Continuing Adventures in Korea

Monday the 24th, I got up early to head to the band hall.  We loaded up on our bus (we have a band bus..) and we drove just about 2 hours to Wonju where we played at the Baekun Art Hall.  It was a combined gig with the ROK band.  (ROK is the Republic of Korea).  We did rehearsals and sound checks in the morning and early afternoon.  Then we threw on our ASUs for the concert.  We kicked it off with a combined group playing both the US and ROK National Anthems.  Then the US band played our selection of music.  Then the ROK group played theirs, as well as having a tightrope walker, a pop star singer (who is apparently big - she told me she sang at Caesars Palace in Vegas) and all sorts of traditional dancers and drummers.  Then there was a combined group of US and ROK that ended with a rendition of Gangnam Style with fire bubbles.  I kid you not...  it was a really long gig but they fed us at the end.  Well, we accidently crashed the 3 star General's party first and ate there before we found where we were supposed to eat... oh well...

Tuesday the 25th, I started actually inprocessing with the battalion and the band.  It's basically a process of tracking the correct people down, doing what they say to do and then getting them to sign my paperwork.  It is an incredibly frustrating process.  I do, however, feel like a Pokemon master - gotta catch them all!

Wednesday the 26th, was my "day 3 inprocessing" at the battalion level.  Which meant I had to sit in the movie theater most of the day listening to briefings on everything from sexual assault to tours of the DMZ to schools available for dependents and/or soldiers (I could get an associates, bachelors or masters but no PhD programs...)  It was a long day and I didn't have nearly enough coffee...

Thursday the 27th, included more inprocessing and a bit of playing

Friday the 28th, I had PRT with my unit for the first time.  We met in platoons and then it was squad run.  Half my squad is on a no running profile so it was just a few of us (plus our officer for some reason) who gallivanted through the rain for about 3 miles.   I am proud to say that I didn't fall out - even on the hills!  Though I had an odd urge to yell "Kill the Hills!" each time we got to one.  The rest of the day consisted of trying to collect more signatures for inprocessing, doing online classes for inprocessing and a concert band rehearsal for our recording studio gig on monday (hello marches...)  Afterwards, there was a touch of drama and then a group of us went down to Rainbow Galbi for Korean BBQ and soju.  Then to WA bar and then Seoul Pub in Itaewon where one of our band mates moonlights as a bartender.  We left with plenty of time to make it back before curfew though we had to wait for some silly girls who couldn't get the self automated gates to work.  It's actually an interesting set up - you have to scan your ID card and then walk into a sealed booth through one door.  The machine directs you to place your finger on the scanner where is checks your fingerprint in the system.  If you check out, you are allowed to continue through the next door and onto post. The system is pretty touchy so sometimes the first door doesn't like your id or the machine doesn't like your finger and it screams at you to "exit the booth!"  Luckily I have a good ID card and a small, easily readable finger so I am usually a first time go.

Saturday the 29th, I was a lazy bum and slept in and then refused to get out of bed before reading for a bit.  I met up with a band friend for coffee and donuts.  That afternoon I learned why you should never volunteer unless you know whats going on.  But after that fiasco, a group of us made the trek up to Seoul Tower to watch our rock band play.  Seoul Tower is one of the tourist landmarks here and quite a hike to walk up to! It was a collection of steep inclines sprinkled with endless stairs.  I think if I walked/trudged/ran up to Seoul Tower every week, I would be in amazing shape by the time my tour here is done.  At the top, we camped out and watched the rock band play and ate Cold Stone Creamery.  Afterwards, we treked back down and ended up at a little pub that had a decent Stout.  I hope to go back to the little pub because they had all sorts of wild pizzas that reminded me of Motor City Brewery.  Though, a bit more wild with wild boar sausage and the like...

Today, Sunday the 30th, I rolled out of bed in time to participate in my book club which was a rousing discussion as always.  It's great to be able to talk with everyone back home!  This afternoon, one of the married band couples who lives off post had a BBQ at their apartment (actually on the roof of their apartment) so myself and a friend tracked down ice, charcoal and a selection of booze to bring - it was the last day before our alcohol rations reset.  The BBQ was a lot of fun - a selection of band folk were there and the view was amazing.  And the evening ended with Cards Against Humanity (which is always a good time!)

To New Adventures!

So...

You know how one minute you are a simple librarian in rural Nevada facing budget cuts...

and then you are about to move to LA to become a Unit Administrator...

and then you find yourself transferring from the Army Reserves to Active Duty?

That has been my last two months...

I auditioned for active duty at the beginning of April, was selected and shipped off to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for inprocessing just before Memorial Day.  I spent 3.5 weeks in Missouri with 1 day of actual inprocessing that included wading through lots of paperwork and getting arms full of immunizations such as small pox and anthrax.  The rest of my time included reading (alot!) and playing duty driver to malingering privates.

On June 17th, I started my journey to my first active duty duty station.  I took a greyhound bus from Fort Leonard Wood to the Saint Louis Airport early in the morning.  Then I sat around the airport all day until my flight to the Seattle Airport (that flight seemed extra long because I was wedged between a very large woman and a dirty hippie).  Once in Seattle, I dropped my gear at the USO and met up with my friend, JP, who took me out on the light rail to a local pub for drinks and last minute chats.

At 0230, I could check into my AMC flight, I was about the 60th person in line and ended up with a decent seat.  After I got my ticket and checked my bags, I went back to the USO, took a quick shower, got in my PJs, went through security and curled up on the floor to sleep for a few ours.  Around 0800 they started boarding our flight - I ended up in an aisle seat next to a skinny marine who was very quiet.  We ended up seating on the tarmac for about 1.5 hours before taking off.  I alternated between reading and sleeping for the 9 hours and 45 minute flight.  We got served a hot breakfast and a hot lunch on the flight.  I also chatted up some of the flight attendants in the back of the plane while I was doing my couple hour stretch.

 -- me on the airplane!

We landed first in Yokota Air Base, Japan where we were allowed to deplane but weren't allowed to go very far.  We were there a few hours before we loaded back up and flew to Osan Air Base, Korea.  We gathered all our bags, I had my beef jerky confiscated, and then boarded a bus to Yongsan in Seoul.  Once we were on base, they shoved us into the reception barracks, got us rooms and sheets and cut us loose.  I showered (happy dance!) and fell into bed.  Others went out for food, but I was too tired!

  -- all my worldly possessions

The morning on the 20th, we woke early and got breakfast at the local DFAC (ran into a friend I made at FLW!) and then headed for more inprocessing.  The morning consisted of lots of briefings including a 3 star who didn't remember to limit to only 20 minutes per star... There are 4 other band members who showed up with me - a tuba player, a drummer, a clarinetist, and a trombonist - all who are staying at 8th Army with me.  For lunch, some of the band members took us out to eat at a local buffet on post.

On the 21st, we packed up from the reception barracks, had more briefings and then were picked up by our unit at 1130.  They had barracks space for a few of us, but myself and the clarinetist are being put up in the Dragon Hill Lodge until a BEQ (bachelor enlisted quarters) becomes available.  I'm hoping it happens soon - I really want to settle in and have access to a real kitchen!

  -- the view from my room

 I got issued a bassoon (got to pick from 3 - a puchner (which I took) and 2 foxes) and got some music since I got asked to play on the concert on Monday!  A group of the band took the new people out to some place in Seoul called Rainbow Gobby (I don't believe that's its actual name - just what they call it) where we had a family style, cook your own meal where we sat on the floor.  We cooked up different types of meat and ate it in little lettuce wraps.  We also had kimchi, Cass beer and Soju.  Afterwards, we went to a place called WA Bar where they had a giant trouph of beer and ice and you just pulled out whatever you wanted to drink.

Saturday, the 22nd, I got up fairly early so I could have some breakfast and then walk over to the band hall. I practiced bassoon and worked on my reeds a bit before having a joint sectional with some of the other woodwinds.  I can't say I sounded good, but I wasn't horrible.  My reeds were not happy about the level of humidity!  Afterwards, we wandered over to the PX to check what all was over there and to buy some khakis (for the band's travel uniform).  I ran into 2 people I had inprocessed with at FLW - it's a fairly small post... Later, a group of us met outside Gate 1, got metro tickets and wandered Seoul until we found this chicken and beer place (surprisingly good!)  Then we went to Itaewon where we got fried calamari and then got a karaoke room for an hour.  I spent a good portion of my night making fun of the Ohio State fans in the group.  Then we went up Hooker Hill to a country bar, I did some dancing, almost lost my cell phone and after we sang the national anthem at midnight, we headed back to post so as not to get caught by curfew.

This morning, I slept in way late - finally paying off some of my sleep debt.  Then I went to go practice for a bit (reeds, reeds, reeds!)  Afterwards, I went to go for a run but managed to yank my ankle because I was too focused on figuring out what was around me and wasn't paying attention to the ground.  So, I spent most of the rest of the day with my compression socks on, ice attached and the whole thing elevated.  My clarinetist came over to help make sure my uniform was correct for tomorrow, but it's been a relatively relaxed day.