Week 2, Sat, 16 May, 2009

This is actually week 3 of boots on the ground (BOG) but this is the recap I set to Jodi last week. Again, since it is already typed up, I thought it get it posted. Remember, this is a personal letter to my wife so read it in that context. Moving forward, they will be written for "any reader".

Week 2:

Well, it is a great day in Deutschland...I am doing laundry. Guess it is one of those things you just can't get away from. As an added bonus, I get to go to the Laundromat to accomplish this grand adventure. Will people think I don't own a washing machine. I will make a point to tell them that I have a washer and dryer at home but this isn't my home. Home is where you are...or anyplace we are together in a non-vacation status.

The hotel is busy today just like last weekend. Lots of tourist clogging up the place. Things served for breakfast have been unchanged since I arrived. Not that it is a bad thing because breakfast is quite a spread and everything taste good. It is just that it is the same every day. It must be very boring for the chefs and kitchen staff. I do my best to mix it up but gravitate towards the same thing every day. Human nature I guess.

The scrambled eggs are made "European style" and really good but a bit different then the way we make them in the US. My Brother-In-Law, Donald (married to my sister Mary Beth), is a school trained chef and made them for us all once. We will have to get the directions from him.


I didn't see Herr Crabby Pants this morning because he apparently works during the week. Herr CP is the restaurant floor supervisor and oversees the service staff. He is the stereotypical German (guess that is why it is called a stereotype). He is about 55 yo, neatly dressed, well groomed, efficient, organized, and polite but not friendly (maybe I would make a good German?). It is my goal to get him to smile before I leave. You wouldn't think that would be so hard (even I smile once in a while) but this will be a challenge. Maybe if I learn a few German phrases, he will come around. Hell, maybe I should shoot for drinking a cold Bud with him and talking about Marilyn Monroe or the NY Yankees.

Deep down, I think he admires me because I am an American who has many traits valued here. I will keep you posted either way. (on a side note, I didn't go down to breakfast until 1030 the next day because I thought breakfast was served until 1100 and was scolded by Herr CP. He politely but forcefully told me: "Breakfast until 1030. We closed. You know that. You here everyday. You go Giovanna Rm." I was a little dumbfounded and just stood there. Can't I just grab a roll or something I thought to myself? He went on to repeat: "you go Giovanna Rm. Go." Turns out he was telling me to go to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant where a smaller spread was still being offered so he was kinda hooking me up (I can see the ice thawing.)

I got a bit of a scare when I opened my computer at the Laundromat. The screen would not light up although I could see it was on. I thought...this is just great. I am 7000 miles away from you and now have no way to communicate. It will take me days to trouble shoot and maybe have to buy a new computer. Turns out the little pressure switch that turns the screen off when you shut you computer and it is still running was stuck. Thank God that was all it was.

As I write this, I am living through one of my biggest fears. ALL of my clothes are being dried in the drier. You know, that is not good for most of my clothes. I will probably have to replace everything I brought when I get back because the fabric will be ruined.

Work is going well. It is not that different then what I did at II MEF, but only easier (although this job has its own set of challenges). At this job, I am a Liaison Officer. Turns out, we produce no end products. Action Officers, on the other hand, are working on projects, creating briefs, etc. At II MEF, I was an Action Officer. Here, I am a Liaison Officer.

My sole mission is to assist in the coordination of tasks/operations/etc. between my command (Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA or sometimes just HOA)) and our higher headquarters, USAFRICOM. I work at the Joint Operations Center. It is like a command center. There, all activity on the continent of Africa is monitored. Turns out there are a lot of interesting things going on in Africa but I can't talk about any of it. Seriously, everything I do is on the "high side" (classified) and I don't really use the unclassified part of my computer (it is really two separate systems) unless I am paying bills or checking news. Don't know if I can get your father's blog (http://blogfromonhigh.blogspot.com/ for you those of you playing from home (you should check it out btw, it is very entertaining a thought provoking)) which is blocked on my network at II MEF but I'm sure it is (gov blocks all sites where you can post something as well as commercial email accts).

About 1/2 of my days are spent in scheduled meeting. The other half I spend sorting thru mails (I get more here then at II MEF because I am on a lot of distribution lists) and trying to get familiar with various operations we are conducting. It is funny how I have never heard or read about any of them. Partly due to the classified nature of the missions but I also think that Americans, I mean the Washington Post, LA Times, and the NY Times, are just not that interested in Africa (other then the pirates, I suppose). I get some really interesting intel reports though.

Everyone is pretty nice and very professional. I work with all branches as well as civilians including embassy personnel, state dept and various other gov agencies. There are even a few Coasties running around and more General Officers and Cols then I have seen in one place at one time in my entire life.

