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Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 1:09:06 PM   
TreSwank


Posts: 1165
Joined: 3/5/2005
Status: offline 		    Today, I decided that joining the French Foreign Legion might be my next step in life. 
 
"Why the Foreign Legion?  Why not try to get some more education, or move to a different state?"
 
     Why NOT join the Foreign Legion.  Hell.........I've been stagnating in this town for about 5 years, and I NEED something else.  I can't re-enlist in the American military, because my record ain't exactly pristine, but those frogs will take the worst of the worst, and thrust them onto foreign shores with a brand new identity.  I've already spoken to really good friend about this "career" possibility, so now, I'd like to open up the floor to strangers.  What do you think?
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 1:52:27 PM   
juliaoceania


Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline 		Howabout using youth hostels and doing some travelling, working your way to different locales? It seems a far superior thing to me than the foreign legion. You are a smart person and talented with the written word, I am almost positive you could do something else.

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Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

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(in reply to TreSwank)
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 2:05:21 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		Well, you'd look OK in the uniform I'm sure. 

But I just cant imagine the number of charges you might end up on in the Legion, given your rep here - and I can imagine the Legion have some pretty nasty penalties up their sleeves compared to ordinary units!

I think you should think it over an awful lot; I'd worry for you and so would many others here, I'm sure. And like Julia said, I'm sure you have lots more to offer the world than meeting exotic people and killing them.

Crikey, I almost sounded caring there, and I'm never really sure whether Tre is being serious to warrant it!

E

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 2:19:37 PM   
sleazy


Posts: 781
Joined: 11/23/2006
From: UK
Status: offline 		I hate to say it, but even a petty theft conviction can keep a man out of the legion in this day and age.They are far more like regular army now than in their glory days of indo-china and africa. The only real difference is that they will accept foriegn nationals where regular units require an enlistee to be a citizen of France.

If it is merely the prospect of a life of excitement that appeals, there are any number of private military contractors (what used to be termed mercenaries) begging for staff these days, from shoestring outfits that have a reputation to match their budgets, to big-buck firms that work on direct government contracts.

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 2:20:35 PM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		Tre,

Opinion from a former Marine who gave the FFL a thought.  You'll die of boredom.

Seriously, the FFL doesn't get much action.  You would probably end up stationed in Tripoli or Iraq, for some of the worst military pay in the western world.  Unless you're dying for a free crash course in French (after all, that's expected to be the common language) you'd probably be better off looking for a civilian occupation (maybe attached to the military, doing security or whatever.)  There's also less dangerous, better paying work (cruise line waiter, flight attendant, oil rig worker) that will whisk you away to foreign lands.  For about the same pay, you could do volunteer work for the Red Cross or Peace Corps, without the nasty multi-year contract, meaning if you hate it, you can go back.

The underlying problem is probably one I share - if you don't do that, what the hell do you do?  I liked my job as an ESL teacher for the first couple of years, but I'm pretty sick of it now.  Gretchen and I are just killing time till she finishes her degree, and then we're off to... who knows where, to do god knows what (in the neighborhood of a year from now.)  The point is, change for it's own sake isn't the best move.  Try to figure out what you really want to be doing (besides standing guard duty in some Iraqi or Lebanese latrine) and go from there.

My two francs,

Stephan


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Men: Find a Woman here

(in reply to LadyEllen)
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 2:42:19 PM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline 		Two questions.

Is the ability to speak french a prerequisite?

Do you speak french?


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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 2:46:25 PM   
twistedwillow


Posts: 546
Joined: 11/23/2006
Status: offline 		Sounds like a good idea to me Tre,  and at the end of your service you get to retire to a pension in France ( run and paid for by the French Foreign Legion ).... however, they don't expel soldiers who mess up, they just go MIA ...
Good luck, and i hear Zanzibar is lovely this time of year.

twistedwillow



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Don't be fooled by the pretty words and sweet face.. sarcasm is the norm not the exception.



(in reply to TreSwank)
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 3:07:15 PM   
sleazy


Posts: 781
Joined: 11/23/2006
From: UK
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse
Is the ability to speak french a prerequisite?


Yes, one of the few personal effects an enlistee is allowed to keep is a french-native dictionary. Most enlistees who are not natural french speakers manage to become so within about a year

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Opinion is packaged by weight not volume, contents may settle during transit. Consult you medical practitioner. Do not attempt to stop moving parts by hand. Ensure all safety shields in place. Open this way up. Do not expose to temperatures exceeding 50C

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 9:12:41 PM   
Sinergy


Posts: 9383
Joined: 4/26/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: TreSwank

   Today, I decided that joining the French Foreign Legion might be my next step in life. 
 
