The FAOOC...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...  (Can I steal that?  Do I need quotation marks?)  Well, it was.  I suppose I should start by saying that I kind of went against my better judgement.  I wasn't really convinced that anyone was going to tell me anything I didn't already know (and considering we leave in less than 5 months, that's probably a good thing).   And I also only attended the Embassy Etiquette and Protocol class.  So it's not like they were delving deeply into important issues.  But I have to admit a certain level of frustration that they present information and pretend that it's applicable to everyone.  Clearly that is not the case.  I know it's not.  Other people (I hope) realize this.  But they never say it.  Maybe they just assume that we know the information isn't applicable to everyone.  Obviously, people feel most comfortable discussing things they are familiar with.  And our lead speaker today came most recently from Paris.  She also hadn't just completed In Country Training - she was the wife of a senior embassy official.  So her perspective is going to be different.  I'm not saying that she wasn't a really nice person and probably had loads of great info for anyone headed to Europe, but Dhaka is a far cry from Paris...  I just wish that we could start things like this by saying something to the effect of, "I know quite a bit about my area, but I really can't comment on other regions of the world," instead of glossing over the fact that there are significant cultural differences among Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central/South America.

So I was a bit disappointed.  BUT...  I also managed to meet up with someone who had just come back from Tunisia who agreed to speak at my next FAO spouses cultural meeting.  So, all in all, I say I came out even on this one.  I also ran into 2 wives from our region who I have the potential to be interacting with for the next few years, so I tried to take advantage of my opportunity to network.  I think that's all I'm going to say about that. 

On a completely different note, I find I'm back in an HGTV phase.  I'm sure other people do this, but I go through TV phases.  I NEED to catch every episode of Law and Order, or I'm totally addicted to the Food Network.  You get the picture.  Well, for the past few weeks I've been on an HGTV kick, and it's made only more annoying by the fact that I won't be a homeowner again for a long time.  So no putting in wood floors, no installing ceiling fans, no drastic redecorating, and not even really any painting in my forseeable future.  Well, maybe painting, but honestly, that's one of my least favorite tasks.  So I don't really crave that as much as I do the hands-on fun stuff - putting up crown moulding for example.  Does anyone need any crown moulding installed???  Please?

Final exams!

Lover's Point Beach - Monterey

It was 55 degrees on Saturday and overcast to boot, so what did my kids want to do?  That's right, go swimming.  I suppose it's my own fault for not just letting them go on Friday, but we spent Saturday morning "swimming."  They don't really go in the water - just up to their knees, or deep enough to fill up their buckets.  I can't really blame them either.  The water here is COLD.  But comfort seems to matter much less to kids than it does to grownups.  As long as they're having fun, they could care less about cold water.  We finished up our morning with some Moroccan chicken and roti-chapati - my latest Costco find.  It's similar to a whole wheat tortilla and they come uncooked, so with about a minute on the stove, you have a piece of wonderful, warm goodness.  Check out the refrigerated section at your local Costco if you're interested.  I plan to use them a lot from now until we leave - they remind me of the fresh tortillas we used to be able to buy at HEB in Texas. 

Josh has spent a lot of time studying this weekend.  He is scheduled to take his language exam this week, so stress level is pretty high right now.  I'm convinced, based on what he's told me about his class, that he will be one of the top 2 scores in his class.  The down side is that doing better than everyone else still won't count if he doesn't pass.  So I'll keep my fingers crossed...  Also, later this week, we have the FAOOC - an orientation course that Josh attended about 7 months ago.  Spouses are "encouraged" to attend, but they did not coordinate for childcare (I was totally spoiled by Ft. Hood...) this time or last time.  In addition, they don't have anyone briefing who has any experience in our region of the world, so my motivation to attend this time around isn't terribly high.  I am, however, interested in meeting the spouse of the new FAO proponency rep here at Monterey.  She just came from Tunisia and I'm sure some of the ladies in my FAO spouses group would be interested in picking her brain.

And just in time for all of this, both kids woke up today with colds.  So my week will involve lots of tissues, lots of crying, and not nearly enough sleeping.

4 Year old wisdom

I took the kids down to the beach today for a playdate, but didn't see anyone when we got there (and it was kind of raining), so I tried to talk B &K into going to Costco instead.  I was not terribly successful...  Halfway there, B asks me why Daddy has to work.  I explained to him that Daddy's job was studying words and letters and that meant he had to be in the office all day.  Just like it's my job to stay home all day and watch them (no comment here on who gets the better end of that deal).  B reminded me - even though it's been over a year now since I left the Army - that sometimes when I have to go to work, Daddy would stay home and watch them.  Being the sneaky mom I am, I asked B who he liked to stay home with the best - Mommy or Daddy.  "Well," he says very seriously, "I like it when you both stay home." 

I guess that's what I get for trying to trick him... 

What's good for the goose...

