Active duty or former military

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Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Dec 4, 2012 6:07 AM
For any of you who were or are military. We're you ever stationed in Europe? We have our hearts set on going there next. We'd really like to go to aviano Italy and its somewhere we could likely get with my wife being in comm/intel.
Just curious if you lived in Europe and what you liked/disliked, things to know.

I guess it could be anyone too, doesn't have to be military.
Dec 4, 2012 6:07am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

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9,716 posts
Dec 4, 2012 8:30 AM
Rome is a city of thieves outside the city Italy is great
London pretty cool, any place in th UK is comfortable to live
Spain was very good time
France is so so

It different life style in Europe more like living in small town Chicago type with neighbor stores and shops but with big Europe subway to get around from country to country
Dec 4, 2012 8:30am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

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24,984 posts
Dec 4, 2012 8:38 AM
I've never been to Europe, but I've lived in Bowling Green, OH, and it sucks.
Dec 4, 2012 8:38am
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GoChiefs

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Dec 4, 2012 8:45 AM
ernest_t_bass;1336087 wrote:I've never been to Europe, but I've lived in Bowling Green, OH, and it sucks.

Lima is terrible too.

Have an uncle that was stationed in Europe for many years and he loved it.
Dec 4, 2012 8:45am
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Iliketurtles

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Dec 4, 2012 8:55 AM
I have a friend who was stationed in Germany and she loved it also my brother-in-law and sister are currently in Turkey and they like it there.
Dec 4, 2012 8:55am
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believer

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8,153 posts
Dec 4, 2012 6:34 PM
Was stationed for a short time at Sculthorpe, England. Enjoyed the country and the people but the food pretty much SUCKED.
Dec 4, 2012 6:34pm
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like_that

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Dec 4, 2012 6:40 PM
Midstate01;1336046 wrote:For any of you who were or are military. We're you ever stationed in Europe? We have our hearts set on going there next. We'd really like to go to aviano Italy and its somewhere we could likely get with my wife being in comm/intel.
Just curious if you lived in Europe and what you liked/disliked, things to know.

I guess it could be anyone too, doesn't have to be military.
Not active duty, but grew up an AF brat. We were actually stationed in Aviano. You won't regret your decision to go there if you do. They had 2 bases at the time I was there. Area A, and then Area B was the flight line. There was a huge "Aviano 2000" project to get everything on one base. Apparently it is very nice now. It was still amazing when I was there. If you end up going, pm me. There is a pizzeria there that is still where I believe is the best pizza in the world.

Also, the Italians there are very friendly and helpful to all the Americans who live in that area.
Dec 4, 2012 6:40pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Dec 4, 2012 7:30 PM
Only downfall of aviano is dependents can't get jobs on base or around it. The AF apparently contracts everything out to locals as part of a deal. We have friends there now and the wife has 3 degrees and can't work. So that's a bummer. But they still love it there.
Dec 4, 2012 7:30pm
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Cat Food Flambe'

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Dec 4, 2012 11:05 PM
Lady D'Friskies spent six years in Germany over two streches as a teenager.

Her advice - try to live off the base if at all possible, and take some time to learn at least a little of local language - it really opens up the ability to appreciate your time there.
Dec 4, 2012 11:05pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Dec 5, 2012 1:32 AM
Cat Food Flambe';1336626 wrote:Lady D'Friskies spent six years in Germany over two streches as a teenager.

Her advice - try to live off the base if at all possible, and take some time to learn at least a little of local language - it really opens up the ability to appreciate your time there.

I believe in aviano there's no on base housing. But we'd live off base. We'd wanna interact in the community. We only live on base here in Hawaii because its absolutely outrageous to live off base here.
Dec 5, 2012 1:32am
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Dec 5, 2012 2:16 AM
Midstate01;1336662 wrote:I believe in aviano there's no on base housing. But we'd live off base. We'd wanna interact in the community. We only live on base here in Hawaii because its absolutely outrageous to live off base here.
I can confirm this, shit is ridiculous.
Dec 5, 2012 2:16am
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Dec 5, 2012 2:28 AM
I Wear Pants;1336665 wrote:I can confirm this, **** is ridiculous.

My wife's BAH is about 2500. 3 bedroom houses not in shirty areas where locals hate military would be 3000+ a month. No thanks. Instead we live on base for free, don't pay for water or electric, live 2 blocks from her work and 200 yards from pearl harbors canal. Can't complain!!
Dec 5, 2012 2:28am
I

I Wear Pants

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Dec 5, 2012 3:40 AM
Midstate01;1336670 wrote:My wife's BAH is about 2500. 3 bedroom houses not in shirty areas where locals hate military would be 3000+ a month. No thanks. Instead we live on base for free, don't pay for water or electric, live 2 blocks from her work and 200 yards from pearl harbors canal. Can't complain!!
Yeah where my sister lived in Ewa Beach I think she payed $800 a month and had a housemate and it was a 3 BR place but I think that was probably on the cheaper end of things. Lot of military folks there it seemed.
Dec 5, 2012 3:40am
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Dec 5, 2012 4:59 AM
Rooming up with ppl is smart. If you're single and can do that, you can MAKE money off your bah. Ewa is pretty much completely military. She live in Iroquois point?
Dec 5, 2012 4:59am
I

I Wear Pants

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Dec 5, 2012 5:28 AM
Pu'uloa.
Dec 5, 2012 5:28am
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

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Dec 5, 2012 6:25 AM
Pretty sure Salto preferred his time in Ramstein, Germany over Balad, Iraq.
Ramstein is practically all Americans because of the military.
Dec 5, 2012 6:25am
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Dec 5, 2012 12:39 PM
I Wear Pants;1336681 wrote:Pu'uloa.

Yep that's the same place. I figured so, ewa beach is pretty much all military
Dec 5, 2012 12:39pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Dec 5, 2012 12:41 PM
said_aouita;1336683 wrote:Pretty sure Salto preferred his time in Ramstein, Germany over Balad, Iraq.
Ramstein is practically all Americans because of the military.

I'd actually personally prefer Germany. My last name is Schmelzer, soooo my roots are German. The wife though really wants Italy or the Uk
Dec 5, 2012 12:41pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Dec 5, 2012 12:45 PM
I Wear Pants;1336672 wrote:Yeah where my sister lived in Ewa Beach I think she payed $800 a month and had a housemate and it was a 3 BR place but I think that was probably on the cheaper end of things. Lot of military folks there it seemed.
$800 a month is pocket change.
Dec 5, 2012 12:45pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Dec 5, 2012 12:56 PM
sleeper;1336854 wrote:$800 a month is pocket change.

You don't understand what he was talking about. Just her portion was that. So rent at the house was probably 2400
Or it could have been 1600 with just two, but those houses are tiny and have no ac.
Dec 5, 2012 12:56pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Dec 5, 2012 1:52 PM
Midstate01;1336869 wrote:You don't understand what he was talking about. Just her portion was that. So rent at the house was probably 2400
Or it could have been 1600 with just two, but those houses are tiny and have no ac.
So sounds like every major city in the country. NYC, DC, SF, etc.
Dec 5, 2012 1:52pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Dec 5, 2012 1:54 PM
sleeper;1336908 wrote:So sounds like every major city in the country. NYC, DC, SF, etc.

I'm not gonna go there. So you don't ruin another thread
Dec 5, 2012 1:54pm
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sleeper

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Dec 5, 2012 2:03 PM
Midstate01;1336909 wrote:I'm not gonna go there. So you don't ruin another thread
Go where? $800 a month is pretty cheap compared to those 3 cities, even per person.
Dec 5, 2012 2:03pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Dec 5, 2012 2:14 PM
You would be correct if this was actually in a city. From Ewa Beach it takes forever to get into Honolulu to work. And I think the other roommate paid like $1200. Still not too outrageous considering it had beach access (not all that great but still) and a gym and good security. But that was sort of the low end of what's available, housing and cost of living in Hawaii is pretty damned high. Not gonna see $7 gallons of milk in NYC.
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Dec 5, 2012 2:14pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Dec 5, 2012 2:52 PM
I Wear Pants;1336920 wrote:You would be correct if this was actually in a city. From Ewa Beach it takes forever to get into Honolulu to work. And I think the other roommate paid like $1200. Still not too outrageous considering it had beach access (not all that great but still) and a gym and good security. But that was sort of the low end of what's available, housing and cost of living in Hawaii is pretty damned high. Not gonna see $7 gallons of milk in NYC.
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Says someone who's never lived in NYC.
Dec 5, 2012 2:52pm