Polo Tomasi wrote: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.
Cool. Pay up that way is a lot more than down here, albeit that is true of damn near everywhere. On our department you need to in one of the nepotism families or a minority to get hired. Every so often you get folks like me that slide through the cracks, primarily because of my medic license and high test scores.
I know you already said that your wife has plans but the Middle East is surprisingly friendly for ex-pat women to find work, especially if half of a married couple. Many countries are so segregated that virtually all services for women (i.e. education and health care) need to be offered by women; thus, employment opportunities abound.
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
Terry B. wrote:I know you already said that your wife has plans but the Middle East is surprisingly friendly for ex-pat women to find work, especially if half of a married couple. Many countries are so segregated that virtually all services for women (i.e. education and health care) need to be offered by women; thus, employment opportunities abound.
Still wouldn't happen. Pets and what have you mean at least one of us will remain stateside.
Year it is long time.
Even if you are completely believe each other, you may start think things, she may start think things...
Imagine this, during phone call she hear woman's laugh in the bacground. You'll explain that this some party... not connected with you...
But she will start think...
Then will be questions, demands of explainations... not believing in those explainations....
Wild Bill wrote:Year it is long time.
Even if you are completely believe each other, you may start think things, she may start think things...
Imagine this, during phone call she hear woman's laugh in the bacground. You'll explain that this some party... not connected with you...
But she will start think...
Then will be questions, demands of explainations... not believing in those explainations....
Thankfully our relationship isn't one where we have to worry about that sort of thing.
When you return from job now, your wife meets you, you are talking, dinner together. Drink teas (or coffee). Conversations during tea...
Your dogs glad to you, trying talk to you :)
It is very important. You take it for normal, but there you will be alone.
You'll return from job to empty room. Day after day... No any noise, no any tea-conversations... only tv :)
Of course money question very important, but...
think twice :)
Important things to consider:
How much vacation do you get?
Does your employer pay for the flights?
Do they count travel time against your vacation time?
Kuwait to the US is one to three days (depending the route). Afghanistan to the US is probably 5-7 days, and that's if you are at one of the big bases-- minimum.
Depending on what you want to do with the money, you can pretty easily fly the wife to Europe or Amman and spend a fun two weeks if you're in Kuwait. Afghanistan probably means meeting somewhere in Asia, and she'll have a long flight to meet you.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
Wild Bill wrote:When you return from job now, your wife meets you, you are talking, dinner together. Drink teas (or coffee). Conversations during tea...
Your dogs glad to you, trying talk to you :)
It is very important. You take it for normal, but there you will be alone.
You'll return from job to empty room. Day after day... No any noise, no any tea-conversations... only tv :)
Turdacious wrote:Another thing to consider-- vacation
Important things to consider:
How much vacation do you get?
Does your employer pay for the flights?
Do they count travel time against your vacation time?
Kuwait to the US is one to three days (depending the route). Afghanistan to the US is probably 5-7 days, and that's if you are at one of the big bases-- minimum.
Depending on what you want to do with the money, you can pretty easily fly the wife to Europe or Amman and spend a fun two weeks if you're in Kuwait. Afghanistan probably means meeting somewhere in Asia, and she'll have a long flight to meet you.
Thank you very much. All very valid points of consideration to bring up when I speak to the hiring manager.
For every 4 couples I've heard say that, Dunn, 1 have split up, usually over infidelities and miscommunication.
Shit happens, shit changes, maybe you all won't, but I've seen people who are intelligent, communicative, and completely in love betray each other in a year.
Not considering it could happen to you is often the first step on that road.
Shafpocalypse Now wrote:For every 4 couples I've heard say that, Dunn, 1 have split up, usually over infidelities and miscommunication.
Shit happens, shit changes, maybe you all won't, but I've seen people who are intelligent, communicative, and completely in love betray each other in a year.
Not considering it could happen to you is often the first step on that road.
Oh there is always a possibility. I'm not denying that, nor have I not considered that it could happen. I'm merely saying that my wife and I have a better relationship than most I know. We both understand the problems inherent in being away for so long.
Why is this not a bone simple equation? What do you value more, getting out of debt or time with your wife?
It's simple. you are selling the only commodity any of us really have. Your Time. You have a fixed account of it and you don't know how much is in there...it's a reasonable business decision, just be perfectly clear on what the trade is.
*It's not to say you couldn't weather it, not to say lots of people have had to do much harder, nor does it imply a little distance now and then isn't good for a marriage...
