I haven't heard from Brandon since June 14th. He's been at gunnery without internet since then. So this is post has excepts from his e-mails to me from just the first half of the month. There are some fun stories in here. I'm always glad to know that he is having fun in Korea.
Sunday June 1 [Brandon spent Saturday at a special church conference with Elder Cook. He talks about that at the very end of last month's post.]
This is what you could call part two of the weekend. very long and busy.
Sunday I woke up at around 4:45 so I could get ready to go again. I got dressed had a little bit of breakfast, just a bowl of cereal, and ran up to W____'s Barracks. The sergeant at his co CQ was being annoying and wouldn't just let me go up to his room, so I waited in the hallway while the runner ran up to W____'s room. He came back down and announced that W____ had been in The shower and was on his way down. I just waited for him for a few minutes. Then we left. Hoping the Bus and the two stops on the train. It again took us somewhere around two hours to get to Seoul.
We pulled up to the stop at around 7:55 but we were hungry so we needed something to tide us over for the morning. we went to a little bread shop and bought a doughnut and another piece of bread each, pretty good breakfast. we made it in the church at about 8:05 I figured it might be like the other day when everyone was a little late and the meeting started at 6:30. but I was wrong. No one was there. The only person who was there was President J_____ from The stake presidency setting up chairs and hymnbooks for the meeting. He informed me that the meeting didn't start until 9:00. I turned to W____ and said in an apologetic tone, "well at least we are on time."
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| This was taken before the meeting the day before. |
We helped set up the rest of the room and then just kind of hung out and chatted with everyone who showed up early enough to hang out.
Elder Cook came in about five minutes before the meeting started. President Christensen conducted it. we first heard from Sister Cook who talked about the scripture in Alma 26:37 where he is glorying in the Lord. and She reminded us to remember the Lord because he is mindful of you. She Quoted, with that, Moroni 8.
Elder Cook Did a question and answer period with the 100 or so people in the room. he answered questions ranging from; How to deal with answering others questions to us about tough gospel Subjects such as polygamy, does military service go contrary to the mission of the church, what is the greatest threat to single and unaccompanied people here in Korea, and what was it like to be called as an apostle. it was pretty okay, again not anything earth shattering, but good. The spirit was there. He had other meetings he needed to go to so he had to bounce. but we all stayed for a while longer.
They had prepared a sacrament meeting for all of us, we had the sacrament and small testimony meeting it was interesting to hear all of the struggles going on in Korea with the members here. W____ shared a little bit of his experience with everyone. There were a lot of people that shared really tough things they were going through, but they were still hanging in there. It was really good.
After the meeting W____ and I were going to bounce really quickly just so we could get home and be able to have a good relaxing rest of the day.
Like that ever happens.
We ran into the Pihls, and they asked us if we wanted to go with them to lunch. I looked at W____ and said it was his call, because he was the one that needed to get home. He looked at me and said as long as there is food. So We went with them. We had to take two different buses to Yongsan Garrison, one of the larger bases here in Korea, its like Korea's version of Fort Hood. We went with Elder and sister Pihl, and two ladies in our Branch they are named Sandy, and Success. Sandy is an oriental descent person and Success is an African lady from Nigeria I think, they are both really nice too. It was fun to hang out with everyone as we went. we took a few different busses, and we finally ended up there it was about a quarter mile walk from the train stop to the restaurant but, it was good and not too expensive. I am Glad I talked to you about buying food on Sundays. I still don't like doing it, but I guess it is something we kind of have to do here. Oh well "when in Rome" I guess.
