What I miss most about Iraq
Sunday 31st May, 2009It’s only been a few days since I left Iraq (and Kuwait,) and already I’m finding the things that I miss about Iraq.
I’ve complied a short list of the things that I miss from the big Sandbox that I want to share with you.
What I miss most about Iraq…
-Not having to plan out my meals. Really, I mean it was great walking into the DFAC and having an endless, high quality, buffet to choose from. Beyond that, there were always the locals and the third country nationals that would invite me over for meals that reflected their culture and heritage.
Since returning to FT Dix, the DFAC here is pretty limited. The food quality is what you would expect from an Army Chow Hall. The service is worst that you can image.
-Never having to clean a bathroom. This is one of the contractor’s responsibilities in theater. The bathrooms were cleaned, top to bottom, at least twice daily. Now that we are back in Ft Dix, if we want a clean bathroom, we need to clean it ourselves.
-Not having to worry about parking or gas. In Iraq, all the fuel was free, 24 hours a day and there was never a parking problem. In fact, many times you could just park anyplace you wanted to. I’m not looking forward to gas, traffic, of parking problems when I get released.
-This one may seem a little weird, but it points to a much bigger premise. I really miss getting served, either my food, or ice cream, or anything, from someone who was genuinely happy to working. Let me explain, no matter what time, day or night, that I was in the DFAC, and no matter what I asked for, the person who served the food, was always happy and had a smile on his face from ear to ear. In the US, I defy you to find a single ice cream joint where the employees will always be that friendly and happy.
-Most of all, I miss my friends. It’s amazing how close you can become to people in less than a year. I was lucky that I got to work with all the local and third county national personnel on the base. We forged friendships that transcended culture, language, and ideology. This experience has changed me and the person I am, indelibly. I get to see the world from a much larger perspective from now on and I’m forever grateful for each and every friend I left at Bucca.
If any of my friends still at Bucca are reading this, I want you to know that I will forever value the friendship you extended to me and I will constantly be grateful for the richness you brought to my life. I don’t know when, or if, I will ever see you again, but you can believe that I will never forget the contribution to my life you have made and I will do whatever I can to ensure that I see you again.
I’ve complied a short list of the things that I miss from the big Sandbox that I want to share with you.
What I miss most about Iraq…
-Not having to plan out my meals. Really, I mean it was great walking into the DFAC and having an endless, high quality, buffet to choose from. Beyond that, there were always the locals and the third country nationals that would invite me over for meals that reflected their culture and heritage.
Since returning to FT Dix, the DFAC here is pretty limited. The food quality is what you would expect from an Army Chow Hall. The service is worst that you can image.
-Never having to clean a bathroom. This is one of the contractor’s responsibilities in theater. The bathrooms were cleaned, top to bottom, at least twice daily. Now that we are back in Ft Dix, if we want a clean bathroom, we need to clean it ourselves.
-Not having to worry about parking or gas. In Iraq, all the fuel was free, 24 hours a day and there was never a parking problem. In fact, many times you could just park anyplace you wanted to. I’m not looking forward to gas, traffic, of parking problems when I get released.
-This one may seem a little weird, but it points to a much bigger premise. I really miss getting served, either my food, or ice cream, or anything, from someone who was genuinely happy to working. Let me explain, no matter what time, day or night, that I was in the DFAC, and no matter what I asked for, the person who served the food, was always happy and had a smile on his face from ear to ear. In the US, I defy you to find a single ice cream joint where the employees will always be that friendly and happy.
-Most of all, I miss my friends. It’s amazing how close you can become to people in less than a year. I was lucky that I got to work with all the local and third county national personnel on the base. We forged friendships that transcended culture, language, and ideology. This experience has changed me and the person I am, indelibly. I get to see the world from a much larger perspective from now on and I’m forever grateful for each and every friend I left at Bucca.
If any of my friends still at Bucca are reading this, I want you to know that I will forever value the friendship you extended to me and I will constantly be grateful for the richness you brought to my life. I don’t know when, or if, I will ever see you again, but you can believe that I will never forget the contribution to my life you have made and I will do whatever I can to ensure that I see you again.
Comments [0]