Living in a military community, you quickly learn it has its own culture. Service members embrace military culture and sets of particular values, such as honor. What I didn’t anticipate was the entire community having norms not commonly seen in civilian communities. For example, the PCS (Permanent Change of Station) sale, in which you sell a great deal of your possessions, preparing to PCS. This ritual offers many benefits to military families, some meaningful and others just to make life a little easier.
The PCS sale lightens the load by decluttering unwanted items and adds some cash to your account as it is costly to move and can cause a strain on families. A change in duty station often causes unforeseen circumstances, generating the norm to sell everything you can’t (that’s a thing!) or don’t want to take. Relocating can also be a fresh start — new home, new belongings, new opportunities.
Though we may not think about it, moving means more than leaving behind our family and friends. It means leaving behind some of our culture and adapting to new norms. A tough adjustment, especially in OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) moves where the language, the food, and/or general surroundings are different than what you’re used to. It’s necessary to stay true to who you are and where you come from as well as to remain open-minded when it comes to change. Finding ways to incorporate your culture may help you connect with others who share some of your values, feeling more at home in your new surroundings.
Vicenza, Italy, was almost our first duty station. As we planned, I learned as much as I could about the rich culture we prepared to embrace. Drinking amazing wine and tasting delicious fresh food were a few aspects I was well prepared to accept. We were originally disappointed we wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Italy, but we were pleased to receive Fort Liberty.
As all of the military community understands, last-minute changes are another tough reality you learn to accept, which was one of my first lessons as a military spouse. Luckily, this change wasn’t all bad. This meant reunification with my husband much sooner after 10 long months apart, my desired location (if not Hawaii), and being much closer to a beach than in Pittsburgh, where I was living at the time! I was also relieved there would not be too much of a cultural shock for our first military move.
My attempts to learn about Fayetteville and Fort Liberty prior to our arrival left me worried we wouldn’t be happy here. Some said it was a great area to live in while others said it was a horrible post and an even worse area, referred to as “Fayettenam.” If you’ve ever read one of my columns, you’ll already know my perspective: Fayetteville and Fort Liberty are what you make them.
There is no shortage of family activities, amazing places to eat, plenty of fun things to do, and something for everyone. Fayetteville is a military town and there is no doubt about that: Driving on any major roadway outside of Fort Liberty, you’ll see tattoo, seamstress, and military surplus shops everywhere you look. Fayetteville also recognizes this is home to people from all over the world, offering a wide range of opportunities to learn about and celebrate the town, its history, its progression, and culture while making room for others to share their own. Fort Liberty offers a kind, caring, and loving community also ready to share its culture and embrace yours, no matter where you’re from.
Read CityView Magazine’s “Arts & Culture” October 2024 e-edition here.