"Why the Foreign Legion?  Why not try to get some more education, or move to a different state?"
 
     Why NOT join the Foreign Legion.  Hell.........I've been stagnating in this town for about 5 years, and I NEED something else.  I can't re-enlist in the American military, because my record ain't exactly pristine, but those frogs will take the worst of the worst, and thrust them onto foreign shores with a brand new identity.  I've already spoken to really good friend about this "career" possibility, so now, I'd like to open up the floor to strangers.  What do you think?


As somebody who has stagnated at times in my life, the question I would ask is whether you are joining the FFL to alleviate the boredom you are unable to alleviate on your own, or because you really support the well-vaunted primacy of France as a world power.

The question I would ask you would be whether you can think of anything else you can do in life which would give you a sense that your time here is well spent?

For me, I realized that the whole thing was not really all about me, and I really enjoy giving back to my species.

But that is just me and I could be wrong.

Sinergy

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David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

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(in reply to TreSwank)
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/4/2007 10:37:11 PM   
Rumtiger


Posts: 2634
Joined: 3/4/2006
From: Vegas
Status: offline 		jeez...Tres going into the FFL, I'm heading into the AF for a while.....you old timers wont be enjoying us youngin's company for much longer.

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-Moi

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 4:25:55 AM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		No, French is not a pre-requisite.  It is highly recommended to learn as much as possible before hand, though.

http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/

Stephan




_____________________________

Nosce Te Ipsum

"The blade itself incites to violence" - Homer

Men: Find a Woman here

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 4:43:40 AM   
missturbation


Posts: 8290
Joined: 2/12/2006
From: another planet
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Rumtiger

jeez...Tres going into the FFL, I'm heading into the AF for a while.....you old timers wont be enjoying us youngin's company for much longer.


Did you say enjoying? And old timers? Oh ur so funny hunnie

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 2:07:14 PM   
seeksfemslave


Posts: 4011
Joined: 6/16/2006
Status: offline 		Go for it Swanky...and when you get your Capeau Blanc... send us a picture.

I believe speaking only  French is permitted. Lovely mellifluous language.

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 2:37:13 PM   
MmakeMme


Posts: 682
Joined: 7/29/2006
From: NC
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

But I just cant imagine the number of charges you might end up on in the Legion, given your rep here - and I can imagine the Legion have some pretty nasty penalties up their sleeves compared to ordinary units!



As if that wasn't part of the reason he wanted to join.

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Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. ~~ Dalai Lama

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 2:58:25 PM   
LotusSong


Posts: 6334
Joined: 7/2/2006
From: Domme Emeritus
Status: offline 		Tre,
 
"Where ever you go, there you are".  Is your boredom external or internal? 
What I'm alluding to is, no amount of external experiences will sait you if your inner being is the origin.

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I'm not your type.
I'm not inflatable.


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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 4:33:41 PM   
MmakeMme


Posts: 682
Joined: 7/29/2006
From: NC
Status: offline 		Tre ... when they said you'd have to acclimate yourself to the French tongue ...

Ahhh, never mind.

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 4:55:58 PM   
Devilslilsister


Posts: 1262
Joined: 8/3/2006
Status: offline 		i'd say Tres, that i find it pretty interesting.  I think for those of us who cant embark on an adventure of the like you should keep a journal and keep us posted.  

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 7:41:38 PM   
TemptingNviceSub


Posts: 3054
Joined: 10/1/2005
Status: offline 		Instead of seeking something per se "romantic" or a percieved adrenalin "high"..Why not go for furthering your education..ie: engineering..then as an engineer you could be able to travel the world, albeit, possibly in a bit of luxury..unless of course,uncomfortable living is your fetish?......Tempting

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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/5/2007 8:06:45 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		Tre - come to the UK and work for me - it'll be a blast.

And you'll get to travel all over Europe, without having to kill anyone or get shot at.

And you'll get minimum wage, much like the Legion, and even better you can chatter away in any European language you like, not just French.

E

_____________________________

In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

(in reply to TemptingNviceSub)
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RE: Waking Up on a Different Side of the Bed. - 1/6/2007 11:27:01 AM   
TreSwank


Posts: 1165
Joined: 3/5/2005
Status: offline 		It'll take me a few months to save up the money to get my ass to France (I've got to pay my rent and keep up with bills first.)  The more I think about the FFL, the more I just want to go for it.  Right now, it's just too expensive for me to go to school and maintain a full-time job to pay rent..........and the boredom would probably get the best of me, anyway.  At least I get to experience hell in a different location, and learn a new language if I become a Legionaire.

(in reply to TreSwank)
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