After Lunch, We got back on the train and came home. but with a group of six people it turns into a lot more to keep track of especially when people are slow or doddle or like to walk fast. 90% of the difficulty in walking was keeping everyone together. at one point I was talking to Sandy, after having waited for Elder Pihl to catch up. and we stopped on a moving sidewalk in one of the train stations. I was telling her about Brian Regan and his moving sidewalk joke at the airport. we got to the train doors to see them close and see W____'s face look back at me while the train took off. I was like "they left us." well we just talked and another train showed up about two minutes later. We got on it and played catch up while they waited for us at the next stop. It was funny. I couldn't believe I was the one being too slow that time. and it happened to be the time when everyone left. it was funny I thought.
While I was on the train I had a guy sitting next to me drop his briefcase on my leg, he immediately apologised, and then we started a conversation about America, He asked where I was form I told him Utah And explained where it was in relation to California, it is just easier that way I think. He then told me he had been to San Diego and spent about four weeks there. He asked if I was christian, the clothes I was wearing were hinting at that. I told him yes, then he asked me about Utah and he started to make an "M" sound with his mouth but I don't think he remembered what the word was so I filled it in for him and said "the Mormons?" he readilly agreed and I told him I was one. I asked him if he had ever talked to the mormons, but I don't think he had, I was about ready to give him a book of Mormon I have in my backpack in Korean but the train pulled to a stop, and I had to get off. AT first I thought that if I could only go one more stop I could have given it to him, but I later decided it was probably for the Best.
SIster Pihl asked me why I was taking so long. I then told her about the guy I was talking to, she then felt bad that I couldn't have stayed on the train too. I just told her I was planting seeds. I think she liked that. we made it to our final train (it seems like all we were doing this whole afternoon was chasing trains) and we started north to Uijeongbu.
On the Way I had gotten into a conversation with Elder and Sister Pihl about planting seeds and explained to them that that was pretty much what my entire mission was about, was planting seeds. I told her about some of the people I had tracted into than needed the gospel but that didn't want to listen to us. I told them about how hard it was, and about how I didn't want anything to do with missionaries when I got home from my mission. It was a really good conversation they were talking to me about the importance of planting seeds and of doing any and all missionary work when you can. It was a really good conversation. before I knew it we came to a halt on the platform for Uijeongbu, and we said goodbye to everyone. It was a very fun afternoon. W____ gets kind of annoyed that we spend all day "going to and coming home" from church. But I love it. I love spending all day Sunday out of the house that way I am not tempted to do something like draw airplanes or look at dumb websites of watch movies, instead of more spiritual things on Sunday, besides the fact that we get to get out and experience new things.Oh and most important of all I don't have to deal with roommates or sergeants if I am out of the Barracks. I guess W____ likes relaxing on Sunday, which is just fine. but it did seem like a big day of a lot of things today.
[These pictures were all taken the day before]
June 4
During the Afternoon H_____ had me go back down to the company so I could sign my new licence for the Brad, the one for HHC instead of B co. At about 4:20 I started getting ready for scouts. and was off like a shot at five. I got to Camp Stanley and decided to start my little shopping trip before Scouts. I got everything on my list that I needed except for some WD-40 and shoes and a travel pillow. and I didn't get the microwave yet either. I am still going to see if they will fix mine. but I do know how much they cost now.
I high tailed it to scouts. I caught the train and made it there with a few minutes to spare. I think My biggest mistake I made all day was going to scouts because all we talked about was the week long scout camp in mid-June. I can't go on it because I will be at Gunnery. But it really sounds like a lot of fun. I would love to go, and I can't wait for Derrick to get into scouts so we can go. Of course I am going to take him camping a lot before then too, but it will be fun when he is old enough to appreciate it.
After scouts I asked Brother P____ if They could show me where the Wall mart type store around in Jihaeng was, they said they were going there that night and they would be happy to take me with. So I wen't with the P____'s to Lotte Mart. They went there for some room fans, which they found. and I went for some shoes and a travel pillow, which I found, I just didn't know my shoe size in Korean, nor did I think they had it. I will have to check out some other stores like that later. But I did buy my pillow, I almost walked out the store without paying for it, but that was quickly rectified. by this time I missed my Bus back to Camp Casey so I took the train instead. it is about the same time so I made it home at about 9:50 pretty good timing I think. I was a little warm from rushing around, so I dropped off my stuff, and went on a ten minute walk to cool down. after that I came in here, wrote you this e-mail, chatted you for a sec, and went to bed.
