't start flying for at least another 2-3 weeks. It's still the same old same old here at camp Stanley.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Inprocessing
Here's the brief run down on everything up to this point. I arrived in Korea last Thursday, February 10th. I was told that I would be staying in the luxury hotel Dragon Hill Lodge for four or five days while I inprocessed on the base USAG Yongsang, located near Seoul. What they failed to mention was that it was true for everyone except those who fall under the 2nd Infantry Division. That would be me. The next morning I was shipped off to Camp Stanley which is approximately 20 miles north of Seoul near the city of Uijongbu. This place is not the greatest, but it is what it is. I'll spare you all the boring details, but I'll be here until approximately Feb. 24th just doing paperwork and stuff. I haven't had much interaction with Korea and the outside world due to the fact that we are not allowed off-post for the duration of our stay here. I do hear really nice things about USAG Humphreys and look forward to seeing if they are true.
If you get the chance to try some Korea food wherever there might the place to do so, try Bulgogi. I don't know what it is, but it is awesome. It's some kind of beef (no not dog...it's illegal here to eat it now) on rice or noodles. Sometimes they serve it with cheese....even better.
Tomorrow, Feb. 16th we go on some sort of cultural adaptation tour. I'll write more as I find time. I hope everyone is well and I look forward to connecting with you through this blog. Please keep Jess and I in your prayers as we try to navigate Army red tape, figure out how to get her over here
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