One More First Impression
Travelling to a new place is always a bit daunting. I've always had what I call the "New kid in school" syndrome when I have to go somewhere new, especially when the new place happens to actually be school. (My leadership courses, for example.) Multiply that feeling time infinity when I'm looking at the prospect of living in a whole new country...alone...for a year.
I've done it a dozen times. It's all part of the life of being a Soldier. Yet, every time...that nervous feeling of not fitting in, or not making friends finds it's way to the pit of my stomach.
Korea was no exception. As I said before...the day of the big move kind of snuck up on me. I guess it didn't get real until I was on the plane and waving goodbye to my friends, my family, and my country. I had a lot of time to think about it...and wonder what it would be like. I think the feeling was the worst once I landed at Incheon Airport.
There I was...the new kid...just getting off the bus, bag in hand...staring wide eyed at my new school. Everyone else seemed to know exactly what to do. Everyone else seemed to know exactly where to go. Everyone else seemed to have someone else with them! So, despite my nerves and uncertainy, I did what any good Soldier would do in this situation.
I followed the crowd like a sheep.
And it worked. My first impression of Korea was NOT what I was expecting. I was told that the country would stink. It did not. I was told that it was dirty. Incheon Airport was cleaner than many American medical facilities I've visited. I was told that the people are pushy and rude. Again...very wrong.
I followed the crowd, and made it to the customs and immigration stations. I must have looked completely lost, because every Airport employee I ran across jumped at the opportunity to show me where to go. And, they did it with a smile. Neither rude, nor pushy.
And that's how it was for the whole first week. Every Korean person I met was one of the most kind and genuine people I had come across. They were all very friendly and seemed happy to be hosting me, and the twenty eight thousand other US Troops that were here. All in all, I would say that it was a great first impression.
Then it was time to come down to Camp Humphreys.
It began on Thursday, actually...the day before I was to leave for Humphreys. This is when I met the liason for my gaining unit.
Let's call her....Bubbles.
I've got a few pet peeves in life. Who doesn't, right? Well, mine include (but are not limited to) people who wear sunglasses indoors, girls who make the duck face in their Facebook Pictures (or any picture for that matter), Lady Gaga, and people who have no clue what they are doing when it comes to their jobs....especially if thier job affects someone else's life.
So, I was trying to get answers as to where which unit I was being assigned to, when we were actually leaving, and did the paper work for my lodging expenses get taken care of before I leave. The response I got to each one of these questions was basically the same.
Bubbles would stare at me just to the point of it being annoying, then she would make a noise that sounded almost like she was trying to form a complete thought, followed by an awkward giggle and batting of the eyes...then the answer, "Um, I don't really know. Let me go check."
Pause for dramatic effect...and to allow my blood pressure to go back down...
"Yes, Please check, because we are leaving tomorrow...and I need to know who to contact once I get to Camp Humphreys...assuming I get on the right bus since you also have no clue which one that is either. While you're checking on that...please make sure to check on the lodging paperwork too. I have to check out of the hotel in the morning and I can't do that without the paperwork."
Stare...just to the point of annoying...strange thought-like noise....awkward giggle....batting of the eyes...and then, "Ok." She walked away...but, then...three steps later, turned back around. "Um, What's your name again?"
"SFC Newman. It's spelled the same as it is on my uniform," I said...pointing to my name tape.
"Oh, yeah,"....annoying giggle.
Well, despite all of Bubbles' attempts to cause a corinary infarction, I survived (and so did she). I checked out of the hotel and got on the right bus, and even made it to Camp Humphreys with a point of contact's name and number! So it was a minor speed bump on this journey of a year...that's all.
There were about fifteen of us on the bus to Camp Humphreys. Most of us had never been to Korea before. For many of them, this was their first assignment in the Army. I was the senior NCO on the bus...so, I made it a priority to ensure that everyone else was taken care of as we headed out. One of the things I like the most about what I do...about being a Soldier...is that we take care of our own. So I take pride in taking care of young Soldiers and making sure their first experiences away from home are as easy as I can make them. I want their first impression of their first duty assignment to be a good one.
We arrived at Humphreys and my sponsor was waiting for me. Good sign. I made sure all the other Soldiers from the bus were in touch with their sponsors and that they had rides to their units, and then I headed out with SFC Gamble (my sponsor) to my unit.
It was nearly 7:30 by the time I had checked into yet another hotel, and then headed back out to go to my unit to meet the First Sergeant. It was Friday night, so we were sure he was on his way out for the day. It was going to be a quick introduction....and then I'd start getting all in-processed and settled in come Monday. It was sometime durring this first conversation with SFC Gamble that found out he works night shift. He starts work at midnight and works until roughly 8:00 A.M.
And he's my sponsor. He's suppposed to show me around post and help me get settled in? I felt awful! How can they do that to this poor Soldier? He didn't seem to mind, though...