June 5
Well I had a very interesting day today, for PT this morning I was able to fight one of the lieutenants for combatatives. It was one of his first classes he has been to so I helped him understand some of the techniques we are using.
We do a drill that has six defense moves that are supposed to take 20 seconds to go through. we have been going through them every week since I have been here in HHC and the class is taught by MAJ R_____. I guess he is a combatatives instructor.
As gossip goes around here most everyone at least in my section hates the class and would rather do something else. I on the other hand am enjoying it. I have always wanted to learn some self defense moves and be able to defend myself in case something happened. I just think it is fun to. I think everyone else's problem is that it is very basic and they don't consider that others need to learn some sort of basic moves first. I think it is fun.
Lets see we had our ACU inspection today. I guess I passed with flying colors because no one had anything to say to me. good. I was told I looked good. I am never taking the pins of my coat again.
H_____ helped me get it just right before the inspection though. So I have to give him some of the credit.
After our inspection we went back to our classroom area to have our sharp Briefing for the week (it seems like we have one at least every other week here, according to the rule book you only need one every quarter. I guess there are a lot of issues around here. I don't know why I never hear of anything except from other soldiers from other Units here.
Anyway the class was supposed to be an open forum type meeting where everyone could participate and listen and learn together. The location is horrible because we always meet in an echoey room thet is devoid of chars except for like 15 or so. so we all sit around the edges of this ginormous echoey room. and when people comment it causes a lot of little conversations so it is really hard to hear. let alone pay attention. it also doesn't help when the meeting lasts for two hours straight. and it seems as though everyone is arguing. It makes me laugh just how people comment. Comments on sexual assault ranged today from people don't change ever, to lets blame the media, to it is a leader's fault if the soldiers under them do something dumb like that. I thought that these people do not really know what sexual assault is nor how the brain works. I am not here to say I do but I think I learned more in my adult Roles class in High school about sexual harassment then I ever learn in these classes.
They let us go for an hour for lunch at 12:00 today. I was glad that I got to talk to you today. I am glad that you are doing well at home with the kids I love all of the cute stories you have, and that you are willing to not only be a good mom and wife but you are also an example to others. So thank you. I am glad I get to talk to you everyday. It helps me still feel like I am a partner with you.
All afternoon we had the same type of thing it was classes on SHARP it was where we were divided into "smaller" groups of about twenty to discuss situations and how we can relate to them. what could have been done better, and how we as a UNit could work to resolve any issues.
I really couldn't hear anything. and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. there were some good points made, but no cohesive conclusion to the problem. I think that was what was bad about it we discussed it but we didn't really grow from it. someone would make a comment and another person would tell them they were wrong, kind of like an unorganized debate team.
after The Sharp Class we discussed a lot of the standards that we have here. a lot of the things that we need to remember and be in compliance with to follow the rules of the Army and the guidelines set forth in the regulations. that took a long time and it was mostly listening to a SGT read it from his phone. Very exciting. FInally we were done then S3 had to meet to discuss some things.
We met in the conference room at the company. A Lieutenant went over some of the things we have to get done for Gunnery, It was stuff like things we were carrying in the Vehicles, and things that we were going to do before gunnery
After Chow I just spent the rest of my night in my room doing things like fixing my pocketknife (the red plastic sides were falling off, so I glued them back on. They are not coming off again). I sprayed Scotch guard on my new suit so It won't get stained.(funny story, a Sgt came and knocked on The door asking what the smell was. I think he thought I was trying to get high in here, I guess, even though the window was open, most of the smell was going down the hall. It was the smell of acetone --nail polish remover. I don't know what he thought of me, but I know I wasn't doing anything bad). I also glued the binding on a note book I have back together. I fixed all the things I needed for my toiletries kit, including a first aid kit. I cleaned up around here a little bit, I did laundry, and I talked with you a little on chat. I feel like the past five hours have been more productive than all day long, because I didn't have to do what other's told me to do.
