For those of you who haven’t met me, I spent nearly 8 years in the United States Navy (for more material, read the first blog). The military provided me with wonderful experiences—some good and some bad. It also provided a very cool opportunity to travel. Now of course it’s not the most recommended method of seeing the world if all you want to do is travel, but while serving the country, it proves to be a good perk. I’ve been to many countries most people here in the U.S. would never travel to. On the flip side, I’ve also visited some rather touristy destinations.
I’ve been to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia – three times at least. I’ve also been to Mazatlan (only once *sigh*) courtesy of the floating city named the U.S.S. Constellation.
After I got out of the military, I thought I had seen the world. I had… but only to a small extent. Per my most recent blog, the trip to Europe has since come and gone. They call it a “European Whirl” for good reason! In less than two weeks we visited 7 countries by bus. The experiences provided by this trip have ignited in interest in European history. For example, what was Henry VIII’s deal? When did the Spanish Armada decide to attack England in 1588? Marie Antoinette was a great queen, or so I thought… so why was she beheaded? The Romans… why did they expand their empire so far, only to fall back so much? Interesting stuff, huh?
My favorite parts of the trip have to be touring London, walking through Rome with my wife, brother-in-law and his wife by ourselves, and everything about Paris. Good Lord, Paris is amazing… and surprisingly was one of the cheapest places we visited! However, the main highlight for me (aside from a show at the Moulin Rouge) was meeting up with my Navy buddy Mike and his family. He was stationed with me while I was in Everett and since has transferred to Germany, so to meet up with him was wonderful!
I would have loved to include some photos from our adventure, but the stupid server keeps timing out on me. My apologies. Anyhow, while the company on the bus was good (can’t go wrong with 24 Aussies, can ya?), taking a bus tour was not really ideal. However, it did give us a taste of what to expect should we choose to visit those countries again.
But there are a couple of countries I would like to visit that we haven’t yet seen: Japan, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Sweden. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of England, Germany or France either.
You know, we may be a small speck on this earth, and this earth may be a small speck in this galaxy… but there sure is a heck of a lot to see! My questions to you are:
1) If you have been overseas, where have you been? Would you go back?
2) If you haven’t yet been overseas, where would you like to go, if anywhere?
Take care all!
~ N.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Final Stretch (SLIGHTLY Belated -- Sorry!)
“The Final Stretch”
Four finals down—one to go. I have to admit that I find myself becoming a little sappy over this. Furthermore, being a 28 year old student in college classifies me as “old.” Hence, I’m an old sap. I feel sorry for my wife for having to deal with my sappiness, and hereby apologize to her for any future incidences. Now, how do I feel about this?
Truth be told, at the start of the semester, some of those I would have called friends from fall semester pretty much disappeared, which I found to be odd. Then, when attempting to be involved in any of their conversations, it was really weird. Not to say I’m superior to them in any way, shape or form, but most of their conversations seemed to be rather immature; this, coming from the guy who gets all cracked up on Mountain Dew before Japanese class and bounces across the walls. I wonder if there are too many times when I act childish. *ponders* I suppose a part of me really doesn’t want to grow up and be “old.” But I do think that’s something I need to change. Sorry… back to the topic at hand…
There were two classes I took this past semester that were taught by the same professors as fall semester. I look up to these two professors immensely, and find myself sad that, for one of them, I will not be in any classes taught by him next semester. The weird thing is, it’s not like “well, that sucks,” and move on sad. I view it more like a master-mentor type of relationship. And realizing that even after summer break there will be no classes taught by him, it really does make me sad. As for Japanese—oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong!!
Again, I will miss the routine of attending class as we enter summer break. But that’s okay ‘cause Nicky-boy here’s gonna get himself a job, which will certainly help pass the time more quickly! J As for where… well, I have no clue, yet. I’ll keep you posted on that…
Today was by far my least favorite final. Like I tell my wife, I absolutely love the professor and her enthusiasm, I hate the curriculum. I suppose it’s my fault that I live nearly an hour away, but the final was at 8am. I left the house at 6:30 to get some more cramming in before the big showdown. The final itself could have been much shorter had we not had to write our own speeches. Granted, they were 2 minute speeches, but you have some students who went over the time limit (I’m sure I was one of them), and before you know it, an hour has already gone by. While it was very nice that the speeches were first (thereby acting as a last minute “refresher”), it could have been nicer to…ohhh…maybe omit that portion? Just one complaint. If it’s the professor who wrote the curriculum, I humbly apologize. I’m cranky. Good excuse, yeah?
So my last final is due Friday by noon. I’m really stoked for it, actually. After that, it’s all about contacting some company called ManPower and seeing what they have to offer. For any potential employers out there who may view this blog, I’ll be available to work full time during the summer starting June 9.
I’m sure some of you are wondering – well if your last final is due on May 9 – what’s going on for a month? Well. My wife’s mother and father are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and are taking my wife and I, my wife’s brother and his wife on a “European Whirl” for 15 days. You have absolutely no idea how much I’m looking forward to being ridiculously photo happy. Thankfully, I recently purchased a small digital point-and-shoot camera so my antics won’t be too terribly “touristy,” I hope. Odd thing is, I think the thing I’m most looking forward to is seeing one of my best friends – Mike Bullis (and his family), who is stationed in Germany. Any requests as to what I should take photos of?
This is certainly long enough. For those who read it all the way through, I thank you. Now if you wouldn’t mind COMMENTING, that’d be great *s*! I hope that you all have a fantabulous summer. Please stay safe!
Oh, worry not. This blog shall go on. There’s been a lot on my mind lately, so I’m sure I’ll blog again soon. If there are any topics out there you feel I should blog about, let me know!
Thanks for viewing so far. I’ll write again soon.
~ N.
Four finals down—one to go. I have to admit that I find myself becoming a little sappy over this. Furthermore, being a 28 year old student in college classifies me as “old.” Hence, I’m an old sap. I feel sorry for my wife for having to deal with my sappiness, and hereby apologize to her for any future incidences. Now, how do I feel about this?
Truth be told, at the start of the semester, some of those I would have called friends from fall semester pretty much disappeared, which I found to be odd. Then, when attempting to be involved in any of their conversations, it was really weird. Not to say I’m superior to them in any way, shape or form, but most of their conversations seemed to be rather immature; this, coming from the guy who gets all cracked up on Mountain Dew before Japanese class and bounces across the walls. I wonder if there are too many times when I act childish. *ponders* I suppose a part of me really doesn’t want to grow up and be “old.” But I do think that’s something I need to change. Sorry… back to the topic at hand…
There were two classes I took this past semester that were taught by the same professors as fall semester. I look up to these two professors immensely, and find myself sad that, for one of them, I will not be in any classes taught by him next semester. The weird thing is, it’s not like “well, that sucks,” and move on sad. I view it more like a master-mentor type of relationship. And realizing that even after summer break there will be no classes taught by him, it really does make me sad. As for Japanese—oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong!!
Again, I will miss the routine of attending class as we enter summer break. But that’s okay ‘cause Nicky-boy here’s gonna get himself a job, which will certainly help pass the time more quickly! J As for where… well, I have no clue, yet. I’ll keep you posted on that…
Today was by far my least favorite final. Like I tell my wife, I absolutely love the professor and her enthusiasm, I hate the curriculum. I suppose it’s my fault that I live nearly an hour away, but the final was at 8am. I left the house at 6:30 to get some more cramming in before the big showdown. The final itself could have been much shorter had we not had to write our own speeches. Granted, they were 2 minute speeches, but you have some students who went over the time limit (I’m sure I was one of them), and before you know it, an hour has already gone by. While it was very nice that the speeches were first (thereby acting as a last minute “refresher”), it could have been nicer to…ohhh…maybe omit that portion? Just one complaint. If it’s the professor who wrote the curriculum, I humbly apologize. I’m cranky. Good excuse, yeah?
So my last final is due Friday by noon. I’m really stoked for it, actually. After that, it’s all about contacting some company called ManPower and seeing what they have to offer. For any potential employers out there who may view this blog, I’ll be available to work full time during the summer starting June 9.
I’m sure some of you are wondering – well if your last final is due on May 9 – what’s going on for a month? Well. My wife’s mother and father are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and are taking my wife and I, my wife’s brother and his wife on a “European Whirl” for 15 days. You have absolutely no idea how much I’m looking forward to being ridiculously photo happy. Thankfully, I recently purchased a small digital point-and-shoot camera so my antics won’t be too terribly “touristy,” I hope. Odd thing is, I think the thing I’m most looking forward to is seeing one of my best friends – Mike Bullis (and his family), who is stationed in Germany. Any requests as to what I should take photos of?
This is certainly long enough. For those who read it all the way through, I thank you. Now if you wouldn’t mind COMMENTING, that’d be great *s*! I hope that you all have a fantabulous summer. Please stay safe!
Oh, worry not. This blog shall go on. There’s been a lot on my mind lately, so I’m sure I’ll blog again soon. If there are any topics out there you feel I should blog about, let me know!
Thanks for viewing so far. I’ll write again soon.
~ N.
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