(no subject)
"May you live ininteresting times." Isn't that like a Chinese curse? *grin* Well, looks like I'm getting my chance to...
Tomorrow is the big day here - the birth of a new nation. For the first time in history Kosovo will be an independent state. At least at 1800 when the official announcement is made. It's already getting nuts here and driving for tonights mission will, to put it mildly, be interesting. So what does this mean to us, the Peacekeeping force? Well, we'll be on a higher state of readiness until we see how the Serbians react and then the rest of the international community. Otherwise, it looks to be business as usual - other than having to jump at a moments notice to be out the gate and dealing with whatever someone decided needs done. So far, I'm planning for at least a week long party by the locals.
On a completely different aspect of the same subject, it's pretty damn amazing to be here right now. The Kosovars, who have always been friendly towards us and incredibly generous (I haven't paid for a cup of coffee yet when I have it on the local economy, and only had to pay for half of my lunches. They are so insistent that it is the least they can do for helping their people the past nine years...it's really humbling and sort of embarrassing.), are even more so now. On yesterday's mission, the Albanian flags and American flags were waving everywhere. There is already dancing in the streets in Pristina, and everywere we were getting greeted by handshakes, hugs, and even a few kisses. The excitement in the air is palpable, and I can't help but wonder if this is even a fraction of what it felt like for the troops who liberated Holland, France, and Belgium in WWII? That thought in itself, at least to me, seems oddly arrogant because I haven't done ANYTHING. The "enemy" was driven out nine years ago by the bombs of the Air Force and since then there have been -very literally- THOUSANDS of other soldiers doing the very same thing I have been doing, driving around, talking to people, and urging them all to get-along when independence finally comes. That's it, just being a presence. I don't feel I've done anything to warrant any of the affection or gratitude we've been receiving. It's kind of wierd.
A conversation I had with Adrian, a radio manager in Kamenice, kind of put it into a bit of perspective, though. He asked how my family was doing, and whether I have been able to speak with them recently. I told him that I had, and I was getting a chance to visit them soon. Ardy smiled and clapped me on the shoulder and said "Good. That's wonderful, because family is so important. What's happening her is important, but not as important as family. Thank you for giving us your time. We really appreciate it, more than you realize."
That's when it kind of fell into place. The family is so central to life here in every community, and entire villages are interrrelated, that taking time away from your family to help someone else is a GREAT thing to these people. And here we are, American soldiers, voluntarily leaving our homes and out families for a year at a time to give our time to the people of Kosovo. To us, it's "part of the job" or something we have to do because we wear the uniform, but to the Kosovars - both Albanian and Serbian- it is a tremendous sacrifice. Essentially, we are putting them before our own families. No wonder they are always so generous! We're treating THEM like family just by being here in their eyes! Talk about humbling! I'm still coimg to grips with the feelings...
Anyway, tomorrow is the birth of a new nation in the world. Being here and seeing it first hand is pretty heady stuff - especially as a historian. It's going to be busy, I got that from the Ops meeting this morning. Already I have to repack all my bags for possible overnights and being ready to get out the gates at a moments notice and have my squad ready to do the same.
Well, just got a call from the TOC - one of my guys is being called out in an hour as part of a special team - and I have to type up a news article about our deliveries of donations to the locals - in an hour! Oh, yeah, and then get my squad out the gate an hour early because traffic is getting backed up near Gnjilane....
All I want to know now is, who hit me with the Chinese curse? *grin* I'm not complaining, really. Things are now starting to get FUN!!
Tomorrow is the big day here - the birth of a new nation. For the first time in history Kosovo will be an independent state. At least at 1800 when the official announcement is made. It's already getting nuts here and driving for tonights mission will, to put it mildly, be interesting. So what does this mean to us, the Peacekeeping force? Well, we'll be on a higher state of readiness until we see how the Serbians react and then the rest of the international community. Otherwise, it looks to be business as usual - other than having to jump at a moments notice to be out the gate and dealing with whatever someone decided needs done. So far, I'm planning for at least a week long party by the locals.
On a completely different aspect of the same subject, it's pretty damn amazing to be here right now. The Kosovars, who have always been friendly towards us and incredibly generous (I haven't paid for a cup of coffee yet when I have it on the local economy, and only had to pay for half of my lunches. They are so insistent that it is the least they can do for helping their people the past nine years...it's really humbling and sort of embarrassing.), are even more so now. On yesterday's mission, the Albanian flags and American flags were waving everywhere. There is already dancing in the streets in Pristina, and everywere we were getting greeted by handshakes, hugs, and even a few kisses. The excitement in the air is palpable, and I can't help but wonder if this is even a fraction of what it felt like for the troops who liberated Holland, France, and Belgium in WWII? That thought in itself, at least to me, seems oddly arrogant because I haven't done ANYTHING. The "enemy" was driven out nine years ago by the bombs of the Air Force and since then there have been -very literally- THOUSANDS of other soldiers doing the very same thing I have been doing, driving around, talking to people, and urging them all to get-along when independence finally comes. That's it, just being a presence. I don't feel I've done anything to warrant any of the affection or gratitude we've been receiving. It's kind of wierd.
A conversation I had with Adrian, a radio manager in Kamenice, kind of put it into a bit of perspective, though. He asked how my family was doing, and whether I have been able to speak with them recently. I told him that I had, and I was getting a chance to visit them soon. Ardy smiled and clapped me on the shoulder and said "Good. That's wonderful, because family is so important. What's happening her is important, but not as important as family. Thank you for giving us your time. We really appreciate it, more than you realize."
That's when it kind of fell into place. The family is so central to life here in every community, and entire villages are interrrelated, that taking time away from your family to help someone else is a GREAT thing to these people. And here we are, American soldiers, voluntarily leaving our homes and out families for a year at a time to give our time to the people of Kosovo. To us, it's "part of the job" or something we have to do because we wear the uniform, but to the Kosovars - both Albanian and Serbian- it is a tremendous sacrifice. Essentially, we are putting them before our own families. No wonder they are always so generous! We're treating THEM like family just by being here in their eyes! Talk about humbling! I'm still coimg to grips with the feelings...
Anyway, tomorrow is the birth of a new nation in the world. Being here and seeing it first hand is pretty heady stuff - especially as a historian. It's going to be busy, I got that from the Ops meeting this morning. Already I have to repack all my bags for possible overnights and being ready to get out the gates at a moments notice and have my squad ready to do the same.
Well, just got a call from the TOC - one of my guys is being called out in an hour as part of a special team - and I have to type up a news article about our deliveries of donations to the locals - in an hour! Oh, yeah, and then get my squad out the gate an hour early because traffic is getting backed up near Gnjilane....
All I want to know now is, who hit me with the Chinese curse? *grin* I'm not complaining, really. Things are now starting to get FUN!!