June 8
Well I think the word adventure sums up my day today just nicely. Lets start out though with the
non adventurous part: The morning. This morning I got up and fixed my computer so I could talk to you later today, I also folded the laundry that I recouped from the laundry room last night before I went to bed. I got ready for the day and went and had breakfast. While eating breakfast I found myself in line behind Lieutenant B_______. [He was the first person to start helping Brandon with his Warrent Officer Application.] He has been reassigned to S3 so I see him pretty much on a regular basis now. He is pretty cool he said hi and then we went our separate ways, I thought.
I quickly grabbed my food and sat down by myself like I usually do. I had scarcely done so when he sat right across from me and said hi again, we had a pretty pleasant conversation during breakfast, He asked me about my Warrant Officer packet. I asked and he told me about his girlfriend and that she is doing good. I asked him if he liked his new job, he really would rather be back doing tactical stuff not office work, but he seems okay with it for now. A lot of the conversation was just awkward silence where we were both trying way too hard to think of things to say. There is a thing around here that everyone has to avoid it is called fraternization outside of your peer group. for instance lower enlisted soldiers are not supposed to "hang out" with either NCOs or Officers. So having a normal relationship with people from different ranks like that can be kind of awkward. especially if it becomes more awkward by people who perpetuate the rules so well like he and I do. If and when I become a Warrant officer, and if I ever meet him again, it would be a lot easier to be his friend. I think he and I could be really good friends if that wasn't in the way. Oh well I guess we will see what the future holds huh?
When I got back I was informed by my roommate that W____ had been here so I ran back up to his room and planned out what we were going to do today. I asked if he wanted to go to the store in Uijeongbu with me. he agreed so we got everything ready and set off. Before we left though W____ asked me why I always carried around my black backpack. I told him because I may need it. He didn't believe me and successfully convinced me that I didn't need it.
We went and caught the city bus to Uijeongbu, and stopped on the stop by a river that runs though the city. The store I wanted was to go to was a couple of blocks down the river trail. So we started off. Foreign countries are so weird. Here in Korea it is not considered Dangerous to have rocks that lead across the river to the other side whereas in the US I think there would be a conniption fit by a Local mothers group about the dangers of such things. Here little families cross the river on strategically placed rocks it is very interesting, I wanted to take a picture but My camera happened to be in my Back pack. I let W____ know.
After we crossed the river W____, who is very friendly and always says hi to everyone, said hi to a lady who stopped dead in her tracks on the trail and turned and came right up to him and started talking to us about all sorts of stuff, she was from New Zealand, she Taught English here she was on her way to eat a late lunch, she liked Korea, and Foreign people who come here to teach English get a sweet deal of a trip; pretty much they get everything except food free. We told her about ourselves too. It was like a 20 minute conversation. it was really interesting at first I thought that she knew W____ form somewhere, but as the conversation progressed I found out that W____ had no idea who she was either, but she was very friendly. it is always fun to talk to random Strangers and find out all about them. We moved on. Being the friendly guy he is W____ asked a man out of the blue what this weird vent thingy on the side of the river, he started telling us all about it. every last detail of what the thing was. The only problem was that he didn't speak any English, and we didn't speak any Korean. It was funny needless to say we didn't figure it out, but we had fun trying.
