I don't know about you, but I am a planner. I would have my whole life planned out by now if it weren't for the Air Force constantly changing things on me. For someone who has control issues (ahem...me), it makes for a difficult existence every two to three years.
Korea? Wasn't even on the radar. Colorado, Germany, staying here...those were the places and decisions I was comfortable with and felt like I had a mini plan for. But, Korea? That's a whole new ballgame.
We've been lucky that Joel's job came with command sponsorship for me. For all the non military folks, that basically means that I'd get to go with. For a lot of people, Korea is a "remote" assignment, meaning the service member goes alone for a year. With family, at least for the AF, it's two years.
I have never not worked. Ever. I landed my first job at the right old age of 14, and have worked ever since. Looking at working at Osan, it appears that I'll be mostly limited to food service or child care, neither of which I'd particularly enjoy. I went to college for seven years precisely to have more opportunities than that. I've applied for a few jobs at the Army post an hour away, and am still waiting to hear anything back.
So, I've come to a fork. Joel going by himself? Not an option for me, if I can avoid it. We have spent far too much time apart already due to deployments and TDYs. To choose to stay apart for a year? Out of the question.
But, I discovered something interesting, lately. There's a whole network of spouses that just move to Korea on their own. They have fewer resources from the base, but at the same time, are still allowed a free Visa to live there, get to live off base, and can still use most base facilities. And, the service member only has to serve one year, vice the two.
I'd get to live in Korea (versus on base), I'd only be out of a job only one year, and I'd get to be with my husband? Sounds like a viable option, but the problem is, I don't know which is better? Which should I choose? I've never been to Korea, so it's hard to plan for a "this or that" scenario.
Why must the military stress me out so much? Any advice? I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me what to do, but in the meantime, I think I am going to just pray about it. Let go, and let God...
4 comments:
That is a doozy!! I will definitely say some prayers that the right answer presents itself. My two cents would be to do it the military way just so you have his sponsorship and the military backing. If it was a European country I would suggest the opposite but with all the unknowns of Korea, I would play it safe.
I am also a planner and boy does the Army test my patience sometimes! It's crazy!
Does he have to live on base? Because, really, you could take a year (or the two) off and just enjoy Asia. I did that the first year we were in Alaska.
Holy cow! You certainly have some decisions to make, and I wish you the very best! Would you both live separately, but in Korea? Or could he live off-base, too? I suppose that would be the deciding factor for me?
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