Wrapping it Up

The new team is here. They have been introduced and in-processed. Team Eagle's job is done. Now it is time to record some memorable moments while we await the long trip home.

Top Ten Memorable Moments (in no particular order)

*Traveling 18 hours, getting off the plane and thinking "did we actually landed in Yakima Washington?"

*Meeting the wounded warrior

*Having General Patraeus walk into our office on New Years Day

*Getting coined by two Navy commanders

*Going to "surf and turf night," only to find out they cooked the lobster and steak to death.

*The sunset on Christmas Day

*Presenting an award to a Command Sergeant Major in front of 112 soldiers, only to find he'd left the room with the General.

*Tag-teaming the messages between Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait..and Everett.

*Peaceful, quiet sunrises on the desert

*Thank-you handshakes from countless soldiers

It is done.

Tom

The People

Its all in the Culture

One reason I like to travel is so that I can experience the different cultures. While planning the trip to Kuwait with the Red Cross, I wondered how much of the local flavor I would see. It was clear that we would not be allowed to leave the military post and see the sights. But I was hoping to meet people of southwest Asia.

The Army makes use of local populations to provide services on post. At Camp Arifjan, the food and retail shops are run by men and women from Kuwait, and the workers are mostly from India, Bangladesh and Kuwait. There is a mix of Hindi and Muslim, and definite class differences among the workers.

The Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation center provides tours off post to Kuwait city. Before a person can go on the tour, you have to attend a cultural awareness class. In the class, it is explained what is, and mostly what is not allowed in Kuwait. Men might be seen holding arms or hands in a friendly way that Americans might think odd. They even touch noses or kiss each other when friends greet friends. You cannot stare at a woman (or girl). In particular, you can’t look in the eyes of a woman wearing a veil. If you do (or if you don’t, but she says you did) you can be jailed.

One guy I met who is an American contractor working at Arifjan, but living in Kuwait City, was walking down the street with his girlfriend. The girlfriend reached up and kissed him on the cheek . There was a police officer nearby, who placed his hand on the guy’s arm and the guy instinctively pulled away. The kiss and the pulling away cost three nights in the local jail.

A woman I know was reading a book I had loaned her while in a park in Kuwait City last week. Her kids were playing nearby and hubby had gone to bring back cool drinks when a man approached my friend and scolded her for reading that book in public. The title was must have offended him. My friend does not speak Arabic and the man does not speak English. He pulled out his badge and was about to haul her away when the husband came back with the drinks. He was able to explain in Arabic that the book was okay. The police officer released my friend with a scolding. The book now has a cover made of newsprint.

Yesterday, a women’s basketball team came to Camp Arifjan to play a game against the US military women’s team. I missed the game, and don’t know who won. But it was very interesting in the DFAC when the Kuwaiti women came in for dinner, all covered up and not making eye contact. Remember, we can’t look at women in Kuwait. They can’t socialize with boys. So they sat together, apart from the rest of us, with conspicuous intermediaries in between. But the Kuwaiti girls could not help noticing the young American women and men, dressed in PT shorts and t-shirts, sitting together, eating, laughing and talking in two’s and four’s around the dining hall. I would expect defectors in the near future.

The soldiers, sailors and airmen of the United States have ancestry from all around the world. Working and visiting with all the different colors, accents and points of view has been the favorite part of this experience and I am sure that this is what God wanted from me out here in the desert.

Spring is Fickle

The Weather

The Kuwait winter was pleasant, all in all. Outside the 4 or 5 thunder storms, it was "shirtsleeve" weather. My coat got used once, for a few minutes. So far, the terrible blasting sandstorms have not materialized. The sandstorms we did have were relatively mild. It is amazing how long the sand can stay up there among the clouds, even after the wind has gone. One storm blew in from iraq and the skies were thick with sand for days.

March weather is fickle. Immediately following the last bit of cool weather and sand, the temp bumped up. March 12 was the first 100 degree day.

Stand by for two more planned blog postings before the adventure ends.

Tom

You Never Know

Very interesting experience.

This story is a Must. A few minutes ago….12 February, a man named Fauji came in to the Red Cross office to admire a puzzle that had been put together by some troops and office staff. The puzzle is of a falcon. As Fauji…a Muslim, admired the falcon, I mentioned that my daughter Ann Marie has had experiences with falcons. I showed Fauji a photo of Ann Marie’s falcon and told him the story of the Sarvey Wildlife Rescue center where she volunteers. Fauji was very interested and asked several questions about Sarvey.

Fauji told me that he very much likes the way we in this office interact with people. He said we have changed his view of people (I believe he was referring to American). He likes the fact that Sarvey is a non-profit organization that saves wild animals. He did not know that that type of thing was done in America. Fauji told me of his theory that many years ago, when people used horses or camels, and there was no technology, people were much closer and it was good. Now, everyone uses computers and cell phones. Everyone is worried about profits and if someone has a problem, no one cares.

Fauji repeated that we here at the Arifjan Red Cross have changed the way he views people. Then he said he will try to find a stuffed falcon in Kuwait City for my daughter. In fact, with a smile, he said he will put a reminder in his electronic notebook so he won’t forget.

I like it

Half Way Point

Photo: The Navy takes over the on-going puzzle project.

Photo: Tom with two volunteers Petty Officer 1st Class Clint Fielder and Army Captain Clarissa Cordon at the Camp Arifjan Kuwait job fair.

Photo: Grandma Kaiser's 102nd birthday cake.

Several activities since the new year have kept the 3-person Red Cross team busy. In addition to the emergency calls that stream in with regularity, we hosted a birthday party for Heidi’s 102- year old grandmother, collecting 120 signatures on her birthday card, and we sponsored a “belly-laugh” day that involved comedians on DVD in the Red Cross cantina. We participated in a jobfair, attended by 700 people. These events were hits with the troops. This may be a testament to the fact that anything out of the ordinary will fly.

With less than two months before this team leaves Kuwait, we look forward (me especially) to the transition with the in-coming group and our long trip homeward. Our Lead, Amanda has put together a very complete continuity book, describing everything the new team will need to know when they arrive. We used the theory that if we correct all the problems we had coming in, the new team will have a much easier time of it, considering they will be travel-weary like we were. That and the legacy of a new computer and hopefully a special, secure phone should have the next crew set up pretty well. Meanwhile, we continue to build relationships with military units and work groups throughout our jurisdiction.

Sitting here in the office, reading notes from school-aged children from Austin, Texas to the troops, I was laughing at some of them, and choking up at others. Then I remembered the soldier I sat next to at lunch today. He was sitting there alone, eating his french fries, looking like a 12-year old in uniform. It seemed funny at the time. Right now, it seems sad that a kid so young has to be in harm’s way. Here is a sample of the hundreds of notes:

“I have so many friends and family in all branches of the military. I know my words don’t mean much coming from a stranger….but thank you for your hard work. I know its not easy being away from the people you love (I couldn’t do it). But that just makes you a stronger person than me. Just get home safe and come back healthy in all ways possible. You know, for the people who matter to you. –Sarah V.”

“I am so proud of everything you have done.

”
“Great Job. God Bless.”

“Always in our thoughts. God bless.”

“I am inspired by everything you do.”

“We appreciate all the things you gave up to fight for our nation. You guys rock. XOXO” (and big lip prints)
“If your ever in Austin, your always welcome to visit Dave and Busters. Im always there. Thank you for all you do. Stephanie.”

You get the idea. There was a whole bag of these notes, along with care packages of candy, toiletries and other cool items.
Later--Tom

Today in Kuwait

It is a beautiful January day here in Kuwait. The 70 degree sun comes through clear skies with hardly any haze. I was able to see farther away from the post than ever before. There is a hill out there toward Kuwait City, with evergreen trees and homes on it. Like Mt Rainier on a cloudy day, the hill is invisible most of the time.

The weather reminds me of the first nice spring days when I was groing up in Tacoma. It is not hot. There is a little breeze. The air is clean and it is good to be outside.

I am in the office for the remainder of the day. It will be dark by the time I go outside. But the bike ride across the meadow today was really pleasant.

What makes it all worthwhile.

Something you don’t hear every day.

3 Jan 2010

US Army Lt Kirschner—wounded warrior from 2005, back in uniform, moving and talking slowly, and without use of his right arm (he shakes hands with the other one), just completing a visit to Iraq where he had been wounded, came through Arifjan today. Seeing the Red Cross sign on our door, he stopped in. Lt Kirschner said that while he was at Walter Reed, recuperating, the most important visitors he had were the Red Cross.

He said that the Red Cross was instrumental in making things bearable for him and his companions.

After leaving theater in 150 degree heat, he found himself lying naked in 60 degree temp in Walter Reed Medical Center. Red Cross volunteers came by with quilts and other items to make life easier. They would visit if he was lonely and find ways to make him more comfortable. "Those quilts."

Red Cross is awesome, according to Lt Kirschner. His repeated thanks is heartfelt. I told him I would pass it on.

Thomas