Continuing with our journey we ran into a elevated train station that had a small city train on it that wrapped itself around the entire city. we decided to check it out. of course I do not have any pictures and W____ heard about it again, in a funny way. We decided to try the train out W____ told me that the train would go to the store I wanted to go to, I knew it wouldn't but I indulged him. As soon as we left the station, I looked out the window as we passed the store I wanted to go to. I looked at W____ and he laughed. So did I.
we decided to just see where the train went and it took us all over the whole city. It was really cool it was remotely operated and it ran on wheels in a sort of groove type track on the elevated bridge it is kind of hard to describe I wished I had a camera to take a picture, and W____ heard about it again. At the second to last stop I saw the same store I wanted to go to. So we decided to get off the train and go to the store. I was looking for some shoes, I had seen some inexpensive shoes at another version of this store in Jihaeng on Wednesday after scouts. it was an unsuccessful trip in that regard, the shoes there were really really expensive like 80000 wan at least.which is like $80.00 I am not paying that much for shoes.
It was a very successful store trip in the way that we had a fun adventure. we saw what looked like another cool store from the train that wasn't too far away so we decided to walk and check it out on the way we ran into a cool park that had a lot of cool Korean statues and buildings in it that were really old. it was way cool to walk through. and about here is where I went off on W____ about not bringing my back pack. I said something to the effect of:
I could have brought my camera I didn't and now we are visiting a cool place and have seen so many cool things and I don'y have my camera, The lady we talked to could have very easily asked us about the Mormon church and I didn't have a book of Mormon if the subject came up. I want to came back to this place to visit it and it is not going to happen because we are going to gunnery and when we get back I am going to ask you (W____) to do this and you are going to say we have already been there, then I am going to say but I didn't have my camera, and you are going to say that is okay we can go look at something else, and I will say.... I went back and forth on this little tirade for about a minute having this argument aloud with myself of what W____ and i would say back and forth. and after I was done W____ had the biggest grin on his face and said you Know me so well, that is exactly how it would go. We both laughed for a couple of minuets. He thought it was so funny. I did too.
We eventually made it to the store and it was not a store it looked more like an abandoned factory or a sweatshop or something with a really cool looking name on the outside of it.
We decided to not explore it further.
We walked back and got on the train and took off to the other side of the city again. we went to the other store at the beginning of the line and found out that their prices were just the same, but they did have a grocery store in the bottom of it so we bought some dinner they didn't give us a bag for the things that we bought, and as we left the store W____ looked at me and I said well we wouldn't have to carry all of this stuff if I had a bag of some sort to put it all in ( I gave him such grief about that today.) he told me okay I have made up my mind I will never try to convince you to leave your backpack again. It was so hilarious. The whole afternoon when I was telling him that stuff about my backpack I kept remembering that time we went to Yellowstone and you told me to leave my drill at home. and I could have fixed Emily's Table. I eventually told him the story and he thought that it was funny.
We decided that we did want to go see X Men and it would probably be the last fun thing we get to do for gunnery so we took the little train to the big train and took the big train to the movie theater. We watched that and then went home. we got back at about 11:30 I tried to write this e-mail last night but I was too tired. Again, X-men is a very good movie, Go ahead and watch it as many times as you want.
We had a lot of fun today and My only complaint was that it wasn't you going with me, but I will
take you out again and go do some adventurous stuff with all of you again one day when I get home. I promise.
June 8
I had a very interesting Sunday today.
Elder and Sister Pihl e-mailed me last week and asked me if I could help them out by getting a hold of an LDS member who was new here. He is a Dr. and didn't know how to get church in Camp Casey. He was also A full Bird Colonel. (Just shy of a general, and high up on the food chain.) I agreed so on Friday I e-mailed him and he let me know that he would be good with going with W____ and I to church this morning. His name is Brother L_____. [Fun coincidence: This guy is actually the uncle of one of my Facebook friends. She messaged me to see if Brandon might be in the same area he is - It's a small world.]
So....
This morning I got up, dressed, ate a real quick bowl of cereal, and rant to W____'s room before 0750, I snagged him and went down to the pedestrian gate to meet Brother L______. he was right on time at 8:00. I found out just how experienced he was in Korea, not much, and then we took off.
