One School Year Over
I can’t believe we have survived a whole school year here at the military school. The school year officially ends this weekend. The cadets will be off to their homes for the summer break. Some will be coming back for summer school or not. Some have graduated and will be going to college or not …
It all started last year after hubby’s retirement from the Army. He accepted a job as a tactical officer, to take care of young boys, most of them troubled in the teens, to mentor them and to provide a sort of authority figure in a military fashion. Shouldn’t be hard! Hubby, after all, survived being in the Army at worse conditions imaginable. How hard can this job be? Well hard .. considering the ‘troubled kids factor’ which is a new territory.
From the beginning, I’ve expected life would be hard for me and Matthew. The location and the population is depressing! Coming from Tokyo, and Matsumoto, I am used to the BX or a mall just around the corner and seeing busy people around. This place, compared to the places I’ve been to, including Zamboanga and Cebu in the Philippines, is definitely what you call ‘in the the middle of nowhere’. And hubby, did have the same concerns about me, when he took the job, about what the heck will I be doing here – in the middle of nowhere!
But then, it didn’t take long. We have gotten used to our routine, including the free good food at the cafeteria, wide space and fresh air, and just a few people to bump into … our lives surprisingly became comfortable that I have started to appreciate the quiet, and the low-key living!
Hubby having a shut-eye after Matthew's done playing with him. Photo taken on May 26, 2009
As for hubby, I constantly ask him if he is okey, happy and content with his job. He seems sincere in assuring me that he is fine and that, except for the really long hours of work, he likes what he does here. He is more active, running around all the time with his cadets and getting his heart pumping whenever he yells disciplines them and he is genuinely happy whenever his cadets gets things right.
Now these cadets, a few of them, are not too easy to be around. I am always amazed at how hubby handles them. I have seen his tough scary side around them on a really bad day but then he switches to this loving husband and playful daddy when he is around me and Matthew. Its like this scary lion turning into a puppy dog. It’s really something.
But then, even though generally life’s a charm, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies being here. The ‘trouble kids factor’ makes what goes around here always interesting, awful and shocking a few times, sometimes heartbreaking, most of the time funny and laughable. I really want to go into details …
The things is we have survived. Even Matthew has found his favorite spot at the campus – by the cannons, which he calls ‘Star Wars’.
Matthew by the 'Star Wars'. Photo taken on April 4, 2009.
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By Charlotte
3 Responses to “One School Year Over”
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That cannon totally looks like Star Wars!!
You can always email me the details…
What will your hubby be doing for the summer?
- Jacki May 29, 2009 at 5:43 amClasses are just about to start here in the PHils. – was a bit perplexed at first why you just post this now with the title and all – until i realized na nasa states ka nga pala! wahahaha ^^
Enjoy Summer! ^^ Back to school for us here. hehehe
- The Pinoy Entrepreneur May 29, 2009 at 1:13 pmaw what a nice peek into your life there on campus!
- Dee June 2, 2009 at 10:28 am