There are moments I bloody well wish I could make up my mind about things. Or perhaps the crucial point is that there really is no blanket judgments ever to be made. I was out last night after work, in my favorite park, and the men and ladies of Iksan Slalom, a group of inline slalom skaters, who were probably all born around the time I graduated from high school, were working out. I was asked by one of them if I skated, and I said yes, at which point a pair of skates was rounded up that almost fit, and there I was, on my feet, learning to go through the cones. I was nowhere near the acrobatics demonstrated by my hosts, and.....I feel bad about not knowing his name at the moment, but I was taught a few new things, and was quite impressed with the patience they had with me. It felt really good, too, to be up on skates again, I'm rueing at this point that I didn't pack mine, I'm sure the fun would be more fun, right up until the time the snow started flying. To my mind, as good as it felt, it was really as much of a social coup as a workout. I will probably never get closer to the inside of real Korea than I have, and the influence of teaching these kids everything I have can't be discounted. None the less, it was fun. It was good to be in the company of a bunch of really gracious kids; it gives me hope that maybe Korea's future will indeed improve upon a tradition-locked past. Now, if we could just work on the wardrobe and the use of English.........
Additionally, though, my friend Ge-Anne was telling me the tale not long ago of another friend of hers who was teaching English in Nigeria. There is no national security in Nigeria, so if you want to be safe, you hire your own private security force, and keep your head down. Her friend lives, works and shops on the grounds of a compound, and the only time he ever leaves is if he wants to use the gym at the hotel across the street from the compound. Geez, and I thought it was bad because the guy at my post office was armed; no contest there. And, of course, at least I can get mail out, as I have been doing all along, pretty much. There's a whole helluva lot more I could grouse about than not being able to find Tylenol or a western doctor when I want. On the upside too, the mosquitos are all dying now. None of which still disguises the fact that I am getting tired, and I took my last Strattera today. Won't be takin THAT stuff again, ever, and the prospect of trying to get what I do need into Korea......screw it, for as little time as I have left, I'll wing it and hope for the best. My rating of Korea? Still a 6 or 7.
And, in yet another oddly Korean moment, I was just walking to work, and in typical Korean fashion, two women in front of me were holding hands, in the manner of all such Korean chick-buddies. The difference here was that one of the two women was armed with a small automatic pistol, denoting that she was obviously a law enforcement type. You wouldn't think, at least to my way of thinking, that such a woman would need or WANT her hand held. I mean, obviously, her sense of womanhood is no question, and if she did need to reach for it, you'd think she'd want both hands free. But, of course, what do I know, I'm just an American?!
THE FOLLOWING IS EXCERPTED FROM AOL JOBS.COM
Can you keep a secret? They can.
"They" are some of today's top-secret employees. Whether they're tracking down terrorists, holding back hackers, protecting politicians or withholding this year's Oscar winners, these folks have all perfected the art of keeping information under wraps.
While "top-secret" may bring to mind memories of a jet-setting, James Bond, "shaken, not stirred, variety," not all duties for top-secret jobs parallel the exciting lives of spies and secret agents featured in mainstream media and cinematography. Still, there is something to be said for mystery and a job that in some instances can really mean a matter of life or death.
So if you're hot on the trail of a new career and looking to add a little excitement to your life, here are a few of today's top-secret jobs to get you started on your mission:
1. FBI Special Agent
What they do: Work includes law enforcement responsibilities and examining operators suspected of violating federal law, such as national/transnational serial killers, terrorists and kidnappers.
What you need: U.S. citizenship or citizenship of the Northern Mariana Islands, a valid driver's license, and to be at least 23 years of age, but younger than 37 upon your appointment as an agent. A four-year degree is required and must be received from a school accredited by the United States Secretary of Education. Extreme flexibility for relocation is needed, as well as qualification for one of the five entry programs. Additional requirements may also include critical skills, physical abilities and background check.
