Sunday, September 2, 2012

Getting Settled


 Have you heard the term "Must have taken the slow boat to China?"  Well, that must have been how Kevin felt waiting on his household goods to arrive in Korea.  After almost an entire month, he was finally reunited with his stuff and could get some resemblance of a home in order.  He had been surviving on what he could fit in his duffel bag and large Army bag which consisted mainly of his uniforms and some civilian clothes.  I always admire how he can do without the creature comforts!  Both Kevin and G.I. Stanley were so happy when his whole baggage arrived!

We'll use this opportunity to show you around Kevin's new digs in Korea!  There are lots of people who take their families to Korea and live in homes much like you would see in the U.S.  But since he is there alone, he got assigned a barracks room.  Kind of like a college dorm room and he has lots of space as you will see in the pictures below!

Before we start unpacking, we better get a healthy breakfast in!  We'll enjoy the milk on our cereal and not talk about how expensive it is here in Korea!
Doesn't look like much, does it?  "Are you sure we have everything we need to survive for a year over here?", says G.I. Stanley!


Kevin has four closets in his room!  This may be the most closet space he's had in his entire life!

In one closet goes all of the uniforms and boots, except for PT's.  G.I. Stanley says, "I might need to get myself updated with the new camouflage!"


How many uniforms does one person need?






This is where we can study and eat and whatever else we need to do.  You can see the other two rooms behind me.  Very nice upgrade from the last time the Albrecht's were in Korea in 1997-1999.
G.I. Stanley!  I thought you were helping me get everything put away!  What are you watching on TV?
Well it does look like a comfortable living room.
The kitchen.  I guess we'll be doing a lot of cooking in the microwave!  What's that bike doing there?
We did some grocery shopping today and stocked the fridge and cupboards.  Funny, with how much we spent on groceries, you would have thought we had more to put away!
It's been really warm here in Korea, I'll hang out in the freezer!
This bedroom looks nice.  This blanket is so comfortable...I think I'll just rest my eyes a bit.  I'll wait here until you get back from your adventure walking around the camp!
The bathroom is pretty significant.  When the Albrecht's first got to Korea in 1997, both Kevin and Nadine lived in barracks.  While Kevin got his own room, he did not have his own bathroom.  In the barracks they lived in, they  had community bathrooms and showers.  This is quite the luxury!  Most Soldiers now have their own bathrooms and if they have to share, it's usually with one other Soldier, not a whole floor of Soldiers like before.

2nd Infantry Division Headquarters,  Freeman Hall.
The next three pictures all go together.

  
 
A taste of home downtown by Nogyang station.

This tastes like a Sprite float
Koreans love baseball!
After walking around downtown, Kevin sure was hungry.  Good thing he made plenty for both of us!
Since Kevin made dinner, I made sure to help out with dishes
We hope you enjoyed our first little tour of Korea!  


Until Next Time!
안녕히가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

G.I. Stanley goes to Korea!

G.I. Stanley and Kevin outside of their room on Camp Red Cloud
 One of the reason we resurrected this blog is because G.I. Stanley and his good buddy Kevin recently headed off on a one year unaccompanied assignment to Korea while the rest of The Albrecht Squad stayed behind in MO.  Just like before we wanted to make sure to share the experience with many of our friends and so we will chronicle the adventures of G.I. Stanley in the "Land of the Morning Calm".  We hope you'll join us on this wonderful adventure.
In the picture above G.I. Stanley shows the incoming rain they were receiving from Typhoon Bolaven.  On the camp that they reside they got some wind and lots of rain and thankfully no real damage.  Other areas of South Korea weren't so lucky.  We are glad that G.I. Stanley and Kevin and the many other Troops in Korea are safe!

Until Next Time!
안녕히가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo)

Hello Again from Fort Leonard Wood!

It has been a while since we've checked in with G.I. Stanley.  After he returned from Iraq in June 2009, he PCS'd with the Albrecht Family to Fort Leonard Woo, MO.  The following three years were pretty low key for G.I. Stanley and the Albrecht's as they got settled and enjoyed a break from deployments and separation.

Here's just a glimpse at what life at Fort Leonard Wood is like.  G.I. Stanley was visited by a friend from California and so this tour is courtesy of her!
At our Shoppette which off post is called a gas station or convenience store.

Our movie theater on post

Always people working out on post, these are some of the trainees doing their physical training.

Our wonderful USO where Soldiers can go hang out and relax.  It's also one of our favorite places to volunteer as a Family!


Nutter Field House.  There are lots of events that go on here.  Everything from vendor events to military balls to graduations and homecomings!


Soldier's Chapel.  I love that nearly every installation we have ever lived on has had a Soldier's chapel on it.

Everyone starts their time at FLW here (well not the trainees but everyone else). 

The Post Exchange where we can shop tax-fee.  It's like a Walmart/Kmart.

Wonderful place where Soldiers and their Families can get information on the many Family Programs that are available free of charge to them.  Nadine spends a lot of time in this building volunteering.

Our grocery store!


We train a lot of transportation personnel here at FLW, it's kind of daunting sometimes driving behind big trucks that have signs that say "Student Driver"!


Like most Military installations, we have a Post Cemetery as well.  We find it very important to go and visit those who have walked this journey before us and to honor them.
 
Gammon Field is the main field where lots of Military graduations and parades are held.  It's always excited to see such tradition in place!
 
There's always someone working out at FLW with all the training going on.  There are exercise areas all over post, this is just one of them.

Sometimes you need a "Battle Buddy"!

This stand is where Drill Sergeants give instructions to the many trainees on how to properly do Physical Training


We have a beautiful Memorial Park where we can pay tribute to the many Engineer, Military Police and Chemical Troops who have served and will serve.


We are a proud Chemical Family and had to show off our motto!
 

Very cool World War II museum, this is what an old Orderly room looked like where Soldiers would go to get their personnel stuff done.

This is what an old supply room looked like.  We still have supply rooms but they look a bit different.



Barracks are like dorm rooms for our Soldiers


Barracks look different now too.  But they still have beds and someplace to store their items.  For most Soldiers these days, they haven't even seen a footlocker.

Mess Halls or now called Dining Facilities.  It's where are Soldier go to get good grub!