A Little History: Before Korea, La Legion Etrangere

BEFORE KOREA, I went to France and tried to join the French Foreign Legion. (December2005-January2006). I can't even describe the feelings you get walking up to that gate for the first time, thinking that this could be it, this could be your last taste of freedom for 5 long years.

I spent a month in France in some wild circumstances, though in the end the Legion selection commission decided not to take me despite my passing all the selection tests and interviews. I made it farther than 85% of the guys (They only take about 1 in 10 applicants, then lose another 20% in basic training, maybe half end up finishing a 5 year contract, that's the real test I suppose). They may have sent me home due to my age, lack of prior military and being American(westerners,i.e. those from Developed Countries tend to desert in much higher numbers due to the hardship).

I was looking for a gut check and some other things I won't go into. I don't regret a thing, except not getting in. But things happen for a reason, I have had some very vital and life changing experiences since I returned from France. Also as far as that goes, I am still alive and in good health, I just might go back someday. Going to the legion is a very personal journey, and people do ask me why I went and why anyone would want to join the French Foreign Legion. My response is a quote from George Mallory (the famous British Mountaineer who climbed Everest three times, dying on his last expedition in 1924, though his body was not found until 1999) who was asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, his reply was "If you have to ask the question, you won't understand the answer." He is also known for the quote "Because it is there" in response to repeated questions about why he would want to climb Everest.

Though oddly, while the types of people I met in the Legion are much different than those I have met here in Korea, some of the same drive to push ones boundaries and a drive to find new experiences and better oneself are there.(The people in the Legion were both much better and much worse than people I have met elsewhere. It is an extreme place. I bonded closer to a few guys there than I have to most people I have met in Korea in over a year). Though one reason I liked the people in the Legion better overall than many teachers here in Korea is that guys came to the Legion as a last resort. They had nothing, came from poverty and I met many guys who desperately wanted another chance in life, who wanted a way to support their families or a chance at French citizenship. So many teachers here (not all of course) act like the stereotypical drunk, ugly Americans(or New Zealanders, Canadians, Irishmen, etc). Too many spoiled kids with no respect for another culture complaining about trivial shit (food, mannerisms, language, etc).

THE SUMMER BEFORE I went to France, I was on a WILDLAND FIRE crew in Oregon (20 person handcrew), and I was also a top Salesman and Regional Promoter for a small Northwest sports energy drink company based out of Washington.