His Money card that he got from a friend didn't have enough money on it to get a bus, and he didn't have any Korean won, so I paid for his bus trip, He said that it was kind of weird having someone else pay for a bus ticket for him when he was a DR. and definitely could afford to buy a little bus ticket. I told him to not worry about it, but he gave me an american dollar, good enough for me I guess. we talked to him and found out a little bit from him like he is from Oregon. and has four kids girl boy girl girl, 24 19 I think, and 16 and 17. The seventeen year old just graduated from high school yesterday actually. he was up at four in the morning here watching the ceremony online. He said that The Dr. that was here already from the ____ CAV was only spending half the deployment here and then going home. He was the replacement for the second half. So he was going to be here until October with us. We showed him how to put money on his card and how to get on the train and where to go. it was pretty fun.
We got to Church about five minutes before it started because we had to change trains. We introduced him around and he got to know everyone pretty well.
For Young men's I had fun teaching the lesson. up until know the guys have been teaching lesson's from the online outline on lds.org. and it is just a lets all go through it together. read it, look up the scriptures together and watch one or more videos that they have online. and that is it. no real feeling, and very boring. That all changed today.
I taught two lessons that were related. I taught the guys how to more effectively teach a lesson, and gave them an example by teaching them about the importance of missionary work. It was fun. I love teaching lessons like that. I think they enjoyed it. I started off by asking them about how they could be more effective teachers. they gave a good list of stuff like teaching with the spirit and teaching out of the scriptures ans preparing beforehand, and other things like that. We then talked about the importance of being a missionary. We talked about the blessings of missionary work and how it benefits you to serve. It was good although I maybe should practice a little bit more of what I preached about.
After church we had a pot luck lunch that most everyone took off before it started. W____, Brother L_____, and I were invited to stay for it so we chilled out for a little while, had some food, and then started on our way back home.
While waiting for the bus W____ and I shared our funny story from Yesterday. and just chitchatted the rest of the way back. It was a fun day. We got home and separated our each ways, W____ asked if I wanted to get chow at 4:30 later, and I told him I would meet him there. He never showed up so I just had chow and worked on finishing fixing my computer and e-mailing you.
June 9
H_____ told me that the people were going to come and fix my microwave today. and then he said to go to my room and wait for them. That was exciting I love playing hookie for important reasons. in my room I figured the person wouldn't show up for a couple of hours because that is just how repair people are right? Wrong. Korean people do a great job. the guy pretty much showed up 20 minutes after I got there. It the meantime I started doing some repairs to my ACUs I wish I had your sewing machine, but I can do it by hand right? that is how I first learned to sew.
Well a couple of screws, the removal of what I knew the problem was a really loud spark and a flash, and a new magnetron later, I had a running microwave that actually does make food hotter, we tried it out. Oh yeah after I turned the electricity back on because the guy forgot to do that.
June 10
Tonight I went to chow and then really quickly I came back to my room and finished folding and putting away laundry that I have had going all day. Then I went to family Home evening, yes we are finally having it in Camp Stanley. Granted it was just Colonel L_____, W____ and myself, but it was good. we sang a song, we had a prayer and we read some little Mormon messages in the back of the ensign for this month and discussed the principles in them.
I had a lot of fun at FHE. as soon as gunnery is over i think we will be able to do a lot more with it. I am looking forward to that.
June 11
we had to go back up to Camp Casey and finish out GST training today, but we didn't have to leave until 0930 so I had a but of time to check my e-mail and such.
I like it when I get to drive to Camp Casey, I am getting used to it now, so I know the route pretty well, I also had to drive a standard vehicle. Yesterday, I was having an interesting time getting used to it, it caused a lot of laughs. Today I was much better. It took some getting used to.
We did some more brad checks today, we did some reports on the system computers in the vehicles, we also did some weapons tests and we had to load the brad with Bullets and some other stuff.
