Work

Well, I finally heard yesterday. I was unsuccessful at getting the job in Ghana, so I’m off to Angola. We haven’t worked out when I start, but I’m guessing it will be mid to late January. I’m not upset about not getting the Ghana job. I started hearing some things about the company (called “WAPCO”) that made me start wondering what I had gotten myself in for. So, things work out! There are lots of people in Angola who I have worked with before, and the job sounds interesting. They have lots of offshore platforms, and some pretty big technology challenges. I’m not crazy about the rotating bit, but I guess after 16 years of working internationally, I was due. Certainly everyone I talk to about this particular rotational location gets a big smile on their face when I ask them about it. It sounds like a nice camp, with a golf course, beach and good accommodation. We’ll be moving back to San Ramon, at least initially. The house is going to get some new paint and carpet as a minimum, and if we decide to stay, there several other things are going to need upgrading. It’ll keep me occupied while I’m off hitch. It’s almost karmic that our renter has also been re-assigned just now, and will be moving out at the end of December. The good news about rotating is the time off – there’ll be plenty of time to take nice long trips and stay too long visiting everyone we know. First off hitch is already planned – we need to bring the Miata back from Arkansas. Liz is already scheming ways that she can meet me in Houston to start the trip. We have made some very, very good friends during the three years we have been in Atyrau, and we will miss them dearly. It turns out that many are also leaving now for their next jobs, or retirement. I guess if there is a reasonable breaking point, this is as good as any. Still, there are many we will be sad to leave behind in Atyrau. Maybe if we get another residential job somewhere we will see a few of them again. We definitely intend to make time to visit those who have decided to retire.