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
Shafpocalypse Now wrote:For every 4 couples I've heard say that, Dunn, 1 have split up, usually over infidelities and miscommunication.
Shit happens, shit changes, maybe you all won't, but I've seen people who are intelligent, communicative, and completely in love betray each other in a year.
Not considering it could happen to you is often the first step on that road.
Oh there is always a possibility. I'm not denying that, nor have I not considered that it could happen. I'm merely saying that my wife and I have a better relationship than most I know. We both understand the problems inherent in being away for so long.
If you two can't communicate, you don't think one or both of you can keep it in your pants for a year, or if one or both of you are crazy/insecure/spends too much money-- you'll probably get divorced anyway. Call/Skype her on a regular basis; don't spend money on stupid shit; come home on a regular basis-- you'll be fine. A year really isn't that much different from a two month tour at NTC.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
Shafpocalypse Now wrote:For every 4 couples I've heard say that, Dunn, 1 have split up, usually over infidelities and miscommunication.
Shit happens, shit changes, maybe you all won't, but I've seen people who are intelligent, communicative, and completely in love betray each other in a year.
Not considering it could happen to you is often the first step on that road.
Oh there is always a possibility. I'm not denying that, nor have I not considered that it could happen. I'm merely saying that my wife and I have a better relationship than most I know. We both understand the problems inherent in being away for so long.
If you two can't communicate, you don't think one or both of you can keep it in your pants for a year, or if one or both of you are crazy/insecure/spends too much money-- you'll probably get divorced anyway. Call/Skype her on a regular basis; don't spend money on stupid shit; come home on a regular basis-- you'll be fine. A year really isn't that much different from a two month tour at NTC.
Shafpocalypse Now wrote:For every 4 couples I've heard say that, Dunn, 1 have split up, usually over infidelities and miscommunication.
Shit happens, shit changes, maybe you all won't, but I've seen people who are intelligent, communicative, and completely in love betray each other in a year.
Not considering it could happen to you is often the first step on that road.
I know four couples who married their hometown sweethearts and never spent a day away from each other in their married lives. Want to know how many are still together?
Twenty years ago it was different but in the day of social media and Skype, having a spouse live in another country for an extended period of time isn't a big deal.
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
Blaidd Drwg wrote:Why is this not a bone simple equation? What do you value more, getting out of debt or time with your wife?
It's simple. you are selling the only commodity any of us really have. Your Time. You have a fixed account of it and you don't know how much is in there...it's a reasonable business decision, just be perfectly clear on what the trade is.
*It's not to say you couldn't weather it, not to say lots of people have had to do much harder, nor does it imply a little distance now and then isn't good for a marriage...
This is my thought on it. I know I couldn't stand to be away from wife and kids regardless of money. To me I wouldn't trade time with them for any amount of money. Regardless of phone, text, video chat, and the like you still aren't there. Me and my wife have an unbelievable relationship, as gay is it sounds she's my best friend. I have no doubt we could weather the storm but I see no need to do that when I have her here and now. But none of our opinions truly matter, in the end it's all about you and your wife. Good luck with either decision.
T200 wrote:Drinking is for posers until you are drinking Everclear from a an old freebase kit you found in the park.
Blaidd Drwg wrote:Why is this not a bone simple equation? What do you value more, getting out of debt or time with your wife?
It's simple. you are selling the only commodity any of us really have. Your Time. You have a fixed account of it and you don't know how much is in there...it's a reasonable business decision, just be perfectly clear on what the trade is.
*It's not to say you couldn't weather it, not to say lots of people have had to do much harder, nor does it imply a little distance now and then isn't good for a marriage...
This is my thought on it. I know I couldn't stand to be away from wife and kids regardless of money. To me I wouldn't trade time with them for any amount of money. Regardless of phone, text, video chat, and the like you still aren't there. Me and my wife have an unbelievable relationship, as gay is it sounds she's my best friend. I have no doubt we could weather the storm but I see no need to do that when I have her here and now. But none of our opinions truly matter, in the end it's all about you and your wife. Good luck with either decision.
I agree wholeheartedly. Time is the only real commodity that we have. With me currently working +100 hrs a week to make ends meet, I figure the time is owed regardless. I can either pay it in a lump sum while I don't have kids or I can spread the payment out over the next 10-15 years. I'm more of a lump sum kind of a guy.
