My Journey to Korea...

began on 6 March 2008 when I boarded a plane leaving Sky Harbor in Phoenix en route to San Francisco. That was a very difficult time for me leaving my beautiful wife, Leslie, but we have a plan for her to come in June-July. From there I would fly to Seoul, Korea. It was a very interesting flight. We flew up the coast of California through Oregon continuing through Alaska and down around the coast of Siberia through the Sea of Japan and into Korea. Its funny, my first inclination was Seoul looked similiar to Pittsburgh, Pa minus all the neon lighting. After my arrival in Seoul, it was just about a one hour & forty minute drive to Osan AFB (south of Seoul). The flight was about 12 hours from San Fran but was not bad at all. I watched movies like: No Country for old Men, Elizabeth: The Golden Age & Lions for Lambs(which was a very sad case of left coast propaganda). It seemed like they were feeding us every two hours. Those flight attendants really earned their money.
It is now Saturday afternoon and I am watching basketball that is being broadcasted on ESPN at 1025 pm Arizona time. I wonder how long it will take me to adjust to the time difference. The base is a really neat place. I arrived at Osan around 935 pm and had some friends waiting to meet me. I don't have a dorm room yet, but stayed in Adams (my buddy from Luke) room while he stayed with his wife. I woke up to a nice 40 degree day(Korea is on the parallel as Pennsylvania, so the humidity makes feel like an Arizona 55 degrees) and ventured out only to find a Starbucks close by. I am not a fan of the Starbucks coffee, but figured anything will do right now. I also found it peculiar that a place named Rickenbacker's(small little deli selling donuts and fruit) has Cheesecake Factory products available for purchase. What? Even in South Korea you can get Starbucks and Cheesecake Factory.
There is also a place in the same building that has slot machines to play, a sports bar to attend, and two night clubs. Not to mention a barber shop and a little mini-mart. I also had the chance to visit our local BX with a mall close by with many amenities including Subway, Taco bell, Charley's, a seafood shop and many small clothing stores. Like I said earlier, I thought this place looked like Pittsburgh, but never thought it could have as much as it does. All they need here is a Primanti Brothers and I would be really confused. We also have a Chili's, but I have eaten there too much already in Phoenix. I am really excited to get off base to see the shopping and the native city. My next story I will include some pictures for everybody to see. Until then, everybody take care.