Really Long Hiatus

I still haven't decided what to do with my blog. A quick update for now. I took and failed the Foreign Service exam. My only disappointment my for my ego. I really didn't want to work for George Bush and can't imagine how I would have pulled it off. In the end, I only wanted to pass so I could feel proud of myself for succeeding where so many others failed.

On to my next brilliant scheme. After much Internet job searching and profession researching, I chose a new profession: Nursing. Yes, I'll attempt to become an RN. Because I have no science background, it will take me three and a half years instead of two. Before entering the program, I have to take biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. And I have to self-study algebra to pass an exam at some point. I'll begin in January 2004. If I can manage the science courses in the first semester, I'll go on with my plan. If I cannot, it will be "back to the drawing board."

In the meantime, I've had three wonderful weeks in the States. First, a week's business trip and a Korean guy from another team who was just tagging along with us. We visited IBM's research journals' publication office in Yorktown Heights, NY, IEEE publications in Piscataway, NJ, ISI to let them know we really want to keep on their citation index, and IEEE-CS in Los Alimitos, CA. The trip was a break for me and my supervisor, Young, did it for me. She concatenated the business trip with my vacation and even told me that if I could find something for us to do on the west coast, we could include that leg of my journey in our business trip. I came up with IEEE-CS plus visits to USC and UCLA to try to drum up some business. Our visits to the publication offices were successful, but the university visits were a bust. We didn't care; they were just an excuse.

After I parted with the Koreans, I began my vacation with my whirlwind push through California visiting friends and family. The family visit went much better than I'd expected. Everyone behaved well. Lauren's house is marvelous and beautifully decorated. The pool and fountain are gorgeous. I only wonder if they'll maintain it all. That means will Ernie maintain it because Lauren certainly won't. Louise was in a continuous crisis - air conditioning system needed replacing and Kristi and her girls moved in. No money. Everything bad for her. I had to lend her more money and that's the money I intend to go to school on. If she fails to sell her house and repay me, there will be no going back to school and maybe no going back to the US.

After the visits, I attended my 40th high school reunion. Some disappointments but overall it was exciting to see those old classmates. Dave was not there but we met on Monday. Marv Bain laid him off after 18 years. I was so upset but Dave said it was OK and he was glad to be rid of the job. He's not in a desperate situation yet.

Then I came back to Korea a week and a half ago. Tango last night - first time in a couple of months. I was considering giving it up, but now no way.