On the road again...

[pecunium]

This year may be busier than last, at least in some regards. Tomorrow I leave for three weeks in Korea. I will probably have e-mail access, but blogging time may be slight.

In late June I get to go to Inverness (making the third time, I've been overseas on the Fourth of July; on official business, and the ninth time in thirteen summers I have been on duty on the Fourth). I am supossed to go to Ukraine in July, and there's a mission involving Russians which might be overseas in Sept. Happy Days, but sigh.

Amusingly my mission to Korea is listed as being in "Reasonable commuting distance," so I don't get per diem, or something. This is probably because pay and travel orders are being handled separately. SSG Clair did some swell work this morning, when I mildly complained that having to drive to Monterey to fly to SF sucked, when there was an airport ten minutes from my house. He made a couple of calls I get to sleep in four hours more (if the flight had left at something reasonable, like 1300, I'd have just sucked it up, but 0900... no, for that I'll whine a little).

My trip to LA on Thursday was OK. Got my gear, took the Russian test, got caught in some unexpected traffic and the five minute trip to the station took 12, and I just missed my train home, which meant changing trains to get a bus in Santa Barbara, and not getting to see the shoreline. Up at 0630, home at 0100. Thankfully Maia said I ought to take the car to the station, and no one had to come and get me.

The weather in Korea is about the same as Ft. Lewis in Jan. Highs in the mid fifties, lows around freezing. When it rains the range compresses. I ought to be ok.

Comments

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose there's any chance you'll have an off day or two that you can hop a plane to HCMC?

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Thas' funny.

Seriously, even if I did have the time (and there may be as much as a week of dead time in this thing, I don't know, but looking at the schedules, there are some oddities) the Standard of Forces Agreement, prohibits such things.

When Guard/Reserve troops go to Japan, by way of example, they can't stay over, they have to touch ground in the continental US (unless they reside in Alaska or Hawaii) before then can re-enter Japan.

TK

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

Aw bummer. But now that you mention it, I do recall my friend in the Air National Guard talking about that same (or similar) rule.

Ah well, when we're more settled, the dude and I will work on meeting up with you the next time you're in the hood (ie SE Asia).

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Safe travels, and have fun.

DV

Yellow Dust Storms

[doutdes.livejournal.com]

The only problem with the weather in Korea now is the yellow dust blowing in from the Gobi Desert. You’ll see a lot of people wearing facemasks because the fine particles of sand can hurt your lungs. Last year, during a particularly bad day a ten-minute walk left my lungs hurting and me feeling as if I were little out of breath. The sky may also have a bit of a yellowish tint (along with everything else). The yellow dust will usually last for two weeks or so, and started last week Friday. So far there hasn’t been any really bad days, but if you take a long walk, or do morning PT, you might feel it.

Here is a picture from previous year showing the dust in the atmosphere.