Reading your stories is the best thing I've been able to do while recovering from my hip surgery- well, besides eating yummy chocolate chip cookies of course. Bravo, Bob. Keep them coming. And I'd love to know if Christopher's memories are similar to yours and Barbara's.
It's interesting how similar journalist assignments overseas are to military deployments. Accompanied tours to Okinawa, Japan were three years, so there were constant comings and goings. When it was our turn to "rotate" back to CONUS, we had to get the youngins prepared also.
Not much changed in my civilian assignments - when I was on Guam, one of my friends mentioned that it was like being on a cruise ship - people showed up, became friends, saw each other every weekend and sometimes during the week, then people left. Some leave and you never heard from them again, some left with lifelong friendships.
Thoroughly enjoyed the column, Bob. Found myself reading it through that hazy screen of nostalgia that shrouds the homes we've left, rebuilt elsewhere, and the ones to which we've returned, sometimes. I'm sending a hug to anyone who feels homesickness, "Heimweh", "Soledad" and all its variations.
Had a great couple of days on Penang in 1988. Great food, great sights (including a temple full of cobras) and no rain. We offered our guides, parents of a college student we knew, a meal at the restaurant of their choice. They chose Kentucky Fried Chicken, situated in an old colonial house. Fanciest KFC I’d ever seen but not my first choice for a meal anywhere!
Penang is home to one of those iconic hotels from a bygone era - the E&O. Like the Strand in Rangoon, the Raffles in Singapore, the Oriental in Bangkok....
Reading your stories is the best thing I've been able to do while recovering from my hip surgery- well, besides eating yummy chocolate chip cookies of course. Bravo, Bob. Keep them coming. And I'd love to know if Christopher's memories are similar to yours and Barbara's.
that's a good question, Sandy. and thanks for the kind words!
Ah. We had those, too. The "no family" posts were pretty popular with married guys with several kids...
It's interesting how similar journalist assignments overseas are to military deployments. Accompanied tours to Okinawa, Japan were three years, so there were constant comings and goings. When it was our turn to "rotate" back to CONUS, we had to get the youngins prepared also.
Not much changed in my civilian assignments - when I was on Guam, one of my friends mentioned that it was like being on a cruise ship - people showed up, became friends, saw each other every weekend and sometimes during the week, then people left. Some leave and you never heard from them again, some left with lifelong friendships.
Exactly the same, Dave. Except what is an "accompanied tour?" Does that mean the Marines didn't trust you to go alone?
Pretty much. Accompanied meant you could take your family and go for three years, Unaccompanied was usually one year - no family.
As is the picture of Bob in his shirt.
The picture of Christopher on the bus is priceless!
Thoroughly enjoyed the column, Bob. Found myself reading it through that hazy screen of nostalgia that shrouds the homes we've left, rebuilt elsewhere, and the ones to which we've returned, sometimes. I'm sending a hug to anyone who feels homesickness, "Heimweh", "Soledad" and all its variations.
You do not mention Wanchai in your list of desirable abodes, home to at least one of your colleagues.......
My fault, Jennifer....
Searching for somewhere safer, we left Indonesia after riots there following the Asian crisis only to end up in the U.S. for 9/11.
Is this Jeremy W.?
Did the skillet and the leather wing chair travel to HK and back home with you?
indeed they did...
Had a great couple of days on Penang in 1988. Great food, great sights (including a temple full of cobras) and no rain. We offered our guides, parents of a college student we knew, a meal at the restaurant of their choice. They chose Kentucky Fried Chicken, situated in an old colonial house. Fanciest KFC I’d ever seen but not my first choice for a meal anywhere!
Penang is home to one of those iconic hotels from a bygone era - the E&O. Like the Strand in Rangoon, the Raffles in Singapore, the Oriental in Bangkok....
I had a Singapore Sling at the Raffles and cocktails and satay on the terrace at the Oriental but couldn't afford to stay in either.
Brought back memories... Good one, Bob.
Thank you, John...
a good one!
Only if I need to get off the floor.
Thanks for reminding us what home really is. Wherever the people I love are, with or without a chair. I’ll gladly sit on the floor to be with them.
I agree, Pat, but a chair always helps...