February is nearly over, and I think we've had more days off then working, and yet I feel as though I'm as busy as I've ever been. Being at a smaller post like Camp Casey, and 2ID in general, there just aren't that many attorney's to accomplish the myriad of tasks that come up. Given the unique position of being in legal assistance, I am often tasked for random things, and there are always new obligations or "suggestions" handed down from higher that we need to accomplish, as part of our overall legal assistance duties.

On top of each of these new, random, tasks, I am now set to be the only attorney manning the Command tent up at Casey during our exercises over the coming months. These exercises are part of our year-round training, so that we are better able to fulfill the 2ID motto "Second to None," and "Fight Tonight." So, I'm going to be spending an entire two weeks, not taking clients, but instead spending 12-hours shifts in a giant tent, authorizing fictional military activity. Sounds pretty cool, but I'm curious just how involved I am going to be, I guess a lot of that will be up to me. i guess this is what being a JAG is really all about, so I'll embrace the experience and see what I learn.

After this exercise, I am slated to attached to a unit that is being sent to the Philippines to run exercises there with the Philippine Armed Forces. I would be the only Judge attached to the unit, and thus essentially be the Battalion JA for a couple weeks. Normally, there is no such thing as a Battalion level JA, but there has been a lot of talk of sending me along, and personally I want to go to continue to get the Army experience. It wouldn't be for very long, and I'm not sure how much of the Philippines I would get to see, but I think having the responsibility would be amazing, and it would give me something awesome to write about.

As exciting as all of the coming weeks may sound, the last couple weeks have been pretty standard, professionally at least. I have been taking clients again, and being the legal assistance attorney I'm supposed to be. However, there have again been additional smaller taskings that I need to handle. As legal assistance attorney, we are supposed to write at least one article a month for the post newspaper. These aren't difficult, but like I said, I feel as though I'm busier then usual now, so these articles get put aside. Except for an article I'm writing about Spice, a synthetic form of THC, that is the "hot new drug" on most military installations. The Army is taking great steps to raise awareness about this drug, to control it, and to punish offenders for using and distributing it. The interesting part of the equation is that its still legal in many states, and so its easy to get thru mail ordering, so it has become a big problem. The SJA has made it a pet project of his, so I have to get this article written and fast.

On top of Spice, there is a new drug coming onto the scene, commonly called "Bath Salts." This drug is killing people, because it causes the user to hallucinate so strongly that they believe the only way to free themselves from the hallucinations is to kill themselves. Just like Spice, this drug compound is also legal in many states, and it is really affecting service members.

I am also spending my Wednesdays at Camp Stanley providing Legal Assistance and being a quality-reviewer for the Tax preparer that accompanies me there. These days are usually less hectic then when I'm back at Casey, as there just isn't as high a volume of soldiers walking thru the door. But, given my experience so far, the types of clients coming thru are far more difficult then the average Casey issue, so it evens out.

Even with all this work, I still have found time to get to Seoul, and just this last weekend I spent the four-day/Presidents' Day Weekend in the Islands off the Southeast Coast of Thailand. Seoul over the last three day weekend was very fun. On Friday night a big group of JAGs and other associated officers went to a Taylor Swift concert. Not only was the concert awesome, but it was a unique cultural experience watching a Korean audience at a concert. As much as Taylor tried to get everyone to stand up, dance, and jump around, the Korean audience refused to comply (of course all of us in the back were more then willing to oblige). Instead, they were content to simply sit there, and wave these blinking glow sticks they purchased outside of the concert, in rhythm with the music. It was weird. At one point, Taylor even stepped into the crowd and calmly walked and sang her way to stage at the back of the venue, she was barely touched. That would never happen in the US, the crowd would be far to unruly.

The next day after the concert, I spent the majority of the morning, exploring yet another unique Korean experience, the Jjimjilbang, or bath house. More appropriately, its a bath house on crack mixed with Disneyland. This place was ridiculous, it was six stories of Saunas, game rooms, showers, a driving range, and the kicker, a simulated "horse riding area," (for members only of course). I couldn't believe my eyes. Here I wanted a luxurious, relaxing experience, and instead I found hundreds of Koreans laying around in huge communal rooms, with little kids running around totally free of control. I would sit in the "salt sauna" and every two minutes a pack of small children would coming running in, and start a salt rock fight with the little pebbles I was laying on. Apparently, this is what a Jjimjilbang is all about, its more of a family event, then it is a house of relaxation, however many of the Korean parents looked very relaxed, probably because they didn't have to watch their kids. I had intended to spend several hours in this place de-stressing, but instead the trip was cut significantly short, and I headed back to Casey. The real silver lining was the small food market I found outside of the Jjimjilbang, where a number of amazing Korean delicacies were available for tastings, including; crab kimchi, mandu (dumplings), various types of seaweed, and all kinds of preserved/pickled/formented goodies. It was awesome.

Lastly, this weekend was amazing. I left late Thursday night, and took a red-eye to Phuket. Once I arrived a took a taxi to the pier and caught a ferry to the small island of Koh Phi Phi (pronounced Pee Pee) and was on the beach by noon. This little island is a total paradise. No cars, beautiful beaches, perfect weather, and all kinds of activities if you want them, or a ton of chairs to sit and sip on an umbrella drink. I met a number of friends there (8 in all) and we had an amazing time. Phi Phi Island was not nearly the sleazy place I was half expecting, instead it was a quaint little island, filled with happy tourists, it was very relaxing. The last night, I spent exploring the beach town of Patong. Since I had to get up early for a flight back to Korea, I didn't go too crazy, but this place was like Bangkok; filled with "vendors" of the sex trade. However, I escaped the inevitable bombardment by these vendors, and found a rather large night market. At these markets you can buy almost anything for dirt cheap, but my favorite place is always in the center, where the food vendors are. You find the most bizarre foods there, and I always indulge in anything that looks remotely edible. Some of the new delicacies included Horseshoe Crab Eggs, amazing fish-cakes, the ubiquitous fried bug, and a Thai Crab (which looks like a mix between a lobster and crab, you eat both the eggs and the meat). It was all surprisingly delicious, and of course I finished with a good ol' pile of pad thai.

These last two paragraphs illustrate the benefit one gets for coming Korea as a member of the military. At least those of us up at 2ID are rewarded with a number of free "family days" in which, if you are proactive and diligent with your paperwork, you have no issue getting a pass to go explore countries near the Peninsula. I have never been to Asia before I moved here, and by the time I leave, I will have explored most of the countries in the surrounding area, when else would a normal, working American get that kind of opportunity? With each passing day, I'm more and more pleased with my decision to come here, it really isn't that bad at all (but it is still cold, which isn't cool).

That's all I have to report... Happy President's Day...