JDub wrote:If I were without wife and kids I would do something like this. Being that's not the case I couldn't take being away from them.
It depends, I suppose. I know dudes who see six months to a year on a deep sea oil rig halfway around the world as being kind of a vacation.
I know some guys like this as well. I can see both sides honestly. I know after a few days I would miss my girls terribly. I feel like that would be my deciding factor. But being debt free and having a better life for my wife and kids would be tempting. It would be a very tough decision for me.
T200 wrote:Drinking is for posers until you are drinking Everclear from a an old freebase kit you found in the park.
DPR wrote:What's your plan if you are seriously injured? As you know, accidents happen.
Company has insurance. Unlikely since I will be doing clinical work, ie hospital work. If it does keep me from medic'ing on a truck then I can always work in a hospital stateside.
Also, you realize I run into burning buildings on my current job, right? Not exactly the safest place for me. Hell I was just exposed to bacterial meningitis last week on the ambulance. Shit happens man, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I understand you run into burning buildings. I used to race towards VBIED's. I was just making sure you had good disability insurance. Contractors I met in Iraq were sometimes required to travel in convoys. Being flown to a base or FOB might not always be an option.
I have lived as an expat since 1999. Although I have received offers to head to Saudi and Yemen, I have no experience in the Middle East.
A year is not really enough to qualify as a real expat experience so being in a place you are comfortable with in terms of general living conditions and language would be important. I believe that a relatively large proportion of people who do 1-2 years acclimate because they keep a foot in their home country which is even easier to do now due to technology.
From your situation, I would say to do it. Canceling out debt debt and gaining the experience would be something you couldn't do in the next year in the US.
If I had kids I wouldn't leave them in this situation and I am not sure that I would leave my wife either. However, if your wife is good with it, I would say roll the dice.
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
I would post pics of my wife but she is huge. She's about 5'6 and tops the scales at 315'ish. I'm not sure if I've actually vaginally penetrated her in years. It gets a little confusing with all the extra meat she has around there.
T200 wrote:Drinking is for posers until you are drinking Everclear from a an old freebase kit you found in the park.
JDub wrote:I would post pics of my wife but she is huge. She's about 5'6 and tops the scales at 315'ish. I'm not sure if I've actually vaginally penetrated her in years. It gets a little confusing with all the extra meat she has around there.
You should leave as well.
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
Good advice above. I can't tell you whether to take the job or not. But...
IF you care a lot about your marriage, only go if your wife is an independent, non-emotion driven personality, with a decent family/social support structure where she lives. When I was in the military in a unit that deployed a lot, I saw a lot of marriages blow up.
New marriage + wife feeling isolated/unsupported = trouble.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
johno wrote:Good advice above. I can't tell you whether to take the job or not. But...
IF you care a lot about your marriage, only go if your wife is an independent, non-emotion driven personality, with a decent family/social support structure where she lives. When I was in the military in a unit that deployed a lot, I saw a lot of marriages blow up.
New marriage + wife feeling isolated/unsupported = trouble.
I see this with guys at my job and we aren't gone for extended periods of time.
johno wrote:Good advice above. I can't tell you whether to take the job or not. But...
IF you care a lot about your marriage, only go if your wife is an independent, non-emotion driven personality, with a decent family/social support structure where she lives. When I was in the military in a unit that deployed a lot, I saw a lot of marriages blow up.
New marriage + wife feeling isolated/unsupported = trouble.
I saw a number of married couples working contract jobs together. Bring her along!
The wife and I have been together for going on eight years and have a fairly decent relationship. Due to us having dogs and her wanting to pursue a grad degree she woul stay stateside. While I am gone she would be living in the guest suite at her parents house so she would definitely have a solid support group.
Joint. I always tell people that their best bet is to get their EMT-P and get on the single role paramedic list. Not a good option for the long term but gets your foot in the door. Crossover to fire side is then easier, and with a 7% boost due to the ALS as well.
Be forewarned: Chicago is one of the last major cities to maintain Affirmative Action, and race plays a major role in all aspects of hiring/promotion. Don't say I didn't tell you. (Unless you are a minority--in which case you have the advantage)
But the test next year is fire. If you get called off of that list, you can hire on as FF/Paramedic and avoid the ambo entirely. Fire tests about every 6-10 years; EMS entrance is more frequent.