Off to meet First Sergeant, then.
Sure enough, the First Sergeant was just finishing up his work when we walked in. He seemed friendly enough...told me to relax and take a seat. We talked for a few minutes...I told him where I was coming from...and a little bit of my background. He told me that they planned on making me one of the Platoon Sergeants for the Company. This was good news, because that's exactly what I wanted. He also made one other thing very clear. He repeated it four times in the ten minutes we spoke. I guess wanted to make sure I understood. FOUR times in our ten minute conversation he said...
"Jesus, you're a big son of a bitch."
I guess I made quite a first impression on him.
So I relaxed in the hotel for the weekend. I walked around the post a little...got a little lost....but then found my way back. It was a decent weekend. In my meeting with the First Sergeant, Iwas told that there would be a recall formation on Sunday morning to kick off a two week exercise that was going on across the whole peninsula. First Sergeant told me he wanted me there...that I would sign in, show my face...and be done. He said to be ready around 6 A.M.
I woke up at 6. By 6:35, there was no call. I then assumed that they decided to just leave me out of this one...so I allowed myself to doze off once again. I woke up again, at 7:20. The phone was ringing.
"SFC Newman?" a rather nervous sounding voice asked on the other end.
"Yeah," I answered, evident that I had only mere moments ago been sound asleep.
"Uh...we're...um...there's a recall going on..." he stammered.
"Yeah," said again...although in my head I answered with a much more coherent response.
"They want you here. Um. Someone will be there soon to pick you up. Uh...I'm...I'm sorry I woke up," he mumbled.
"It's ok. I had to get up and answer the phone anyway," I told him.
So...I got dressed, again. And went downstairs to meet SFC Gamble. It was cold outside, and rainy. But, I was just going to sign in and show my face...then I'd be done. So, I decided to forego my coat since in my brief visit with the First Sergeant I discovered that most buildings on Camp Humphreys can double as convection ovens.
We arrived at the company to find a well formed gaggle of Soldiers standing around in various areas talking and smoking and well...just waiting. They all had their gear on...helmets, body armor, M16s...It ws great! I love being around Soldiers!
We went inside and found the sign in sheet. I signed it...and showed my face. I met all the people I would be working with. I was ready to head back to the hotel and rest up (remember...at this point I am still suffering from some serious jet lag...and in Soldier years I'm getting really old).
Well, it was just when I was ready to go back, when they called for a formation...outside...in the cold rain.
We stood in that formation for about twenty minutes...and no one really said anything. We were informed that the First Sergeant and the Company Commander were "still in a meeting with the Sergeant Major and Batallion Commander." My question: Then why are we standing in the rain if we know they aren't ready to talk to us?
No one seemed to know.
A sudden flash of brilliance struck the Sergeant leading the formation. "Why don't we go inside until they're ready?" he asked. The man was a genius. So we went back into the furnace for another twenty minutes, then they called us back outside to formation.
This time the First Sergeant and Commander were there. I was glad, too...because almost instantly this time, I lost feeling in my ears. For twenty seven minutes, the Commander and First Sergeant took turns telling us that the uniform for the durration of the exercise was ACU's...with patrol cap intead of barret, and have our gear on standby. That was it!
Oh...wait...I'm mistaken there was something else. The Batallion XO had to take a group picture of everyone in their gear. In the rain. But not just one picture...he had to take a couple...and then he said..."Everyone POSE!"
WHAT!?!?
After that formation I was MORE than happy to get back to the room and chill out...well, warm up, then chill out. Monday morning, I was going to get my permanent quarters and then start getting into a routine at work.
My first impression of my new unit was not as shining as my first impression of this lovely country.
Monday came...and Gamble came to pick me up. He took me to the housing office and I was given my key to my new digs! I was excited because I hate living out of a duffel bag.
That was Monday. For the most part...no one contacts me. I was told to take the next couple of weeks while everone is focused on the exercise to settle in.
But...I don't know where anything is. I don't know what I need to do to be ready to work when the exercise is over! It's to the point where I feel like I'm doing something wrong because I am so isolated! This can't be right...can it? I'm so worried about first impressions right now...I don't want THEIR impression to be that I'm slacking off...or hiding out. I didn't come half way around the world to sit in my room for a year...I promise.
I ended up finding some of the places to in-process on my own. I think I'm going to take Gamble's advice and fly under the radar this week and next. I've been in touch wiht him every day...and I'll arrange to meet with the Soldier I'm replacing so that I don't go in completely blind when the exercise is over.
That being said...I arrived under unusuall circumstances. This isn't how the unit normally operates and I'm the one that bennefits from it in the form of a very low key adjustment period. I'll chalk it up to that, and after the exercise I'll go in to the unit with an open mind...and they can make one more first impression.
