Saturday, February 12, 2011

A lot of new things...

It's been 2 months since I worked for Dyncorp Int'l., thru EMDI, and I must say that I have learned a lot here, and is still currently learning more stuff as days progress. I've traveled the 3 most critical areas in region 9 (Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi) setting up VSATS and network access. I am enjoying it so far. I love how I am able to set up these huge satellite dishes and provide internet access to the American soldiers who are isolated from society. It's the only way they could communicate with the outside world, especially with their family. The internet really does make the world a very small place to live in, bringing people closer no matter how distant they may be.

Well, there have been issues with connectivity, but most of the time the problem is due to our provider's side. It rarely comes from ours. But when there is indeed trouble on our side, we simply give the routers a quick reboot (power-cycle), and the problem subsides. Sometimes we have to block certain users who eat up a lot or hug the bandwidth by downloading stuff and streaming videos on the internet. We only unblock them when they call us, and we explain to them why they were blocked, hoping that they would not do it again. But being the American soldiers that they are, they just keep doing it again. Yeah, they are a bit hard-headed and a pain in the butt. But if they do get blocked for a 3rd time, we will not be restoring their connectivity for about a month.

Most of the tasks I do here are simple. Installing software, remove viruses, assist with printing problems, entertaining calls, cleaning up the Comms room, etc. etc. When there's really nothing to do, I update my Facebook and other social networking sites. I still try, as much as I could, to keep up with my friends and former colleagues, and my former students as well. Yes, there are some things that I miss about my former job, but life must move on! I believe I am in a much better place right now. And I don't regret ever leaving my former job behind. Growth is actually putting into action everything that you learned in school, and learn a thing or two, whenever something goes wrong. It is better to apply what you are preaching, and discover if the theories are true, rather than preach and not doing anything to prove it.

Yes, there are really some things you cannot avoid no matter which company you are in. There will always be problems here and there. All you have to do is go with the flow. 

Well, I just hope the VFA will stay for some more years so I could stay employed here and all. I am enjoying it so much, and I have been able to provide for my wife and son what I was finding hard to provide before.

Take care and keep on reading my blogs!