Well trucks are packed, goods are shipped, and here I sit on this lovely Independence Day listening to the quiet of my in-law's home. Let me fill you in on what has been happening here since my last post. After "clearing post" ( fancy Army term for tying up loose ends, cleaning house, and lots of paper work so you can leave) we crammed ourselves into the car with as much stuff as we could fit (our dogs, cat, fish, and children included!), shipped the rest, and off we went on our adventure west to the Lone Star state where we will be staying until our housing is set up in Korea and the Army calls us in! Along the way we had a few hiccups, mostly the screaming children kind, but we survived mostly unscathed! We may have lost a few of our marbles but the majority are still there and we did live to see another day. We arrived in good old Highlands, TX (Home to my husband's parents, more affectionately known as Grandma and Pop) some time in the wee hours of the morning on the 20th of June and immediately (by immediately I mean 2 potty breaks and a diaper change later) crashed in our respective rooms until later that morning.
2 weeks later, here we are and I am just as stressed as the day I left Ft. Rucker. I keep saying to myself "Where the heck is my easy button?" and "Why hasn't someone written a how-to pamphlet on this?" oh and I can't forget "Did I sign up for this?" and lastly " WHO do I have to speak to, to get some FREAKIN sweet tea around here?????" If it weren't for Gregg's (my father-in-law) constant effort to keep the tea pitcher full at home, I think I would have withered away by now! If that weren't enough, the Army has informed us that we will be traveling separately. Yes, separately! My husband leaves for Seoul on Wednesday and the girls and I will join him later this month. Oh and the animals get to join us in September. So I am the lucky one that gets to make an international plane trip with a 3 year old and a 10 month old. That is not my idea of F-U-N! Hopefully the portable DVD player and the multitude of Barney DVDs I packed will help.
Up until now the weight of what is actually happening to our little family has not been hard to bare. But I today it occurred to me what I am actually about to do! A feeling of weariness and excitement all mixed in have over taken my senses. I can barely concentrate. It's kind of like Christmas morning and the first day of school all jumbled up. I mean I am excited to see the new and interesting things that that I will experience and the new people that I will meet, but at the same time I am terrified to be somewhere where I know absolutely no one and know nothing about the area (not to mention the GIGANTIC language barrier). I guess it is a blessing that Chris will go there first and set everything up (housing included) so when we arrive we just have to drop our bags and start living.
So, in a way I am experiencing something similar to what our founding father's did. They started out strangers in a new land too! They were afraid but they put on their big girl pants and kicked some butt and took names! In the spirit of Independence Day, I too will do the same! So, South Korea, listen up! I have a few words to say to you. My name is Susan and I will here by conquer you in the name of fried chicken, grits and sweet tea! Look out because here I come!!