2. CIA Operations Officer
What they do: They research and scout global information and determine its influence and relation to the United States in order to alert its policy makers. They also make criminal convictions.
What you need: You must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizenship for both you and your spouse, and have an undergraduate, or preferably, an advanced degree that relates to the work, and a strong interest in international affairs. Officers must also successfully complete a medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview and an extensive background investigation. Fluency in foreign language and additional requirements may be needed.
3. Secret Service Special Agent
What they do: Originally, agents were assigned to examine counterfeit currency, but today they protect political figures and safeguard the U.S. financial system. Work includes investigating matters of forgery, theft and identity fraud as well as making arrests.
What you need: U.S. citizenship is required and to be between 21 and 37 years old at the time of appointment. Agents must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, three years of work experience in the criminal investigation or law enforcement fields that related to criminal violations or have an equivalent combination of education and related experience. You also need to pass an extensive background investigation and have extreme flexibility on relocating. Additional requirements may be needed.
4. Nuclear Engineer
What they do: They work with either utilities companies, the research and testing units of engineering and defense companies, or with the Federal Government. Most conduct in-depth research, from how to improve the performance of a nuclear power plant to the development of medical technologies.
What you need: A B.S. in nuclear engineering, business or a related technical field. Knowledge of the industry standards, regulations and equipment are vital.
5. Detective
What they do: Detectives survey and investigate matters of crime such as robbery, homicide or narcotics as part of a police force or as a private investigator. Work includes record and forensic evidence investigation and testifying in court.
What you need: While there is no formal education requirement for private detective work, most have college degrees and related experience. Entering this field directly after graduation requires a two- or four-year degree in police science or criminal justice. Licensing, exams and additional requirements vary based on job type and state regulations.
6. National Security Agency Language Analyst
What they do: They analyze foreign language intelligence content and organize it according to context. Language analysts may also provide understanding of the culture surrounding the languages they study.
What you need: Essential is a professional proficiency in a language or multiple languages. Currently, the agency is focusing on the recruitment of linguistics experts familiar with Asian or Middle Eastern languages.
7. Psychiatrist
What they do: Determine, assist and treat the mental statuses of their patients. They may do this through means of psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and/or through prescribing medications, but they must keep a stern vow of doctor-patient confidentiality.
What you need: Required are four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and residency for four more years. Under residency, at least four post-graduate months of pediatrics or internal medicine and two months of neurology must be completed. After training, psychiatrists must complete written and oral board examinations.
8. Biometric Technology Developer
What they do: They require research, devise and test security software and hardware that uses physical or behavorial characterstics -- such as scans for face recognition, fingerprints or voice recognition -- to verify identity, generally for security access. Their findings and advancements have upgraded the way many casinos, banks, hotels and other areas operate their security.
What you need: A B.S. in computer science or a related field, and graduate degrees are preferred. Developers must have experience in biometrics and related areas and an understanding of the most current applications. Certification is also required at different levels and the U.S. government may have additional regulations and requirements for federal research employment.
9. Cryptanalyst
What they do: They design, decipher and analyze ciphers, or coding systems. This work is done to protect secret information for law enforcement, military, or political personnel, as well as to provide privacy for people and businesses.
What you need: A strong talent in understanding mathematics, economics and computer science is essential. While a degree is not required, most have at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics or computer science, and often have a graduate degree in mathematics.
10. Awards-Show Auditor
What they do: Auditors tabulate the votes conducted by a secret ballot and withhold the results so that the envelopes may be opened onstage and televised by live programming. This work is done in addition to the auditor job duties that include organizing and verifying company and personal finance information and public records.
What you need: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is necessary. Some employers have preferences on degree concentrations. Experience in accounting or auditing and CPA licensure are also needed. Additional training and education is needed for specializing a level of expertise and to renew the CPA license.
Candace Corner is a writer for CareerBuilder.com.
Copyright 2006 CareerBuilder.com.