I did not join the military.  Instead, I worked my way through college…went to U.C. Davis and got a degree in Anthropology (of all things).  I graduated in 1972 (took an extra quarter).  I think my biggest fear in high school was ending up with a desk job somewhere selling insurance or whatever.  I’ve been to a number of our class reunions, so it’s probably no surprise that I ended up in Hawaii and becoming a professional archaeologist.  This was the furtherst thing from my mind back in the 1960s.  It’s not a good income but it’s been a very rewarding career choice for me….working outside, walking in places that no one has been to for centuries, making discoveries that are significant contributions to our understanding of man in the Pacific! 

I started working for the Bishop Museum in 1973, and then on to a large corporation in 1996, and finally to a small business that I helped establish (and partly own) in 2003.  Working for yourself turned out to be the best working environment for me….I don’t have to answer to twig-brains on the mainland who have no idea what I do…they just want me to make more money for them.  Our customers include government agencies and private developers who need to comply with historic preservation laws (Federal and State).  While it’s not academic archaeology, it’s very rewarding and challenging.

I got married in 1987 but it didn’t hold.  A while ago, I discovered that I’m probably a “serial monogamist.” I found that term in an encyclopedia of Psychology….many baby boomers fell into this pattern because of the move by many people from the farms into the city and urban areas.  Argh!  I do have eight nieces and nephews who I cherish though! 

In my spare time, I play guitar for a small band…we call ourselves the Boomerangs.  We don’t play gigs yet…we still need a lot of practice.  I also play golf….the most frustrating game on the planet!  I also spend alot of time reading and listening to music and still go to the beach every once in a while.  \

By the way, I ran into Fred Fisher in Tempe Arizona a couple of years ago.  We still commuicate via email. It was such a trip to spend some time with him.  He was the man that got me interested in anthropology..giving his lectures on Homo erectus and Neanderthals….what a blessing he was in my life!!

I’m at work and have to get back to business, but I look forward to reading more posts on Brian’s Blog and writing more myself.  If you’re ever in Hawaii, please get in touch with me.

ALoha,

Steve Clark

(steve.clark@pcsihawaii.com)

I went out to Labrador Reserve this morning. It’s a small park right at the entrance to the harbor from the main channel of the Malacca Straits. I love to see the hundreds of big ships that are lined up each day to load or unload containers or oil at Singapore port, the busiest container port in the world.

It is also home to two Star Cruise ships and one had just come in when I arrived. I got these shots of it entering the channel. Then I shot a video when it was pulling back out.

Ha! Just kidding. Great looking group and I wish this old bald guy could have joined them. Nice photos on Classmates, Kaylin.

Here’s my life in a nutshell. When I left Blackford I reluctantly went away to the University of Oregon. I say reluctantly because I desperately wanted to quit competitive swimming but that was my meal ticket to college. My dad (who you should all remember) worked hard to get me a scholarship so I really had no choice.

So off to Eugene I went. I immediately started partying and my grades were barely passing. I lasted until just after my second race at the Oregon State Championships in Beaverton. I literally got out of the pool, walked over and told the coach that was my last race ever, got dressed and went back to Eugene. I was naive enough to be surprised when my scholarship check did not appear at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.

During my brief time at Oregon I made a side trip up to Portland State (I think) where I spent a while with Dennis Hoppin who was going to school there and also working as a DJ on the school radio station. I heard later that Dennis got an extended vacation in Turkey but I’m not sure of the details.

I also used to take the train from U of O to San Jose occassionally. On one such trip I met up with my buddy Ken Yamamoto in his brand new army greens. I haven’t seen him since but I hope you made it back, Ken.

I was also naive enough to go join the army. I didn’t know anything about the army or Vietnam but I knew I was not going to go back to San Jose and live with mom and dad. To make a long story short, I was at Ft. Lewis, Wash. then Ft. Dix New Jersey, then Ft. Gordon Georgia (yuck), then III corps in Vietnam, then my last year in Ft. Hood Texas (double yuck).

I was selected to accompany the 1st Infantry Division colors home when I got out of Vietnam. Not because of anything I did that was good. Probably the opposite. I was unlucky enough to be coming home at the same time the 1st was pulling out. It meant I had to spend two weeks in Ft. Riley Kansas before I could get home to San Jose. That was a real drag. Kansas is a real drag.

They stuck us in a vacant hospital and somehow that first night I ran into Tom Cady. I hadn’t known him very well at Blackford but it was sure nice seeing a familiar face. He had also returned recently from Vietnam. I was partnered up with a native American guy named Arlington Fasthorse and Tom arranged for the three of us to get high and go see A Man Called Horse at the movies.

Tom informed me that Rich Manfre was also there working at a photo lab so I tracked him down. It was no surprise that Rich had gotten a great job and was even able to work in civilian clothes.

When I finally got out I let my hair grow long and started school at West Valley where I got my AA and then went to SJSU, all on the GI Bill. I was a few years older than most of my fellow students and very much more experienced and got excellent grades straight through. Most of this time I worked for Paul Gannon’s father as a painter and wallpaper hanger and went to school at night. I finally graduated in 1979 with a BA in Sociology. I’ve never used it. While at West Valley I ran into Bill Fraboni (blondie), Mike Kresbach and Brent Youngblood. They were all from the class of 69 I think.

In 1971 I got married to a girl from Camden’s class of 71. We met at West Valley and had known each other for all of 6 weeks. Desperate? Hungry? Who, me? I was technically married to her until just last month when our divorce became final, although I have not seen her since 2001. We had three great kids, 2 girls and a boy, and I now have 4 grandchildren. We lived in the Evergreen area most of that time and my kids and grandkids still do.

I worked in the convenience store business for 10 years and then for Shea Homes for another 10 before joining a small security firm as VP in 1996. I got separated in 2001 and moved to Modesto because it was cheaper and my office was in east Livermore. I met a nice gal from Singapore online (first ICQ and then Yahoo Chat) in Dec of 98 and we became an “item”.  

I lived in Modesto for two years when my company went belly up. After discussing it with my kids, I decided to move to Singapore. I did so in August of 2003 and have been here ever since. From the time I left Vietnam I have always wanted to return to Asia. If you know any other vets they will probably tell you they have felt the same way. I was lucky enough to get the chance.

Like 85% of the 4 million people that live on this small island (about 12 x 23 miles), I live in a flat. I’m on the 17th floor in a 4 bdrm, 2 bath unit with a great view of the city. See below. I’ve held a few jobs here already. It’s not easy for an expat, especially at my age, to find a job here. There are no gender or age laws. Employers can advertise for a 21 year old female and not accept anyone else if they so choose.

Along with my girlfriend, I formed my own company – Milestones Media – and am publishing an education website – www.eduScene.org. If there is interest or demand, we will probably publish an education magazine in the future. One way of the other, I plan on retiring at 62. I hope the American dollar holds out that long.

I also publish World Gone Mad, a political blog that you can find at www.expatbrian.wordpress.com. If you like Bush, you’ll hate my blog.

That’s about it. Please say hi in the comments and add your own post.

How I looked when I got to Singapore.

I took this shot from my living room.

Anyone who is interested in visiting Singapore, please let me know. For lots of great info about it, go to this links page of the website and browse around. Oh, and only use IE on that site. Firefox screws it all up.
Take care,

Brian