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Family Updates
April 1 , 2005
(written April 23)
Dear Families and Friends,
This is just a quick little summary of what's happening
in our regular (= non-traveling) lives. No particular help for tourists, but
it maintains our presence with Friends and Families, even those very few who
don't write back.
It should come as no surprise to our regular readers that
Marianne and John are uncertain about our futures - again. This time, John's
job seems secure (and interesting) but Marianne's position in the Department
of Defense Dependents' Schools (DoDDS) seems shaky, unless we want to move
just south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. She has received orders to teach
at the Osan Air Base there, but MY employer still says: Germany. We'll figure
out a way to go with that.
Like usual, I'll try to illustrate our situation with pictures.
|
I know the last diary said we had written off our dream house, the one
without plumbing, heating, foundation, etc. In its winter snow covering,
it still looked interesting to us and, with our current uncertainty,
even the question of buying or not remains uncertain. So, stay tuned.
|
|
| Our dream house neighbor, the Weissenstein Castle, was particularly impressive
in the snow. It's a massive place with large grounds and its own herd
of deer. Reportedly, this is a much-reduced herd, but that's another story. |
|
| My work continues and in March I was treated to a meeting
in our Charlotte, North Carolina offices. The first picture was shot from
my hotel window. Watching sunrise was one of the benefits of jet lag, since
sleeping didn't work. On the right is the Charlotte Motor Speedway where
our meeting had a dinner. Even in the rain, it was an impressive facility
and I could imagine the place filled with one- or two-hundred-thousand
Southern race fans. |
|
For our company dinner, the Speedway hosted a more sedate crowd.
These are some of the folks that make my job work.
|
|
| And here is Marianne's finalist in the National (U.S.)
History Day competition held among the DoDDS schools in Europe. The competition
was just one of many parts of teaching that made Marianne's job work too. |
|
Art and Robin came back for a visit to their old stomping grounds,
after moving to Texas last Fall. Marianne misses her buddy so this was
a real treat.
(see Scotland wedding) |
|
Our other star visitors were Geoff and Suzanne. From this airport
greeting, we headed straight on to a tour of German castles, churches,
and squares - but that's another story.
(see Maryland wedding) |
|
Finally, a bit of bad news, good news. Marianne
drove in front of a truck ten times her size; definitely bad news. She was
unhurt and the car is repairable; definitely good news.
That's it for now. Nothing too dramatic,
just the normal mix of dreams and nightmares, work and fun. Our next few diaries
will be more touristy: snowy cities, medieval towns, and a Cheetah in the backyard.
John and Marianne
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