Day 1510: Post to Post Transfer… Again

My transition from Suriname to Eritrea was pretty darn quick and because of that, a lengthy home leave wasn’t really in the cards.  Normally, when folks transition from post to post they’re able to take around six weeks of vacation to see loved ones and remember how to be American.  Then again, to get a full home leave folks need to have spent at least a year at the post their leaving… I was only in Suriname for 9 months… so there’s the rub.

This time around, my stay in the States was strictly centered on training in DC; which significantly limited my ability to take time off.  I’m not saying that I didn’t… but not being eligible for ‘home leave’ simply made things a bit more difficult.  Especially since Serena and the boys left Suriname about a month before me so they could find a house in Atlanta and get Grayson enrolled in school.

By the time I finished up in Suriname and caught up them in Miami, we only had time to meet up with some friends we served with in Belgrade, who were on home leave, for a couple days before we were off to DC for my training.

Thankfully, we were able to spend some quality Oakwood time as a family… when I wasn’t in training. 

Ah… Oakwood… it’s where we stay every time we’re in DC and it is the place where Serena feels like we can actually be an American family in America… meaning we’re not crashing with family or moving around visiting people… too much.  Although we did crash with Serena’s Uncle for a couple days when we became victims of this summer’s DC Blackout, which was awesome.

However, due to timing, Serena and the boys were unable stay with me in DC for my entire training.  They actually had to go back to Atlanta a few weeks early for Gray to start school and to accept the delivery of our household effect.  

That said, we didn’t have to say goodbye in DC.  Post was kind enough to let me to tack on a couple weeks of vacation onto the end of my training period, which they didn’t have to let me do, but was incredibly gracious.  And two weeks may sound like a lot, but when you’re staring down a two-year assignment away from your family, it doesn’t really feel like much. 

And to be completely honest, life in DC while in training and working though everything you need to do to transition to a new post, moving to a new country, isn’t exactly stress free.  It’s actually pretty darn stressful.  So, once Serena and the boys headed back down to Atlanta I made a point of finishing everything I needed to do in preparation of my transfer so that nothing would be hanging over my head once I left DC.

So, as soon as training was over, I hopped a flight to Atlanta and had the BEST two weeks of family time I’ve had in AGES! 

But more of that later.

Day 1507: Back in the Saddle

Well, here we go again.  Unaccompanied.

Are we crazy?  Probably… but I don’t really think our situation is as abnormal as many may think.  Solid families have done this throughout history and they still do it today.  And sure, this may be a two-year tour, but frankly, I’ll be able to make it home far more often than many of our men and women in the armed forces.  So, I guess that is how we keep things in perspective.

Also, having done this once before, while I was in Pakistan for a year, I almost feel that we’re old hat at this sort of service oriented separation.  Now, I’m not saying it isn’t tough.  Of course it is tough.  But life could be worse.  And the amazing experiences we have shared as a family has far outweighed these ‘moments’.

That said, the most interesting adjustment has certainly been the time difference.  7 hours.  And once daylight savings ends in November we’ll be dealing with an 8 hour time difference.

Serena and I have always handled distance very well.  Back when we first started dating, she was living in Nashville while I was in Atlanta.  No issues with time zones there, but for a dating couple, the smallest distance can be extremely difficult.  However, during those eight to nine months (before Serena finally said “to hell with it” and moved to Atlanta) we only spent one weekend apart.

And while I was in Pakistan, which could have been an 11 hour time difference, Serena opted to stay in Belgrade with the boys, which was only a 4 hour time difference.  During that year we Skyped almost every day… we probably only missed a handful of days total.

Here in Eritrea, it’s a little more difficult.  By the time I get home from work, it’s only about 12pm back in the States, which is fine, but now that Grayson is in school, I make a point of calling after Serena picks him up from the bus stop, which isn’t until around 10:15pm my time. 

And I’ll tell you this.  I am not much of a night-owl these days and I am dreading the end of daylight savings. 

But at the very minimum, as a family, those calls are when we are able to share some time together.  At least when Grayson doesn’t have an after school activity… and I have power, the lack of which knocks out some of my services and makes staying in touch a bit more difficult.

But, when we are able to talk.  Life is good.  And it looks like I might make it home for Christmas.  So that’s good too.

All and all, life is good.  And the adventure continues!