By JohnPaul
So… our pack-out got totally screwed up today. Between me and Serena we received five confirmations about our move… or more importantly when the movers were coming. They were supposed to come today to pack the house in boxes to get it ready for the movers who are coming tomorrow. In theory, once the house is packed it should only take the movers a couple hours to load the truck. Well… I’m not sure how that is going to go since the packers didn’t end up coming today. Or at least we cancelled them when it got to 2:30pm and still no sign of them. To add insult to injury, my mom volunteered to entertain Grayson for the day so Serena and Anita could coordinate the move. So now, for tomorrow, Anita is on Grayson duty and Serena has to meet the packers at the house at 6:30am… because the movers are still scheduled to be at our house with the truck at 9am tomorrow morning. Brilliant, huh?
I did have a funny conversation with the packer today… at around 5pm, when he called me to confirm for tomorrow. He was like “they called me around noon. I was on my way to pick-up the truck and my crew around 2:30pm when they told me not to worry about it today.” He sounded very confused. I was like, “well you were supposed to be there first thing this morning. I’m not sure why you didn’t know about it until noon… since your company has been confirming with me for the last two weeks.” He didn’t seem to be very with it. But, all in all it is our fault. When we met with the VERY “with it” moving company rep for our pre-move consultation he asked us what kind of customer service needs we wanted to make sure things go well. He used examples like timeliness and movers that don’t smell… Serena and I being new to this world of having movers didn’t say anything. In hindsight, I hope the movers are lathers up with deodorant tomorrow… for Serena’s sake… since timeliness doesn’t seem to be a strong point.
Take care,
-JP
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Day 5
By JohnPaul
Whelp… today was the last day of the first week… only five more to go, maybe. The catch phase here is “Well, it depends”. As you can imagine, the world being such a big place, although there is specific training… once you get to post things can be different. Ah, the adventure!
Our pack-out is Monday, which I can only imagine will be an adventure of its own. Being that the moves couldn’t schedule us until the 28th, I have completely lucked out of having to deal with those logistics. But, Serena on the other hand? Well, I can hear the anxiety in her voice. Imagine putting everything you own into piles: Unaccompanied Air Baggage (which will meet us in DC), Temporary Storage (which will join us at our first post), and Permanent Storage (with will join us when the adventure ends… however long that is). My hats off to Serena for taking care of that for us. I can’t even imagine.
Speaking of Monday, our bid list is due on Monday. Bids are the list of possible posts in order of preference. I went ahead and turned mine in today. I feel a whole lot better getting that out of the way so I can stop obsessing about it for the weekend. Belgrade is my number one… I have been telling the others in my group (all bidding on the same locations) that if they bid Belgrade as their number one I’m going to break their legs… but being a fairly nice guy, I’ll make sure I get them to the hospital. You know? You have to keep karma balanced.
Although, the others don’t seem to be as lucky when it comes to knowing what they want. I’m a pretty decisive guy though. Tonight a group of us are all getting together to watch videos about some of the posts on our bid list. About half of my orientation class are living in the same complex, and being that I have a one bedroom apartment (the rest have studios) I have been nominated to host our little party. This is perfectly fine with me… I can just stay in my room. Which is awesome, because I am so drained… and with the hectic schedule… stress of starting something new… the anxiety of not knowing what is still to come… and not having my family here to share in the adventure (yet)… as let me to start feeling a bit run down. Today was a half day though… and I have a weekend to chill. All of us here staying at the Oakwood complex seem to be feeling the same way and plan to stick close to home… no exploring DC.
I’m hoping after this first weekend I’ll feel up to venturing out. Both sides of my extended family live in the Baltimore area and I want to get out and visit. But this whole thing is still very new. There is a lot to process. I’m looking forward to rest. Doing laundry. Getting my footing in DC. Once the first full week is under my belt, I think I’ll be ready to take on the rest of the city.
Take care everyone!
-JP
Whelp… today was the last day of the first week… only five more to go, maybe. The catch phase here is “Well, it depends”. As you can imagine, the world being such a big place, although there is specific training… once you get to post things can be different. Ah, the adventure!
