American in Germany

[dwiest12]

Hello All,
My name is Derrick and I currently reside in Tremmersdorf Germany. I am medically retired from the U.S. Army. I spent time as a tanker (M1A2) and a recruiter in the Army. I am originally from Louisville Kentucky (GO BIG BLUE).I spent my weekends, growing up, on Nolin Lake in Kentucky and have had a love for the water ever since. I always want to be in or near the water. From about 17 on I wanted to be a diver. I joined the Army at 17 and never ever found the time. As combat arms I was always in the field training or deployed. After doing some recruiting (I am an honest guy, honestly) I was medically retired form a TBI suffered while down range. If I could still be in I would be, but that is no longer for me to decide. Anyways, my time in the army earned me many things but most importantly, my wife and daughter. My wife is German, my little saurkraut, and that is why I live here in Germany. After getting out of the Army I realized how much extra time I have. I share my love for the water with my wife and for my 28th birthday she bought me my scuba certification. I completed this just a few weeks ago and I know have 5 logged dives. I am going again this Sunday for 2-3 more dives. The underwater world is magical and I could spend all of my days under. My very first dive in new I loved it. I want to do it every chance I can get and I would love to make a living somehow doing this. I know I am new to diving but I see the future as endless. I am going to setup some specialty classes this weekend and I hope to get my wife involved this winter and my daughter (5) when she is old enough. Thank you guys for having me here and is any one else in Europe?

 

[Diver0001]

Welcome Derrick.

There are actually quite a few Europeans on the board. I don't know how many of us are ex-pats but I am. I'm Canadian but I live in Holland.

If I'm not mistaken you're pretty close to the Czech border and I know they have quite an active ice-diving community there. Something like that may appeal to you (once you get some experience) since it's kind of in your back yard and you come across as someone who may like the calculated risk factor.

What's a TBI, by the way? I couldn't think of anything better than "terribly big insect" or "traumatic booze incident" ... It's probably not what you meant....

R..

 

[dwiest12]

HaHa, I wish it was a traumatic booze incident, although I think I may have suffered a few of those. It is a traumatic brain injury, repeated concussive blast do a number. I am so much better and almost normal, at least as I ever was. I have been cleared by several doctors to dive!. Yes I am close to the Czech border and would love to try ice diving, seems like a great thing too do! Hopefully my dive shop has some dry suits for rent because I have purchased all of my own equipment in the last two months. I do not know if I can get my wife to buy off on that kind of purchase this year! Thanks for responding!

 

[Diver0001]

ahhhhhhh. traumatic brain injury. I've had one of those as well (a concussion) that I got in a martial arts competition following a "totally botched initiative". Whenever possible I would sign in to a higher weight class than I was in because the big guys were slower and they were often less technical and therefore easier to fight than the guys in my own weight category....

but it finally backfired when I got squared off with someone in the last round of an open martial arts competition who was E-friggen-normous. His arms were just about as big around as my legs, he was at least 6 inches taller than I was and he had a look in his eyes that made me think that he probably didn't get hugged much as a child. I think his buddies called him "Hitch" as in "Karl the Trailer-Hitch"

I ducked and moved left (or so they tell me) when I should have blocked and moved back and the fight was over on the first punch. LOL

Sounds like your case is more than just a concussion though so I'm glad it's healing.

R..