Once a week, I get together with a group of FAO spouses who are generally headed to the same region of the world I am - we're a mix of South Asia and Middle East.  It's comforting, I think, to spend time with people who are also about to turn their entire lives upside-down.  Once a month, we get together and host a pot luck lunch and skype with spouses who are currently in one of the countries we are headed to.  I think this is a benefit to all of us - the people on this end get a first hand look at the lifestyle and the people on the other end get to reconnect (however briefly) with us.

Today's session was with a former member of our group who is currently in Rabat, Morocco.  In her discussion of their most recent travel adventure, I was reminded of a ... we'll call it an experience I had when I was in high school.  As you're probably aware (or maybe not), it's currently Ramadan.  While that doesn't have that big of an impact on my life right now, next year this time, when I am one of the 5% of the population in my country who is not Muslim, it will likely have a slightly larger impact.  Our friend related to us today that they planned to do some traveling during Ramadan and ended up having to order quite a bit of room service at the local hotels because the restaurants were closed until after sunset.  I suppose if I had to fast all day, I wouldn't want to cook for people who didn't have to fast either.  And so back to my "memory."   As part of my high school wind ensemble, I traveled to France and Switzerland over Spring Break (Easter).  Being Catholic, but apparently not a very good one, I lost track of the days and was surprised when we wandered into a restaurant that would not serve us any food.  The waiter - looking confused - said, "It's Good Friday; we fast."  So when I heard my friend's story about the restaurants that were closed, I had to chuckle a bit remembering it.

 

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Reservoir at East Pinnacles

It's been a busy weekend - first the unit Family Fun Fest and lunch with friends on Saturday followed by a half day hike at East Pinnacles today.  We were supposed to start off the fun fest with a "Fun Run."  A side note on this really quickly - I have been known in the past to state that there is no such thing as a "fun" run. I mean, there are lots of great ways to have fun.  Running is not one of them.  It's a necessary evil required only because I enjoy cooking (and then eating the fruits of my labor).  But back to my main point.  The fun run.  Josh and I showed up ready to run and then found out that the run was cancelled due to lack of interest.  See?  No one else thinks it's fun to run either!  The Fun Fest was totally worthwhile for at least one reason though - B finally managed to actually go inside a bounce house.  I know, I know.  Kids love them.  Except not mine.  He feigns extreme interest until the moment is upon him, and then he decides he just wants to watch.  And the worst part is this - I totally get it.  How easy is it in life to just watch from the sidelines instead of "jumping in", especially when you're doing something new for the first time?    

Picnic

Heading back into the caves

This morning, we decided to head around to the east entrance to Pinnacles National Monument to let B explore the second set of caves there.  Our trip out earlier in the week with my sister was to the west entrance which I have hiked 3 or 4 times.  The east side of the park was totally new to me, and definitely worth the trip.  The caves were more extensive and there was a beautiful reservoir at the turn-around point which provided a perfect backdrop for a picnic lunch.  This is just one of the many places I will miss when we leave...

It's all about the family

Big Sur State Beach

This past week, we've been lucky enough to have my older sister visit with us and it brings some questions to mind. Growing up, we were geographically separated from the rest of our extended family - so I never thought anything of only seeing those people a few days a year. My husband, on the other hand, grew up just a short distance away from his only two cousins and spent all of the holidays (as well as lots of other time) with them.

Balconies Cave, Pinnacles

Spending a few days with my sister is great because I can continue - in person - discussions we've been having online and over the phone for weeks/months, but my kids don't have the benefit of having grown up with her. To them, she's one of those people they see a few days a year. A large part of me wishes that even though we've made the commitment to continue this crazy military lifestyle for many more moons, we could somehow spend more time with family. I suppose more importantly than spending "time" with family is somehow making the time we ARE able to spend with people quality time.

And so the balancing act continues. I don't for a minute doubt that we have made the right choice for our family and for our future, but that doesn't change the fact that I envy the way my husband grew up - surrounded by family.

And it came to pass...

As a kid growing up, my mom had a newspaper clipping on the secretary in the living room that went something like this: "And it came to pass... Aren't you glad the saying didn't go 'And it came to stay'?"

I always kind of felt this helped me have a positive outlook on life. No matter what you're doing, it's a temporary situation. And it seems especially applicable to the new life we've started. There will likely be things about it that are wonderful, and things that are not so wonderful. So I will need to embrace the goodness (temporary though it may be) and let the bad pass me by - hopefully equally quickly.

We have less than 5 months before the packers will be here to send us on our way into the great unknown - heretofore referred to as Bangladesh. The time of lists is upon me. The packing list, the "things not to pack" list, the to-do list, and the ever-growing shopping list. I might have to start keeping a list of all of my lists just to really stay on top of it all. But one-by-one, things will get checked off. And with the exception of a very few items (you know, like passports), we should be able to make do.

Speaking of lists, I'm sure there's something I'm supposed to be doing right now...