Our pack-out is Monday, which I can only imagine will be an adventure of its own. Being that the moves couldn’t schedule us until the 28th, I have completely lucked out of having to deal with those logistics. But, Serena on the other hand? Well, I can hear the anxiety in her voice. Imagine putting everything you own into piles: Unaccompanied Air Baggage (which will meet us in DC), Temporary Storage (which will join us at our first post), and Permanent Storage (with will join us when the adventure ends… however long that is). My hats off to Serena for taking care of that for us. I can’t even imagine.
Speaking of Monday, our bid list is due on Monday. Bids are the list of possible posts in order of preference. I went ahead and turned mine in today. I feel a whole lot better getting that out of the way so I can stop obsessing about it for the weekend. Belgrade is my number one… I have been telling the others in my group (all bidding on the same locations) that if they bid Belgrade as their number one I’m going to break their legs… but being a fairly nice guy, I’ll make sure I get them to the hospital. You know? You have to keep karma balanced.
Although, the others don’t seem to be as lucky when it comes to knowing what they want. I’m a pretty decisive guy though. Tonight a group of us are all getting together to watch videos about some of the posts on our bid list. About half of my orientation class are living in the same complex, and being that I have a one bedroom apartment (the rest have studios) I have been nominated to host our little party. This is perfectly fine with me… I can just stay in my room. Which is awesome, because I am so drained… and with the hectic schedule… stress of starting something new… the anxiety of not knowing what is still to come… and not having my family here to share in the adventure (yet)… as let me to start feeling a bit run down. Today was a half day though… and I have a weekend to chill. All of us here staying at the Oakwood complex seem to be feeling the same way and plan to stick close to home… no exploring DC.
I’m hoping after this first weekend I’ll feel up to venturing out. Both sides of my extended family live in the Baltimore area and I want to get out and visit. But this whole thing is still very new. There is a lot to process. I’m looking forward to rest. Doing laundry. Getting my footing in DC. Once the first full week is under my belt, I think I’ll be ready to take on the rest of the city.
Take care everyone!
-JP
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Day 3
By JohnPaul
You know? Most times when I post things like this I have posters remorse. For those that know me well, I am a raw emotions kind of guy. But when I post… sometimes I feel like I have said to much, or that I come across kind of strange. But then again… that’s just me. Who I am. Brandon, thank you so much for your comments. I avoided checking my blog yesterday out of mild embarrassment. But you kind word have driven me to continue posting with my normal rawness. I hope that we stay in touch. I am just as interested with the misadventures of my friends as I am with posting the misadventures of my own life.
I have to admit… I miss Grayson a lot. Not to say that I don’t miss Serena… but as some of you know, we spent a lot of time apart when we were dating… nothing like three weeks… but being adults, we know that this separation is temporary and for the benefit of our family as a whole. But Grayson? He doesn’t really understand. The nice thing about it is the fact that he can talk on the phone these days. I’ve talked to him every day and heard him say “I miss you dada” and “Love you to dad”. It melts my heart. Yesterday, when Serena asked him if he wanted to say “hi to dada”, he took the phone and simply said “I miss you dada”. That kind of thing from a 2 year old is hard to hear. As we talked he wanted me to come home… but I told him about the new house I was setting up for him. The complex we are at has a playground and a swimming pool… and I told him that when he comes, we are going to swim all day. He started to giggle. Of course, I can’t see what is going on on the other end of the phone, but Serena told me after that Grayson was about to “break down” until I started talking about the swimming pool and playground. I miss him more than anything. Today he took the phone to tell me all about how his went to Chuck E. Cheese. It was a great story… you should have been there.
I know this transition is hard. I know that this new life style is going to be a hard one for Gray to adjust too… but I truly feel that we are doing the right thing. Having spent over 25 years out of my 30 in the same place, I feel honored and fortunate that I will be able to raise my son in a global environment. The world seems like a big scary place sometimes… but as technology becomes more advanced, the world is becoming a much smaller place. This transition might be hard… but in the end it will be great. Great for Grayson. I am excited to see the kind of man he becomes.
