I've Never Been So Nervous in My Life

[Greenday]

Good news: I got a new job. One chemistry related that I will love.

Great news: It's six-figures. SIX

Bad news: It's in Afghanistan. Just now that I got an email informing me of training I have to get just to go there, not even job training, has had me shaking for the past 45 minutes. I was going through all the requirements. Physicals, shots (including Anthrax), vision stuff (for the eye lenses in my gas mask), etc. I've known it would be mad dangerous even if I don't have to leave the base I'll be on but just now it hit me how damn serious it is.

Oh, and I'm going for that training next month. Meaning I'm going to be gone for Christmas I think. Away from all my family. When I was in college, the hardest part wasn't being away from all my family though. It was only two hours and even though I didn't go home all the time, I was able to call everyone so that didn't bother me. It was missing my younger cousins grow up. When I left for college, my youngest cousin wasn't even a year old yet and his brother, my second youngest cousin, was only 4. Now they are 4 and 8 and I feel like I've already missed so much. My 8 year old cousin is already almost 5 foot. He's gone from the devil child to...well he can be really jealous for attention but he's developed his own personality and I love him to death. My 4 year old cousin is smart as hell. I think that it's part of being a second child. He's learning stuff so fast. And I was doing well on converting him to being a Jets fan.

[radiocerk]

Congrats on the new job.

[blas87]

You have all my support, dear friend Greenday.

[AdminAssistant]

Good luck, Greenday!

Being away from family and loved ones is hard, but there are so many ways to stay connected - webcams, phone calls, etc. I felt horribly guilty about moving 8 hours away when my nephew was just a year old, but now I'm the cool, awesome aunt that he only gets to see a few times a year. So, that works out, it really does.

[Greenday]

You have all my support, dear friend Greenday.

Thank you blas. You're the first person to say that without first yelling at me. That includes all my family and friends here.

[blas87]

Of course I'd worry about you and your safety, but if it's what you want to do, no one should be screaming at you or trying to dissuade you.

I've had one dream shattered already by members of my family giving me an "Intervention" all about themsleves and why they didn't want me to become a cop/detective. I will not have anymore ruined, or will I see anyone else's dreams shattered by people who are just going to be negative and selfish.

[BigGiant]

Congrats on the new job! Don't sweat it, you'll be fine.


And condolences on being a Jets fan.

[McDreidel09]

Greenday, you have my support also. You always will,darling.

Six figure income,eh? Better be careful of the gold diggers that will eventually sniff you out.

[blas87]

Nah I ain't saying she a gold digger.......

Thanks lil sis. That song is stuck now.

[Greenday]

I'm still waiting for the okay to tell my current boss. I'm not too excited about that.

[BlaqueKatt]

I've had one dream shattered already by members of my family giving me an "Intervention" all about themselves and why they didn't want me to become a cop/detective.

not to threadjack-but I feel the same way as Blas, for the same reason oddly enough-my husband told me he'd leave me if I became a cop because "he couldn't live like that"-yup nevermind what I want, or what would make me happy.

So yeah greenday, you get to live and work in another country! Most people aren't even brave enough to move more than 50 miles from where they grew up. The money is nice but the opportunity to be immersed in another culture(to an extent-IIRC you'll be in a safer area with a large population of Americans)-that is not something you pass up, as it happens maybe once or twice in your life. I wonder if the people yelling at you aren't a bit jealous, or maybe regretting that they passed up a similar chance and don't want to hear from you how amazing it could've been for them....

Good luck!

[Greenday]

I'm 99.999% sure no one is jealous of me being in Afghanistan.

[Rapscallion]

Make sure you come back. That's all I ask.

Rapscallion

[Greenday]

Make sure you come back. That's all I ask.

Rapscallion

That's my goal.

I emailed the guy in charge of coordinating me moving and he said I'll go straight from training to Afghanistan. He doesn't think I'll be home for Christmas.

[Teysa]

Good luck over there. BlaqueKatt is right, this is not an opportunity you want to pass up. As far as being in danger goes, it's not like there aren't plenty of ways to get killed over here. At least you'll be doing something interesting and you might even come home with some good stories to tell the younger relations.