Should we all serve for a year?

After seven months working for the Army, I've had ample time to mull around ideas, observe soldiers, civilians, the workings of the military. I wonder, what could be done to make this better? It seems that there's left quite a lot to want when you look at our troops.

The military has become a posse of people who've had hard knocks in life (either through poverty, unemployment, or intelligence), those who played too many shoot-em-up video games, the guys who never want to grow up or true military-soldier types. It's not the mish-mash of the days of the draft, when you might have sensitive and macho working hand in hand.

Our society has become more and more stratified in the recent past, and so we communicate with people who are like us, imposing our values only on those who already agree, not able or willing to have conscious discussions with those who might be dissident to our ideas.

I find this sad. Who best to learn from, than those who are different?

I would be a proponent of mandatory military service. For at least one year. Everyone, regardless of life situation... I think it would force us to see some of the invisible people in society, to stop looking with disdain on the soldiers, to examine our reasons for going to war, whether they are worthy or not. And to appreciate our ancestors who went to WW1 and WW2, scared and unable to shoot, and yet, they did their job.

No one should be exempt from this. If we are willing to send someone else's kid to die, we should be willing to send our own. We should be willing to go ourselves. It's part of being American.

Buying gas

This morning I spent with one of my assistants, Specialist Rhodes. She was trained in ophthalmology and has come with high regards from all the other optometrists in the area. There was quite a lot of shock all around from the events at Fort Hood in Texas this morning. Since I still don't have computer access at work and live off post, I hadn't heard by the time I reached work.

It's funny business working in the military but not being military. It's sort of like infiltrating the group, but having no what it really means to go through all the training they did. The benefits of the military are pretty decent, especially since I didn't have to join to get them.

However, this afternoon I spent nearly two hours getting a gas card and trying to buy gas. There were just lots of people in line. I thought, "So we're saving money with this, but all the time it's taking. What a waste." Then I guess life is just time, and is time in line really wasted? An existential question for a mundane activity, but it's what I was thinking as I waited in line to pay for my gas.

The whole proceeding went like this... I bought the car yesterday. I had it inspected (which is good for one year), registered it, and then had to wait 24 hours for it to get into the system so I could apply for a gas card. Today, I then went to the furniture store (not a typo) to get my gas (ration) card. The line wasn't particularly long, but it took about forty minutes or more to get to the front, where I was issued a card which allows me to buy 200 litres of gas per month at a subsidised rate, which is $3.10 per gallon at this time. It varies by week. Next I had to go to the front register, wait in line again to add money onto my card so that if I'm out on the economy (meaning Germany) I can purchase gas at the subsidised rates as long as I use an Esso.

I figured I should get some gas. Since I had the card. I got to the station. Pulled up on the wrong side of the car. And went to show my ID, gas card and car registration to the gas station attendent. There was a line. After I showed my IDs, I moved my car to the other side and waited as a man with a Smart car washed his windows (not bothering to move the car even though he was done filling up). Finally after filling my tank ($35 for 45 litres), I stood in line again to pay, where I had to swipe both my gas card and my debit card to pay for the gas. Now you understand how it took me two hours to fill my tank for the first time.

In other news, I've returned to the gym and took up running after one year off post-sick-Auckland-marathon. It feels good and I want to run every day, but I'm making myself ease into it. I may try another marathon yet. It's good to know I haven't lost my love for running. I thought I had! Perhaps the Prague Marathon will call to me. I wonder if they have kolaches at the finish line? Well at least there's a Turkey Trot at the end of November. I know I can handle that.



The pretesting room in my office. And our in/out board. I didn't write my name on there but I approve. :)

That's Bernie in the bakery by my pension where we used to meet before work before I got my hooptie.

The military... so far.

I'm having a great time in the military. Really. Granted I'm not IN the military, just immersed in the culture of it. Everyone's so nice. It's like a giant family. There's all colors of people. It's laid back. I laugh all the time. I got paid to walk around base and orient myself and go to the grocery store today. I took a class and test this morning and now have a temporary European driver's license- the official one'll be in the mail in about two weeks. Tried out the postal system today- US rates--- so easy. I got a military library account set up, which is good for all of Europe.
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Yesterday, I met my techs and they're two black ladies- one about 30 and the other about 45 I'd guess-- both cool and helpful and asked, "coffee or tea" and what equipment I needed ordered. They said it's very laid back, "We listen to a lot of music back here." We'll see. I'm working with one other optometrist- Amber-something- (so our dept is all ladies) who I think is probably a newish grad. I'll only be seeing military and their families and contactors like myself also. All English- speakers. Currently the optometry department is housed in a portable building, as they've constructed a new one, which we're scheduled to move into in March 2010.
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I decided against moving to the other pension. I was told the other place was a party place and I wouldn't get much sleep. So I am staying where I am where my bike is secure also. I've been scoping out cars- saw a cute (black inside and silver out) 1998 BMW 325i for 6,000 Euros, which is about $9,000 US or an adorable (black with camel leather) 2005 of the same for $17,000US. Any opinions, anyone? Then also a newish Ford Ka which is mini and gets kickin' gas mileage for 3400 euros. just have to keep my eyes peeled. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

T 56 hours and counting...

I've gotten a plethora of emails with military-speak. The latest was "Please proceed to the nearest RAPIDS for your CAC issuance." An assortment of abbreviated instructions followed. I'm not certain if I should be proceeding to the RAPIDS in Portland or the RAPIDS in Germany. All I know is that I am heading for the RAPIDS.

Which brings me to my next concern, "Am I smart enough to remember all these acronyms?" Really. I was always a good reasoner, good at math, whatnot, understanding other points of views, but memorizing. No, I was complete Shite at that. If my career were based on memorizing, I'd have to go and sleep under the bridge. So luckily up until now, I've not been required to be a memorizing fool. At least if I am in Europe, I can pick the Ponte Vecchio to sleep under. That makes me feel better.

Yesterday, I received an email welcoming me to Vilseck base from the major who's in charge of new civilians. She's sending someone to pick me up at the airport in Nuremberg on Monday and then I've been instructed to get dropped off at my hotel. Tuesday morning, the major is going to pick me up at 7:30 and outfit me with all my necessary IDs and cards and introduce me to my new clinic.

For the my last two days on US soil, I'm snuggled in at Carrie's house once again. With Oatie in tow, the place is a sanctuary of free wifi happiness, albeit interrupted by various repairmen, as the furnace stopped (was clogged with algae) and one of the bathroom electrical circuits had a breaker trip in the attic. No wonder we couldn't figure that one out.

My new buyers are moved into my house and apparently delighted with the place. Praise the lord. I'm happy to be Sara-less-one-house. Soon to be Sara-with-no-houses, but that'll have to wait til spring.

Auf Weidersehen! Guten Nacht! Tchus bis morgen.