Don’t get me wrong though. I love my home. My home will always be Cobb. A place that has given me so much. This change was not an escape… but an opportunity. An opportunity that I would not have had if it wasn’t for where I came from and the sacrifices my family made more me. Those things I will always recognize… and my home I will always miss. But, an adventure I have always craved. And that is when we now have.
-JP
PS: Belgrade, Serbia is our number one choice… say prayers or send out good thoughts… whatever you are into.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Day 1
By JohnPaul
Greetings from Washington, DC! Or as I like to call it… Yuengling Country! That’s right. For those of you than know my taste in adult beverages… it is plentiful here. If I hadn’t been in orientation all day I would think that I am on vacation.
For those former colleges of mine from Cobb out there… if though thought our one day orientation was rough… try three weeks. Lol. It’s not that bad though. It is all very informative… stuff we need to know. But sitting in one place for a long period of time can be hard. Especially for me.
Today I got my list… that would be my list of possible posts… forgive me for not posting them here, I am not sure of protocol… so I would prefer not to post publically. If you would like to know the options, please email me.
The whole experience today has been pretty surreal. Am I really doing this? Most of the orientation class (around 60 people) is former military. Just about as many have overseas experience… and who am I? A theatre guy with an attitude. Many times today I had these “pinch me” moments. Am I really doing this? Is it real? Am I really on this bizarre vacation and at the end of the week will I be back at the Mable House? Don’t get me wrong… the Foreign Service is what I want. More than anything. I am just dumbfounded that I am here.
I’ve been making friends though. The other 12 OMS (office management specialist) are great. We come from all different back grounds… and you would all be proud. When we had to introduce ourselves, with our group of OMS, to our Career Development Offices I said: “May name is JohnPaul Schutz, I have worked the last seven years in arts management, I married a former peace-corp volunteer, and I am here because of a ‘what the hell moment’”. And what a moment it has turned out to be. No stone unturned, right? You never know unless you try. And as the days go by I am sure the feelings I have will subside.
It is amazing how powerful the entire experience is. First thing this morning we were sworn in. It was actually surprisingly emotional. I have never sworn an oath to my country more than the obligatory morning pledge in public school. But for some reason, taking the oath today, I felt empowered. It is a very different life that I am about to embark on. What got me even more is when an Ambassador addressed us this afternoon stating that we are all there for a reason… that we poses the skills that the country needs. That for each of us in the room there are countless people who want our seats… he went on to recognize the fact that when he joined the foreign service twenty-plus years ago that the world was a different place… yet in all that is going on in the world… we were willing to step up to the plate and serve.
For those of you that know me well… pats on the back are not exactly what I need… it’s nice… but they are not something that keeps me going… and furthermore… I was not expecting the amount of pride that I feel when presented with the fact that I am serving our country.
It’s a scary world out there… I know that. But, this is where I am supposed to be. It is a crazy feeling.
-JP
Greetings from Washington, DC! Or as I like to call it… Yuengling Country! That’s right. For those of you than know my taste in adult beverages… it is plentiful here. If I hadn’t been in orientation all day I would think that I am on vacation.
For those former colleges of mine from Cobb out there… if though thought our one day orientation was rough… try three weeks. Lol. It’s not that bad though. It is all very informative… stuff we need to know. But sitting in one place for a long period of time can be hard. Especially for me.
Today I got my list… that would be my list of possible posts… forgive me for not posting them here, I am not sure of protocol… so I would prefer not to post publically. If you would like to know the options, please email me.
The whole experience today has been pretty surreal. Am I really doing this? Most of the orientation class (around 60 people) is former military. Just about as many have overseas experience… and who am I? A theatre guy with an attitude. Many times today I had these “pinch me” moments. Am I really doing this? Is it real? Am I really on this bizarre vacation and at the end of the week will I be back at the Mable House? Don’t get me wrong… the Foreign Service is what I want. More than anything. I am just dumbfounded that I am here.
