The time is going fast...
Days go by quickly around. Here is a typical day for me in June:
- wake up, shower, get dressed, grab by helmet, weapons, and body armor and head down to a meeting place where we live to receive the mission briefing for the day (it has been planned the night before by me)
- we go over all kinds of checklist items (are the vehicles ready, does everyone have ear protection, eye protection, enough ammunition, commo checks, etc.) and then we go "outside the wire" traveling in our up-armored vehicles
- typically we go to meetings with high level government officials, or we go review various infrastructure projects and report back to our headquarters on the project's status, or sometimes we combine our work meetings/activities with some goodwill mission. For example, yesterday we went to a hospital because some folks had to do some kind of assessment there. So I decided that while they were doing that my team would do a goodwill activity and hand out beanie babies and pens to folks in the hospital. I first went to the head nurse and introduced myself and explained why we were there. Then the way we worked it was that for the next 45 minutes or so we followed the head nurse as she handed out a beanie baby to either children, babies, or adults - one by one (that is why it took so long). But it was great because we got to visit folks in the children's ward, the pregnant mother's ward, and the older folks ward....and the hospital staff.
Why did we do that? Well, for one it is quite a morale boost after countless hours in the heat and driving around town sometimes not talking to too many people...and that we get to interact positively with the Iraqi people is quite a nice thing. The other reason is that I knew that some people in that hospital either activity support the insurgency or know someone that is in the insurgency, or are at least ambivalent about the whole thing. Thus, when we show up as Americans smiling and handing out gifts to them and their children, I have to believe that there are some of those folks out there that will be favorably influenced by our actions that we did yesterday. I cannot do anything about the hardened insurgents that want to die for Allah but my team can have some positive psychological impact on many others who are somewhat open to forming their own opinions about Americans, other than what some "biased" individuals are telling them in a mosque or over the radio or on television.
Either way, it was very gratifying to do such a thing and we will do many more activities at other locations while I am here.
- wake up, shower, get dressed, grab by helmet, weapons, and body armor and head down to a meeting place where we live to receive the mission briefing for the day (it has been planned the night before by me)
- we go over all kinds of checklist items (are the vehicles ready, does everyone have ear protection, eye protection, enough ammunition, commo checks, etc.) and then we go "outside the wire" traveling in our up-armored vehicles
- typically we go to meetings with high level government officials, or we go review various infrastructure projects and report back to our headquarters on the project's status, or sometimes we combine our work meetings/activities with some goodwill mission. For example, yesterday we went to a hospital because some folks had to do some kind of assessment there. So I decided that while they were doing that my team would do a goodwill activity and hand out beanie babies and pens to folks in the hospital. I first went to the head nurse and introduced myself and explained why we were there. Then the way we worked it was that for the next 45 minutes or so we followed the head nurse as she handed out a beanie baby to either children, babies, or adults - one by one (that is why it took so long). But it was great because we got to visit folks in the children's ward, the pregnant mother's ward, and the older folks ward....and the hospital staff.
Why did we do that? Well, for one it is quite a morale boost after countless hours in the heat and driving around town sometimes not talking to too many people...and that we get to interact positively with the Iraqi people is quite a nice thing. The other reason is that I knew that some people in that hospital either activity support the insurgency or know someone that is in the insurgency, or are at least ambivalent about the whole thing. Thus, when we show up as Americans smiling and handing out gifts to them and their children, I have to believe that there are some of those folks out there that will be favorably influenced by our actions that we did yesterday. I cannot do anything about the hardened insurgents that want to die for Allah but my team can have some positive psychological impact on many others who are somewhat open to forming their own opinions about Americans, other than what some "biased" individuals are telling them in a mosque or over the radio or on television.
Either way, it was very gratifying to do such a thing and we will do many more activities at other locations while I am here.
posted by CustardFilled at 8:48 PM
5 Comments:
Tuesday. Your descriptions of typical days "over there" enable us to better understand the whole picture of interaction between the U.S. Forces and the locals.
The goodwill missions are, indeed, a great way to promote better understanding between nations. Acts of kindness lead to favorable impressions influencing the opinions of people, a new approach to the policies of an organization, or one nation's response to another.
We're SO proud of you :)
Keep safe.
Love,
Mum
Wednesday. I've had the full beauty treatment today: haircut, pedicure, and manicure. Now, all that's left for me to get into the holiday mood is to finish packing and gently nag hubby to finish his. We'll be sure to contact you soon after our arrival "over the pond." Until then, TTFN.
Keep safe.
Love,
Mum
Well, we're flying today -- future blog comments will be from Merry Olde --. Take care and we love ya. Gran-pere
P.S. We mailed the soft toys - let us know when they arrive.
Hi. I read he hospital thing. That was pretty cool. You also said you mostly go to meetings. :-( just slightly boring to me :) well we are about to go to mom's younger sister, but not youngest. and her husband. Grace won't be there. oh well. we are going to where they live. mom's going to the temple.
Well mom just said she has a job for me:( got to go,
love,
the middle child
I agree with you, middle child, meetings are typically boring. Especially the ones that last for longer than an hour!
CPT C
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