We then broke for lunch, WE went back to the chow hall in Camp Hovey which is where we were, it is nice to go back there it kind of feels like going home I know it is not, but it has kind of the same familiarity to it.
Did I tell you about yesterday when I met the recruiter guy at lunch? He was one of the recruiters from Bountiful that helped out while I was joining. he was so happy to see me with smiles and everything. I didn't recognize him at first, but he was very familiar , as soon as I read his name tape I knew who it was, he even got a picture with me it was kind of interesting. H_____, SGT J____, and Major R_____ thought it was funny that he would come up to me and do that. That was yesterday, but nothing that cool happened today. We just had a quiet lunch while MAJ R____ and H_____ Talked about shooting Tanks and other weapons.
After lunch we did a few more things of the testing. the last thing was to take the 25 mm gun out of the brad in 10 minutes and put it back in in 10 minutes. The guy that went before me couldn't even get close he gave up a short way through the first part But Sgt G_________, who was the trainer at the station, helped him so he continued. he almost made it, but he didn't get done within 10 minutes. he was very nervous and frustrated, I felt bad for him, he is going to do it again tomorrow. [Another fun coincidence: Sgt G______ was Brandon's Gunner when Brandon was still assigned to the other unit.]
When I got up there to try it out, H_____ had previously trained me very well, so I was able to accomplish both tasks in a little over five minutes each. I was very proud of myself. I told Sgt G_____ , I have learned a thing or two in the past few months. H_____ was pleased to. We didn't have time For Major R and H_____ to do it so We took off.
I was able to go to scouts tonight too. on my way there I actually met a man at the train station who started talking to me in English. he asked me where I was from, and asked if Utah was where the Mormons were. I love that question, it leads into perfectly a missionary discussion, to make a long story short I was able to give my Korean book of Mormon away, it was really cool I think that was the major reason I was supposed to go to scouts though, because when I got there I remembered that we weren't having it tonight because of scout camp next week.
the young Women were there though, One of the sister's there wanted to know if I could stay though because she wasn't sure if there was supposed to be a priesthood leader at all the activities at the church. I did, i ended up keeping track of her two year old little boy, S____. he was cute, we played with his dinosaurs and his moms ipad, it was fun. I watched them do some girls camp stuff to they were doing certifications. their tasks for the night were to build a shelter and to build a bedroll. it was kind of cool I even learned some stuff. I had a good night then I went home.
June 12
Today we had comparatives again. I did not have a partner, so I was partners with both T____ and G____. it was fun we took turns beating on each other, not really we are pretty gentle for soldiers. at one point in the process we were just supposed to be doing one on one but then we decided that it would be good to practice with a group of people on one guy, since that is what our final exam will be. I didn't get to be the guy in the middle, but I got to get beat up it was pretty fun, but that idea was shot down pretty quick by Major R_____. He told us that swarms would come later. Well I guess that we are just going to continue with the lessons slowly but surely. I still think it is fun.
this morning we got licences and other paperwork ready for gunnery, You would think we would be done with that by now but no we still have to do it. There are many Procrastinators among the ranks here. I was asked to run a key to the motorpool and open a vehicle for the mechanics so they could repair something in it. That was fun. I also had to go get some radio equipment that was at the company for the tank and the Brad. I got it and got it to H_____ and SGT G_____. and just helped out there until lunch. The mechanics came by and installed our new periscope to replace the front cracked one. oddly enough it was one for the tank not the Brad. so They took it back. I was then able to go to lunch
I had a great conversation with my Beautiful wife and I saw how she was doing. I am glad that you are doing stuff with Lindsey and Emily I think it is cool that you girls still get along so well that is really rare in the world and I think it is very cool, you all have such good relationships. I hope you have fun going out to eat, and I hope that all those kids don't drive you too crazy. I guess it is good training, As they would say in the Army, but for what? That's also something they would say in the Army :).
