Tourist Duty
When your spouse gets assigned overseas, make it your ticket to travel
by Josie Cellone
It finally happened: The Big “O.” As in overseas. Out of your element. OCONUS.
As if moving around the country weren’t difficult enough for military families, now your active duty spouse gets stationed abroad?
If you’re anything like Army spouse Maria Juarez, the original shock of an overseas move soon gets replaced by excitement, wanderlust and sheer romance.
“I was the envy of all of my friends because I was going to live in Europe,” said Juarez, who lives in Grafenwoehr, Germany. “When I had to say goodbye to my family and friends and to all of the things and places that are familiar to me, that was when I realized this military life was not going to be as easy as I thought it would be.”
Date with destination
There were definitely moments of home sickness and the occasional cultural misunderstanding. Then of course there’s learning the new military vocab of living OCONUS – outside the continental United States – and living “on the economy,” meaning off post in the local community.
“I started to see the bright side to my situation and started to realize that I was in Europe, so why not try to take advantage of that,” Juarez asked. “Most people back in the States take their vacation time and a lot of their savings to come and visit Europe. I actually live here.”
Seize overseas
Today Juarez knows “O” stands for Oktoberfest and one-liter bier mugs, among other things, and is relishing the adventure with her husband.
“I want to share my story with spouses from all around the world because I know that there are many who think they cannot handle the changes that this lifestyle comes with, especially if you have to PCS overseas and be faced with the unknown,” she said. “We have to seize the moment and can't let the negative emotions and feelings overpower us because of the lifestyle that we have. I know I learned my lesson and that person that once existed in me, the one that was afraid of changes, no longer exists.”