HAHA, I ended up passed out drunk under Cannery Row because of my liberty buddy. More than once if I recall right <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />


FN

Longhorn sent me a pic a while back. I had to blow it up to get this but here is proof of his statement. This is by far the most senior NCO I've ever come across.

Longhorn's sleeve.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

LOL

"WHAT DOES THREE UP AND THREE DOWN MEAN TO YOU AIRMAN!?"

"Uh, the end of an inning."


<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

FN

Those stripes from Longhorn mean he is/was a "SUPER CHIEF"

FourthNail - were you stationed in Monterey? (DLI? NPGS? ORD?)

I'm not sure but I think you're required to genuflect when he walks by. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

DLI - Marine Corps Det '88 - '89 (Spanish)

From there to Goodefellow AFB in Texas and then to Camp Lejeune, NC.


FN

Army
Russian 91-92
F Co. (top of the hill)

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cool, I was at the Russian school for about three months <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Could never get past the alphabet.

Had G. Prenn and G. Annanenko as my two primary instructors. Prenn was Lithuanian and Annenenko was Russian and listening to them talk was like cats fighting all the time. Two really hated each other.


FN

I always enjoyed watching the instructors argue. I swear when they did it it was in an obscure Russian dialect because we could never understand a word of it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We had one instructor, German Asbel, that believed that total immersion required knowing all of the naughty words too. Loved it when he'd close the book and start teaching us those for an hour. Of course, it wasn't part of the "approved" curriculum. But we'd spend the rest of the day using the new vocabulary on each other. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Were you at up at Russian village (DR2)? Do you remember Irene Baratoff? She was the director when I was there (short lady with a cane. Nice but strict.) I noticed on the alumni website that she retired recently.

Annanenko is a familiar name but both of those instructors must have been with a different class if they were at DR2.

All in all Monterey was a great gig.

Small world. I was at DLI in 89 for Russian.

I remember lugging my duffel bag up that hill full of books and tapes. Not to mention that 50 pound tape recorder.

I used to frequent a pizza place named Nick right outside the gate. Don't remember much about the pizza but we all seemed to speak our languages better after a couple pitchers.

Doug (AF MSGT)

Very small world sometimes Doug.

They gave us that first book issue - and then told us it was only the first HALF of them. It was a looong way back to the barracks with all of them, wasn't it? And the Navy E-5 that showed up on day 1 with EVERY book he was issued packed into a rolling duffel bag. He wasn't sure if they REALLY meant just Mod 1 so be brought 'em all, just in case. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nick's Brick Oven Pizza. I think we only went there a couple of times but it was really good. Right on Forest Ave. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Here's a link to the way back machine... DLIFLC Alumni

I was the first Marine in ten years to have been given a second chance in another language. I was young and full of myself and vodka so I could never pass any of the written tests. Made 69's on every single one of them for three straight months.

My Det CO, one Major Monreal called me into his office and told me I had a choice between grunts and Spanish. In retrospect, I should have taken grunts <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Making the switch from Russian to Spanish was as easy as vodka to tequila and I left the school with a 2.5 language rating. Kinda weak but meh, it got the job done.

I only remember enough now to get around here in Texas and to get a job at a Mexican restaurant if I need to.

FN

Man, you were lucky. Usually once you rock out they just put you wherever THEY want to.

I probably couldn't give directions to the bathroom anymore in Russian.

I can still swear in Russian...imagine that. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />