Big News!!

So I found out the night before going back to Reynosa that I am being moved to another location. The location, drum roll please is . . . Poza Rica, Mexico. It is a city on the gulf side in southern Mexico. It is part of the state of Veracruz. I am working my way down to Cancun!!

From my take on Poza Rica, it is an older city compared to Reynosa and has a little more culture and history, which I am excited about. It is a pretty big city (not quite as many people as Reynosa but still bigger than High Point). Below are the El Tajín Mayan temples outside the city. Now I have something to explore during my few days off!!

This will not be a permanent move but just until I "breakout". "Breakout" is a training step in SLB where you have to show that you are capable of designing and supervising a job. It is going to be pretty rough for me because I need to know perfect, or close to it, Spanish!! Once I breakout I will be sent back to Reynosa to be an Engineer in Charge . . . that is when I will go from being a trainee to a real field engineer!! So most likely I will be in Poza Rica till the end of the year.

I had 2 days in Reynosa before I was supposed to go to Poza Rica but I persuaded my manager to send me home to NC for 2 weeks!! I am soooooooooo excited . . . its been a little over 6 months since I left High Point!! I am glad I got to go to Reynosa first because I got to see some of my friends and talk with my manager about school and stuff. Plus I could bring all my stuff home to repack because I have realized I brought a lot of stuff that I did not need at all and wished I had other things!

Man, does my manager have some big expectations for me!! He said that I am a brilliant engineer and expects that I breakout soon and learn more than just what is expected of you to pass. He wants me to be a big boss (what he is) in less than 4 years! No pressure right!!

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

I made it!!

So I made it finally to the last week of training. The main part is over and now just a week of well control certification left. I ended up "graduating" top 3 in my class so I hope my manager will approve!! Now that it is over my body has told me to just chill out for a little while . . . it has been a long and tiring, mentally and physically, time but I did it!! We had our graduation dinner Thursday night were we got our "diplomas". It was just a fun time together with a lot of laughing.

Below is a picture of me, Carolina, my instructor, and Ryan, the one who ended up top of the class. We definitely pushed and helped each other throughout this training!

Rafa and Henrik messing around with Ryan's top of class statue!

The 2 other CT girls Daiana and Susanne.

The crazy Canadians Hassan and the other Ryan.

And finally John, Paolo and Cesar, another instructor that helped us.

You can just see the relief and happiness of in everyone's faces!! We all wanted to finish together and we did it!!

Because I needed some me time and sleep, I decided not to go to Las Vegas with most of the rest of the class for the weekend. And now I am sooooo thankful I did not go. I had so much fun hanging out with the 2 Canadians and 1 other classmate this weekend. This Friday we went go-karting which was a lot of fun. These were not the slow little go-karts, they are the ones that can go 50 mph!! At first I was so timid to go fast. One because I have not driven in 6 months, and two I felt like I was going to roll the karts even though I knew that was not going to happen! By the last 10 minute run however I was getting really good! I was one of the fastest people on the track! Below are just some photos of the day!! The last one is of the gang that did not go to Vegas and Raul, a supervisor that helped us out. Afterwards we went to Iron Man 2 with Carolina and had fun joking around with her. It was a great day!

This final picture shows just how much fun I had with these people. They made this process soooo much better. I thank God for one allowing me to make it to this specific school and two meeting these people. It is going to be hard going back to the real world because it was so nice having other people in the exact some boat. It is looking like they are sending me to Villahermosa in southern Mexico for a little bit which will be good. An added bonus is that Rafa works there so I know at least one person! I will let everyone know when I find out exactly what is going on!! Please keep praying that wherever I go I will find community!

Where the Wild Things Are

I cannot believe that I only have 3 more weeks here in Tulsa. Time has flown by!! The next 2 weeks are going to be pretty tough but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! Its taken a long time but I see it now! I have one final job to run and exam this week, and then the final exam and project the next. It is doable but I know it is going to take a long time and a couple sleepless nights!

I have learned so much so far. The ins and outs of pumping, running the CT unit, downhole tools, downhole hydraulics, mechanical hydraulic systems, electric systems, just to name a few! I never ever would have thought I would be learning and doing the things I have been doing. It is so hard to explain what I am really doing. Sometimes I would like to just have everyone in my brain when I do things so you would understand. When people ask what do I do, I do not know where to start so I end up just saying that I work for an oil services company that goes to wells and performs services to make the well more efficient but that does not give it any justice!

Below is just some pictures of the group learning how to operate the liquid nitrogen pumping unit. Pretty much we just sat around waiting for ice to form on the pipes!! The guys had a lot of fun wearing the aprons too!! Just another piece of protective clothing you need on the job!

This weekend we final got off a Saturday which was soooooooo nice!! To celebrate we went out to dinner Friday night to a restaurant near our apartments that was supposedly famous. It was good but it was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever had. You walk in and it looked pretty fancy but then you get at the tables and the menus were just fliers and we had some random person seat us (he was the only one not in a shirt and tie). Then they just started putting random food on the table. Come to find out it was a steakhouse with middle eastern influence. So we had a cabbage roll and taboli, and then pork ribs and a big juicy steak. Its another experience that I cannot give it justice when trying to explain it! A little look into the craziness is the picture below of Ryan and Daiana . . . they ordered a porron of wine and the waiter brought out this plastic measuring pitcher of wine. All I got to say is bizarre!

The next day a group of us decided to go to the Tulsa Zoo. Supposedly, this zoo was named the best zoo of the US at one point from customer reviews but not sure if that really is the case!! It was a lot of fun and such a beautiful day. It was nice just to be outside and doing something different for once!! We saw lions and tigers and bears, oh my!! I have to say that the chimps, penguins, and giraffes were my favorite. I could have sat for hours watching the 2 baby chimps swinging all over the place and the old woman playing with her food and grossing out the crowd! I definitely saw God's beauty all day long!

Below is me, Suzanne, Paolo, and Daiana!! Of course they made me be the giraffe!! It was a lot of fun with these guys. At one point Paolo told everyone that we were only allowed to speak in our native language. It was complete craziness!! Paolo was speaking Italian while Suz spoke Norwegian and Daiana spoke Portuguese!! I was the boring one who spoke English. I told them it was not fair because they understood what I was saying while I couldn't understand them!! The other picture is just of the CT girls with the elephants!

Hopefully by the next post I will know if I am still going to be in Reynosa or if they are going to transfer me to another city or country!!

So much to do, so little time.

The saying of "so much to do, so little time" is so true in my life right now. So things have started to heat up here in Tulsa . . . figuratively and realistically!! Training has gotten a lot more involved and a lot harder. Plus it is getting hotter and there has been a lot of weird weather. The other night I had my first ever all-nighter. I ended up being up for around 38 hours total!! Surprisingly, I was pretty coherent for most of the day, especially during the big presentation that I had. Our group ended up having the best presentation/grade was made the ordeal a lot better!! When I finally got home from work though I crashed like a rock. Below is pictures of the some of guys the day of the presentation. My favorite is of Ryan cuddled up with his computer!! People were so tired that during my group's presentation someone started snoring. I guess it was not completely their fault because we were the last group to go!

With things getting harder, I am starting to get frustrated more too which is not good. Maybe it was just that kind of day, which I hope is the case. A lot of the assignments that are given to us have been very unorganized and not very specific on what the instructors are looking from it. Plus, I guess I am a little frustrated in the lack of life I have. I mean I like and enjoy my job but I guess I am a little tired and homesick. I never thought I would get homesick, but I would like to hang out with my family and friends and especially give my mom a hug . . . I can feel it now :) Thankfully, I have been able to go to church and a young professionals sunday school class on sundays. It has been a lot of fun getting to know them and hang out with them at lunch after church. It has helped me feel like a normal person, though it does make me realize the lack of life I do have!!

The past two weeks we have been "down the hill" meaning that we were doing hands on practice and learning to operate the CT Unit and pump. I have been on the pump unit for a lot of time now. The first picture below is my view on the pump. Its a lot of fun opening and closing all the valves! It nice finally being out of the classroom and get to use what we have been learning though it is harder and more work. The second picture is the CT pad where we get to learn how to operate and practice doing different jobs. I will post more pictures of the pad later on.

Please pray that I will have patience and not get stressed or frustrated in the next couple of days and weeks. I know things are going to get better but right now I can not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I am just going through a phase but it would nice to feel normal!

He has risen indeed!

So I have survived the first 3 weeks of school so far!! It really does feel like I am in college again with homework, projects and exams but it is different. Its better though because I am getting paid to study!! However, there is more pressure too because if I fail 2 tests I get kicked out of school and most likely the company!!

Also I just wanted to say that God is great!! Though my job is exciting, interesting, and bizarre at the same time, one bad thing is the lack of fellowship that I have had so far. I know that God has used every moment to glorify himself and help me grow closer to him but it would be nice having someone that I know has the same beliefs to talk with. I trust that He will provide and send people my way but it is still hard. This job is very grueling and mentally exhausting. It had been over 4 months since I had gone to church which I did not think would be that hard but I have realized that it was a source of comfort in my life. Since I can remember I went to church . . . though it was not every week, I could go whenever I wanted. Well, I finally got to go to church and it happened to be on Easter!! I love how God uses different people and things to comfort and show you His strength and presence. Thankfully, the Schrum's have really good friends that live in Tulsa so they invited me to go to church with them and have Easter lunch with their family and friends. It was soooo nice having a holiday in a family setting. Yes, it was not my family but I had a home cooked meal with a really nice and loving family! Since then they have picked me up each week, and I have gotten to hang out with my Sunday school class of young professionals. It is sooo nice being around people with the same morals and beliefs though it might be only for a short time.

I am also thankfully for the people that are in my class. They know exactly what I have been going through because they are in the same situation I am. They have shown me that my location is not necessarily the worst place to be because I at least have some people that I get along with really well. We seem to always be laughing together and each other, which I have not done in a long time. Every Saturday night we go eat together after our exam and laugh soooo much. The Italian guy, Paolo, is out of control. Every picture I have of him he is making a crazy face, and the stuff he says is so random!! And the stereotyping of Italians always talking with their hands is sooo true!! Below is just one of the pictures of Paolo!!

Below are just some pictures during hydraulics training!

The place that I live for 9 hours a day. I can't wait in 2 weeks to be going "Down the Hill" to learn how to run the Coiled Tubing Unit and Pump.

Looking at some schematics and tracing the hydraulic lines to the pumps and motors of the power pack.

More pictures of the gang. The 1st one is on the Coiled Tubing Unit and the other is inside the maintenance workshop. Everyone lookin good in their PPE!!

Please keep praying for Reynosa. Though I am not there right now, my friends and coworkers still have to be there. The situation has gotten worse again, and it might stay that way for a while until the military gets things under control.

Welcome Back to the US!!

This past couple of weeks have been crazy with trying to get all my training modules done, taking my pre-school exams, and going to a lot of wells. Luckily though I was able to get everything done and pass my exams so that I could go to my first training school. The other trainee in my location also passed his exams which would have been great going to school together, but he got the privilege of going to Abu Dabai in United Emirates for school. I got to go to Tulsa, OK for mine!! Yes it is not as exotic as his school but God knew what I needed in my life. I think I needed some normalcy!! I was starting to get really frustrated with work and needed a break from everything. Also, I did not realize what I missed until I got back here. Things like vegetables, cheddar cheese, flushing your toilet paper, etc.!! God has given me the opportunity to go to many different places around the world so I have experienced many cultures, but talking with my mom recently I realized that I am going through a little phase of culture shock. I have been in Mexico for 4 months now, and I have enjoyed the people, food, and work but the stress of the job, the language barrier, and all the little things just started adding up.

Now I am in Tulsa and loving it!! The US welcomed me back with snow flying into Dallas and a lite blizzard in Tulsa. I was not ready for that at all!! I was just starting to get used to the 80-90 degree weather we were having in Reynosa! I will be here for 10 weeks total if I pass my exam for each week. It is going to be hard and a lot of studying, but I enjoy having a set schedule. I even get Sundays off which is unthinkable!! I have gotten to go out to eat with people, go to the grocery store, Target, and feel like a normal working adult for once!! I am in a class with 9 other people and living in a apartment complex with everyone. In my class there are 3 other Americans . . . 2 of which are located in Mexico as well but other locations. There is also 2 Norwegians, 2 Canadians, 1 Brazilian, and an Italian. Working with all these people from different countries has been great and was one of the reasons why I choose to work with SLB in the first place. Below is a picture of the group "down the hill" at the Kellyville Learning Center in Tulsa. Again I am the odd ball with the red hard hat but at least now there are other people that are as tall or taller than me!!

Here is a another picture of the gang excluding Hassan from Canada. From the right there is John from Arizona working in Mexico, me, Diana from Brazil working in Norway, Suzanne from Norway working in Tunisia, Paolo from Italy working in Italy, Henrik from Norway working in Libya, Ryan from Canada working in Canada, Rafael from Wyoming working in Mexico, and Ryan from Florida working in the US.

Another great thing about being at school right now is I have gotten to see some of my friends from OFS-1 in Brazil. There are 5 of us from orientation training at the same time. Alejandra from Mexico is pictured below with me! She is in another segment of Well Services . . . Stimulation. Plus there are other people that can speak spanish so I can keep practicing, because I know I will forget most of it if I do not keep using it!!

Just some more pics of the gang: Rafael, John, Ryan, and Paolo and me, Alejandra, and Paolo.

Craziness in Reynosa

I know that I already posted today but this post couldn't wait. So this past week there has been a lot of craziness in Reynosa and the surrounding towns. It is very normal for there to be shootings in Reynosa at least once a week which is bad, but right now it is everyday.


There are 2 main drug cartels in Reynosa, and they are having a little war right now and when you add the Mexican military into the mix it amplifies the situation even more. Some locals have told me that all this is happening because one of the cartels, the CDG (cartel del golfo), who was in control of the Reynosa had their leader arrested last year so their rival cartel, Cartel Zetas, took over. There is now a new leader for the CDG, and he made a deal with the Zetas to be in control of a certain area outside of Reynosa to keep the peace between the two cartels. However, one of the CDG helpers has stayed in Reynosa and started causing problems last week. The Zetas told the helper to leave by Feb. 22 or things were going to get ugly. The helper did not leave so now the Zetas have told the CDG boss to bring the helper to the Zetas by the end of Feb. or a war will start. So right now in Reynosa there are the Zetas, the real CDG, the CDG branch that has started this situation, the federal and local police, and the Mexican marines shooting at each other.


It is very normal to see 5 marine hummers go by with guns loaded and ready to fire, helicopters, and a lot of pickup trucks and SUVs driving around. Unfortunately, Tuesday I encountered one of the cartel units coming back from a well. I was in a pickup with one other guy, and we had to stop in the middle of the road because two pickups had blocked it. Around 13 more pickups and SUVs crossed the street to a gas station and set up a parameter to protect I'm guessing one of the bosses. All the trucks had multiple men in full army attire with guns drawn and pointed. It did not hit me what was going on until we were able to get back on the road. Thankfully, God was in control of the situation and protected our truck. I have heard that the cartel, police, and military are not afraid to just start shooting even if civilians are around. God allowed us to pass at the right time before anything bad could start.


The next day I was just looking at the news and found this article that I think is really interesting. I guess it is bad enough here right now that even the US consulate closed!! But if you read around the middle of the article you will read about the guys I came across in Cuidad de Mier. I guess after my encounter the police arrived and there was a shoot out and 10 local cops were kidnapped . . . yikes!! Another interesting thing about this article is how the Mexican government keeps saying that all the stories are rumors. This is not the case, however, especially of late. Many of the operators here have seen shot up cars and even dead bodies in the street or in cars. I do not want to scare you with all this info but it needs to be addressed and prayed for. I am safe, and if I feel unsafe I will not hesitate to come home because the job is not worth that risk. SLB is starting to put in rules and sending people on vacations early to minimize the risk.


http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/25/us.mexico.consulate/


Pray that things will die down here, that He will keep me safe and all my co-workers and their families, and present Himself to a lost and hurting city.


If you could also pray for me and my tests that I will be having in the next couple of days that would be great too!! I had enough stress with these tests and now with the craziness it makes it worse!! I think that all the stress, being in a different culture and language, and not having christian fellowship has worn me down considerable. Its been a pretty rough past week. I can't believe I have been here in Mexico for over 3 months now . . . time sure does fly!!



Isaiah 41:10,13
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. . . For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you!