SFC Newman
Out
I've done it a dozen times. It's all part of the life of being a Soldier. Yet, every time...that nervous feeling of not fitting in, or not making friends finds it's way to the pit of my stomach.
Korea was no exception. As I said before...the day of the big move kind of snuck up on me. I guess it didn't get real until I was on the plane and waving goodbye to my friends, my family, and my country. I had a lot of time to think about it...and wonder what it would be like. I think the feeling was the worst once I landed at Incheon Airport.
There I was...the new kid...just getting off the bus, bag in hand...staring wide eyed at my new school. Everyone else seemed to know exactly what to do. Everyone else seemed to know exactly where to go. Everyone else seemed to have someone else with them! So, despite my nerves and uncertainy, I did what any good Soldier would do in this situation.
I followed the crowd like a sheep.
And it worked. My first impression of Korea was NOT what I was expecting. I was told that the country would stink. It did not. I was told that it was dirty. Incheon Airport was cleaner than many American medical facilities I've visited. I was told that the people are pushy and rude. Again...very wrong.
I followed the crowd, and made it to the customs and immigration stations. I must have looked completely lost, because every Airport employee I ran across jumped at the opportunity to show me where to go. And, they did it with a smile. Neither rude, nor pushy.
And that's how it was for the whole first week. Every Korean person I met was one of the most kind and genuine people I had come across. They were all very friendly and seemed happy to be hosting me, and the twenty eight thousand other US Troops that were here. All in all, I would say that it was a great first impression.
Then it was time to come down to Camp Humphreys.
It began on Thursday, actually...the day before I was to leave for Humphreys. This is when I met the liason for my gaining unit.
Let's call her....Bubbles.
I've got a few pet peeves in life. Who doesn't, right? Well, mine include (but are not limited to) people who wear sunglasses indoors, girls who make the duck face in their Facebook Pictures (or any picture for that matter), Lady Gaga, and people who have no clue what they are doing when it comes to their jobs....especially if thier job affects someone else's life.
So, I was trying to get answers as to where which unit I was being assigned to, when we were actually leaving, and did the paper work for my lodging expenses get taken care of before I leave. The response I got to each one of these questions was basically the same.
Bubbles would stare at me just to the point of it being annoying, then she would make a noise that sounded almost like she was trying to form a complete thought, followed by an awkward giggle and batting of the eyes...then the answer, "Um, I don't really know. Let me go check."
Pause for dramatic effect...and to allow my blood pressure to go back down...
"Yes, Please check, because we are leaving tomorrow...and I need to know who to contact once I get to Camp Humphreys...assuming I get on the right bus since you also have no clue which one that is either. While you're checking on that...please make sure to check on the lodging paperwork too. I have to check out of the hotel in the morning and I can't do that without the paperwork."
Stare...just to the point of annoying...strange thought-like noise....awkward giggle....batting of the eyes...and then, "Ok." She walked away...but, then...three steps later, turned back around. "Um, What's your name again?"
"SFC Newman. It's spelled the same as it is on my uniform," I said...pointing to my name tape.
"Oh, yeah,"....annoying giggle.
Well, despite all of Bubbles' attempts to cause a corinary infarction, I survived (and so did she). I checked out of the hotel and got on the right bus, and even made it to Camp Humphreys with a point of contact's name and number! So it was a minor speed bump on this journey of a year...that's all.
There were about fifteen of us on the bus to Camp Humphreys. Most of us had never been to Korea before. For many of them, this was their first assignment in the Army. I was the senior NCO on the bus...so, I made it a priority to ensure that everyone else was taken care of as we headed out. One of the things I like the most about what I do...about being a Soldier...is that we take care of our own. So I take pride in taking care of young Soldiers and making sure their first experiences away from home are as easy as I can make them. I want their first impression of their first duty assignment to be a good one.
We arrived at Humphreys and my sponsor was waiting for me. Good sign. I made sure all the other Soldiers from the bus were in touch with their sponsors and that they had rides to their units, and then I headed out with SFC Gamble (my sponsor) to my unit.
It was nearly 7:30 by the time I had checked into yet another hotel, and then headed back out to go to my unit to meet the First Sergeant. It was Friday night, so we were sure he was on his way out for the day. It was going to be a quick introduction....and then I'd start getting all in-processed and settled in come Monday. It was sometime durring this first conversation with SFC Gamble that found out he works night shift. He starts work at midnight and works until roughly 8:00 A.M.
And he's my sponsor. He's suppposed to show me around post and help me get settled in? I felt awful! How can they do that to this poor Soldier? He didn't seem to mind, though...
Off to meet First Sergeant, then.