I’ve been making friends though. The other 12 OMS (office management specialist) are great. We come from all different back grounds… and you would all be proud. When we had to introduce ourselves, with our group of OMS, to our Career Development Offices I said: “May name is JohnPaul Schutz, I have worked the last seven years in arts management, I married a former peace-corp volunteer, and I am here because of a ‘what the hell moment’”. And what a moment it has turned out to be. No stone unturned, right? You never know unless you try. And as the days go by I am sure the feelings I have will subside.
It is amazing how powerful the entire experience is. First thing this morning we were sworn in. It was actually surprisingly emotional. I have never sworn an oath to my country more than the obligatory morning pledge in public school. But for some reason, taking the oath today, I felt empowered. It is a very different life that I am about to embark on. What got me even more is when an Ambassador addressed us this afternoon stating that we are all there for a reason… that we poses the skills that the country needs. That for each of us in the room there are countless people who want our seats… he went on to recognize the fact that when he joined the foreign service twenty-plus years ago that the world was a different place… yet in all that is going on in the world… we were willing to step up to the plate and serve.
For those of you that know me well… pats on the back are not exactly what I need… it’s nice… but they are not something that keeps me going… and furthermore… I was not expecting the amount of pride that I feel when presented with the fact that I am serving our country.
It’s a scary world out there… I know that. But, this is where I am supposed to be. It is a crazy feeling.
-JP
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Schutz Happens 101
By JohnPaul
Greetings everyone and welcome to Schutz Happens. As appropriate or inappropriate as the name may sound, I feel that it is a fitting title to place upon our new life... and blog. I have to admit that I have always wanted to start a blog and no matter how many times I actually started one I always came to the conclusion that I didn’t have anything interesting to talk about. Now, on the eve of what will be my last day on my job with the Cobb County Cultural Affairs Division, I realize, looking back, that I actually had a fair amount of interesting things going on… that I could have shared. Thankfully for those parties involved in my “grooming” for the last seven years I hadn’t discovered the bliss of aimless meanderings presented in blog form until now. So, yes, for some of you this post is a “hello”, but for many of you, it is a heartfelt “goodbye” and this blog is a way to stay in touch with the travels of the Schutz Family. To those involved with the before mentioned “grooming” (you know who you are), I tip my hat to you and I will mention that it is all your fault that I am leaving (just kidding)… you shouldn’t have done such a fine job. Seriously, I owe this next and wonderful chapter of my family’s life to the faith and freedom you have given me in both my professional and personal life.
And to those I leave behind at the Mable House and The Theatre Project, although I may be taking my final bow, I am profoundly changed by having the chance to work so closely with all of you and I look forward to hearing updates often.
This night is rather surreal. I have (I can use the present tense because it’s not over yet) a great job working for the county that I have been the resident of for my entire life… and now I am leaving. It is a little strange. Especially when you think that just three weeks ago I found out that I had been accepted into the US Foreign Service. Even more shocking is the fact that I was only given four weeks to pack up my entire life and leave for good. Tomorrow marks my last day with
All I know is that my name is JohnPaul Schutz and I am an Office Management Specialst for the US Foreign Service… and I should find out where I am going in about four weeks. And then three weeks later I will be on the first plane headed in that direction… theoretically.
Thankfully I am not taking this journey alone. I will be trudging into this new life hand in hand with my returned Peace Corp volunteer wife, Serena, my two and a half year old amateur gymnast son, Grayson, and my “Oh My God, I should have stayed in
Anyway, I have been hogging the spotlight for a while… which I am know to do. I studied theatre for the love of God, it is bound to happen from time to time. But, in this blog you will hear from the whole family… primarily me and Serena… but you might heear from Gray and Anita as well… depending on how well their computer skills improve on our travels.
Our purpose is to keep our friends and families informed. And share our experience with others who might be interested in serving their country as a Specialist in the US Foreign Service.
Take care everyone!
-JP
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