If I had to sum up my whole experience over here this time in a few words, it'd have to be. "Constant changes, being ready for anything and every possible outcome and situation, and boredom."
To be more specific tho, most of the time I don't do much, just walk around on patrols with the guys when they do, ride in a vehicle a lot, and carry my aid bag when I go outside our Base.
Not that hard of a job really. But we've gotta always have our stuff ready for action, Ammo for our guns, bateries in our equipment that needs it etc. And I always need my aid bag packed and prepped.
The hardest part about that is deciding what to carry and where to put it, cause I'd like to carry a lot more bandages, IV bags etc, but if I do I won't be able to access any of it as easily as I have to. So i have to find a good ballance.
About Changes, well, every two - three months it seems like we have a total turn-around in the type of missions we do, where we go etc. So you learn to not get too attached to things or places all that much. :P Not like you could get attached to this place that easily, too much sand, and sand brushes off.. easily, I've tried it...
One difference with the Army and civilian life though is that in the Army if you forget something and leave it behind, or if your equipment doesn't work you can cost people their lives. Whereas in the Civilian world you forget something you can most of the time just do without it.
Ahhhh, yes this place is also boring. Lots of Movie watching, game-playing, reading, and sleeping and no S___ . I should have come over here when I was a Teen I would be 6-5 or so if sleep really makes you taller like they say. Boring, has been good though. I as the Medic enjoy being bored and am not looking for an exciting time over here at all.
Just work, sleep and play. :D That's the life to have over here.
Oh yes studies too.. I've been studying Arabic, will be studying my Medications book and chemistry for now. When I get done with all that "never" I'll start on Biology, anatomy etc... "LOTS OF FUN!!!"
I'd say also that the nicest part of getting letters from home and hearing from Family so often is that... Well, it's not like we're sissy's and can't think of anything else. I know for me it's
nice cause I'm reminded that there is something better for the future, also I think without them I'd start thinking this was the only life I had and get depressed. Plus there are times, like while on guard looking at landscape for 2-4 hrs a day that I do think about home, family, and my future. So it's nice to know there's something more then "this place" and be reminded of that every so often.
I really try to write back when I can. Just not much to write about and my letters all sound the same. so they never find their way into the mail box. :( Plus I wish I had the gift of writing like Nadia who i think could write forever and ever, and never bore you.
2 comments:
Wow Tim, sure sounds interesting! You are a good writer Tim. I was driving home and I called mom to keep me awake (in the evening hours) and I asked her to read to me and so she read me your latest posts. Your comment about finding the good balance in what to bring while you go out on patrols was interesting for me because I am terrible about making decisions like that, I just bring a bigger bag. :) But I think I need to learn to cut down. I will learn it some day.. NE way, I love you Tim and I do enjoy hearing from you.
Tim, You are a good writer and a much better speller than I am. I also write letters and don't seem to find their way to the mailbox. I have one like that for you. I will look for it and send it ....soon. I know that handwritten letters are so much more personal--they feel like home. So I will try to do better. We alll do miss you and, even if you are not here at Christmas, all of our hearts will be with you. We do miss you honey. I worry about you all the time. I know that bbordom in your situation can be deadly. You have to stay vigilent 24 hours a day, even if nothing happens for 23 hours and 59 minutes. It is that last minute, when you could take too long to snap to, that could literally kill you. Still, all I can do (and you as well) is to ask for God's protection. He knows that we all want you home. When you come back there will be tons for you to do, both in recreation and healing and for work...if that is what you want to do. I will watch out for interesting stuff. Keep studing languages. That is a very valuable and marketable skill, especially right now. Well, I am eating up your blog space and enise is yelling at me to gwet some real work done. So, I'd better go, for now. I love you and pray for God to keep you ssafe.
Love,
Aunt Valorie .
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