This afternoon I was asked to go to the motorpool and get some Oil for our Brad. that only took three hours. I went there and asked around, no one knew where I should go finally a sergeant showed me then said he would get someone to help me. The guy came, and told me that he would be back with the person who had the door key. I waited and waited and went and asked again, Same response. I went back and waited some more had a few pleasant conversations with some other soldiers. Then I went and asked again The Sergeant said that I could go out and get mad at the guy and tell him that If the door wasn't open in ten minutes he was going to cut the lock off.which made me laugh. anyway to make a long story short the key finally got there. the door was opened,and then the guy asked me where my bucket was. My Bucket?!!! I wish they would tell me this stuff. so I had to go back and tell H_____ that even though I was there for an hour and a half I couldn't get anything, luckily enough, as I was walking I noticed some buckets next to the motorpool So I went and gave H_____ the news and told him what I was going to do he then told me about the buckets That I had already planned to borrow anyway, so i borrowed one on a no return basis. it was alright. The oil barrel was just about empty. I got the last of it which also meant that I have the last barrel of oil in this place right now. I told H_____ he had a hot commodity to watch it, because it might go missing.
I had thought about going to pizza night with everyone because it would be the last night to see everyone before we left. SO We did.
The Story goes something like this:
I got off work at 5:15 I ran to the chow hall and ate really fast so I could run and get W____. As I got to his barracks room his roommate informed me he was in the chow hall. Seriously?. SO I went back to the chow hall actually saw W____ through the window sitting down. I tried to get in the building, but it was closed by then and all th doors were locked. Finally I sneaked back in through a cracked door someone didn't shut all of the way. I sat down by W____ and told him that I wanted to go to pizza night. he readily agreed and began scarfing his dinner. I told him to get changed and meet me by the gate. while I did the same. I went to my room and quickly got changed out of my sweaty work clothes. I then went to the gate, but W____ wasn't there So I walked to his room making sure he didn't pass on the other road. Got to his room pretty much as he was coming down the stairs. we started walking to the gate. and I remembered that I forgot my phone so I ran back to get it while W____ continued on. I ran to my room found my phone and ran to the gate, just as W____ showed up from walking., he laughed because it was just funny to him how fast I was. and he told me jokingly that he felt inadequate now, and he needed to get better at running, it was pretty funny. well we started walking down the road to the bus stop and as soon as we were close enough to see the bus stop we saw a bus pull up to it with a red light. so We ran to the bus. we barely made it and the driver was smiling at us as we walked on. after that ride we ran through a the road to get to the Train station so we wouldn't miss it. W____ was telling me again jokingly how much he hates me and he is never going to go anywhere with me again. it was funny.
Camp Casey was fun, everyone was glad to see us and when we told them the story of how we got there they didn't blame us for not going more often. We have two new missionaries. Elder bell, and a sister that I can't remember at the moment. They are way nice I told them my Book of Mormon giving away experience yesterday, they thought it was cool I thought it was pretty alright myself. we had fun had some pizza and soda. we got to chat with another Member who lives in Camp Red Cloud just next to us. he is really cool he is going to come for FHE the next time we have it you know later...
Well after the fun W____ and I came back home by the train again, we both were glad we went it was a good little break from the routine. The ride back was a whole lot less crazy then the ride there was. but we had fun.
June 13
Well I have gotten pretty much everything done now, my laundry is done, I am packed except for a few odd items that need to get packed up. In a minute I am going to go give myself a haircut and take a shower. I am going to get the rest of the way ready tonight. and then go to bed. I hope I do get to talk to you at least for a bit tonight.
Well tomorrow is It, I am not sure when I will be able to talk to you again after tomorrow. I will try and see if there is anywhere to get free wifi while I am in the field, I know it is a long shot but you never know, it is Korea. If not, this might be the last e-mail you get from me for a while.
Love you tons.