Sure enough, the First Sergeant was just finishing up his work when we walked in. He seemed friendly enough...told me to relax and take a seat. We talked for a few minutes...I told him where I was coming from...and a little bit of my background. He told me that they planned on making me one of the Platoon Sergeants for the Company. This was good news, because that's exactly what I wanted. He also made one other thing very clear. He repeated it four times in the ten minutes we spoke. I guess wanted to make sure I understood. FOUR times in our ten minute conversation he said...
"Jesus, you're a big son of a bitch."
I guess I made quite a first impression on him.
So I relaxed in the hotel for the weekend. I walked around the post a little...got a little lost....but then found my way back. It was a decent weekend. In my meeting with the First Sergeant, Iwas told that there would be a recall formation on Sunday morning to kick off a two week exercise that was going on across the whole peninsula. First Sergeant told me he wanted me there...that I would sign in, show my face...and be done. He said to be ready around 6 A.M.
I woke up at 6. By 6:35, there was no call. I then assumed that they decided to just leave me out of this one...so I allowed myself to doze off once again. I woke up again, at 7:20. The phone was ringing.
"SFC Newman?" a rather nervous sounding voice asked on the other end.
"Yeah," I answered, evident that I had only mere moments ago been sound asleep.
"Uh...we're...um...there's a recall going on..." he stammered.
"Yeah," said again...although in my head I answered with a much more coherent response.
"They want you here. Um. Someone will be there soon to pick you up. Uh...I'm...I'm sorry I woke up," he mumbled.
"It's ok. I had to get up and answer the phone anyway," I told him.
So...I got dressed, again. And went downstairs to meet SFC Gamble. It was cold outside, and rainy. But, I was just going to sign in and show my face...then I'd be done. So, I decided to forego my coat since in my brief visit with the First Sergeant I discovered that most buildings on Camp Humphreys can double as convection ovens.
We arrived at the company to find a well formed gaggle of Soldiers standing around in various areas talking and smoking and well...just waiting. They all had their gear on...helmets, body armor, M16s...It ws great! I love being around Soldiers!
We went inside and found the sign in sheet. I signed it...and showed my face. I met all the people I would be working with. I was ready to head back to the hotel and rest up (remember...at this point I am still suffering from some serious jet lag...and in Soldier years I'm getting really old).
Well, it was just when I was ready to go back, when they called for a formation...outside...in the cold rain.
We stood in that formation for about twenty minutes...and no one really said anything. We were informed that the First Sergeant and the Company Commander were "still in a meeting with the Sergeant Major and Batallion Commander." My question: Then why are we standing in the rain if we know they aren't ready to talk to us?
No one seemed to know.
A sudden flash of brilliance struck the Sergeant leading the formation. "Why don't we go inside until they're ready?" he asked. The man was a genius. So we went back into the furnace for another twenty minutes, then they called us back outside to formation.
This time the First Sergeant and Commander were there. I was glad, too...because almost instantly this time, I lost feeling in my ears. For twenty seven minutes, the Commander and First Sergeant took turns telling us that the uniform for the durration of the exercise was ACU's...with patrol cap intead of barret, and have our gear on standby. That was it!
Oh...wait...I'm mistaken there was something else. The Batallion XO had to take a group picture of everyone in their gear. In the rain. But not just one picture...he had to take a couple...and then he said..."Everyone POSE!"
WHAT!?!?
After that formation I was MORE than happy to get back to the room and chill out...well, warm up, then chill out. Monday morning, I was going to get my permanent quarters and then start getting into a routine at work.
My first impression of my new unit was not as shining as my first impression of this lovely country.
Monday came...and Gamble came to pick me up. He took me to the housing office and I was given my key to my new digs! I was excited because I hate living out of a duffel bag.
That was Monday. For the most part...no one contacts me. I was told to take the next couple of weeks while everone is focused on the exercise to settle in.
But...I don't know where anything is. I don't know what I need to do to be ready to work when the exercise is over! It's to the point where I feel like I'm doing something wrong because I am so isolated! This can't be right...can it? I'm so worried about first impressions right now...I don't want THEIR impression to be that I'm slacking off...or hiding out. I didn't come half way around the world to sit in my room for a year...I promise.
I ended up finding some of the places to in-process on my own. I think I'm going to take Gamble's advice and fly under the radar this week and next. I've been in touch wiht him every day...and I'll arrange to meet with the Soldier I'm replacing so that I don't go in completely blind when the exercise is over.
That being said...I arrived under unusuall circumstances. This isn't how the unit normally operates and I'm the one that bennefits from it in the form of a very low key adjustment period. I'll chalk it up to that, and after the exercise I'll go in to the unit with an open mind...and they can make one more first impression.
SFC Newman
Out
posted by Unknown at 5:19 AM
2 Comments:
"Jesus you're a big son of a bitch" lol you'll do just fine just don't get stuffed in your locker
Um, my nickname in college, well, one of them, was Bubbles. Thought that would make you chuckle.
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