After laundry, which I didn't want to mess around with tomorrow, I will try to get downtown on the train. I think I have it figured out. It is not raining today and the sun is out. A little on the cool side, but nice otherwise. Remember how I said Germans don't wear shorts? I originally thought that I would wear jeans downtown (I don't want to disrupt society) but then thought: Damn it. It is a nice day out and Americans wear shorts when it is a nice day out. I figured I would turn Germany upside down on its collective head by putting my boney knees on display, but on second thought, I should try to be part of the collective. It keeps things running smoothly and orderly over here

Well, I got my jeans on, a collared shirt (also standard fare here), shoes that are not tennis/running shoes on (no one wears flip flops although sandals are ok for women and old men, everyone wears proper shoes and the women wear mostly heels or boots), no ball cap, and no sunglasses. I figured out why no one is wearing sunglasses. It is cloudy more then it is sunny and you don't really need them. Americans are easy to spot because of the cap and sunglasses combo. I also figured out that the Italians are pretty fond of sunglasses but are generally better dressed then the Americans so they are easy to spot too.

I figured out the train and transfer without a glitch and it was a nice ride downtown. I got off the train and up the escalator. I was a little shock at the sheer number of people out this fine day. What was really cool is that there is a HUGE pedestrian area this is probably as wide as an 8 lane freeway (turns out that is around 2 miles long). There were hundreds of shops (everything from standard mall type stores, dept stores, boutiques and jewelry stores that sell $50,000 watches) and almost as many cafes and places to eat. Lots of people just sitting at outside cafes drinking beer, wine, or espresso style coffees.

Got to the point where I need to use the bathroom. But where? You know how it is when you are downtown. Luckily, in Europe, they have public restrooms which are about twice the size of a phone booth. Cost of entry was EUR $.30. Seemed fair as these fees pay for cleaning and the cost of the facility, not to mention, I really had to go. Also understand that these are common in all of Europe. Probably would not work in the US. I think some cities tried installing them but it was mere minutes before bums became squatters and would stay inside these things and extort money from people who really had to go, like me. America is certainly the land of opportunity where entrepreneurs, like these bums, are free to make money.

This particular facility was out of order. Did I mention that I really have to go at this point. Now what? Luckily there was a handicap booth just up the street. In the US, handicap stalls mean that it is set up for the handicapped but anyone can use it. That is NOT what it means here. Those who qualify as handicapped are issued a special key and it is exclusively for there use. I thought just getting a close parking spot was nice, now they have their own toilets on European streets.

I remembered that there was a McDonald's just a few blocks away and these major corporations are not going to turn away anyone who wants to walk into the place, customer or otherwise, to use the restroom (except the bums who are already squatters in the street toilets and the handicap who have there exclusive ones to use). After all, this is no mom and pop corner store. Jackpot. McD's is ok in my book (always were honestly). Being a shareholder the ace up my sleeve just in case anyone gave me any lip.

I remember that your shoe size is 38.5 . I'm a 47 as I just picked up another pair of Pumas which turns out are called "lifestyle" shoes, whatever that means. All the fellas wear them them here though and I am trying to blend in as part of my personal Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) program. To get you some things (clothes and what not), I will need all you specs. You know, all the stuff I would need to know to buy things. I don't want to get you something, ship it half way around the world, and find out that it doesn't fit or that it is the wrong shade of white.

Also passed a really old looking church (1534 AD as it turns out). Saw a priest outside so I knew it was a Roman Catholic church. Figured it would be closed to the public during times when masses were not being offered, given its location. Saw people walking out so I thought I would take a peek. First, I just stuck my head threw the door I just opened to get a look and then decided to stand in the entry way. I noticed an area where offering candles were lite (non-Catholics can ask a Catholic friend) and thought it would be neat to light one in memory of my Dad. I lite the candle then knelt down to say a prayer for him even though I know he is doing fine and doesn't really need it. Maybe he can pass it along to someone who does. I got to thinking...this was the first time I have been in a church since my Dad died. It was a very peaceful feeling being there. I am sure he as watching.

I was further drawn in by the church's simple architecture and walked around a bit. I walk toward the alter at the front of the church and turned around. Up in the balcony section was the biggest pipe organ I have ever seen in person, on TV, or in a book. It was amazing. I bought little booklets, using the honor system by putting coins in a lock box (you know, like the place our social security money is). These little booklets outline the history of the church and have some nice pictures in them. I bought (3) of them as souvenirs of the church I had lite an offering candle for my Father. Got one for us, one for my Mother so I could share the story with her, and one for your Dad because I thought he would be interested. All the text is in German so maybe someday, you or he could read it to my Mom.

To get to the website, google (or what web search engine you prefer) the words: Don St Eberhard Stuttgart, once the results come up, click on the little icon to the right that says "translate this page" (nice feature).

Anyways, that is about it for the week. Will study more on my driver licensing book tomorrow so I can pass my test and get my Armed Forces EU License. Turns out you need a ration card to buy gas on base (300 liters a month per vehicle) which I can't get until I have my license. Gas on base is USD$2.56. Out in town it is EUR $1.20 per liter which is about USD $6.50 per gallon. I wonder what you have to do to get chocolate bars or stocking? Probably have to go to the black market.

Remember how you felt when gas was $4 per gallon. It is a whole different world out here. Probably why few people own anything bigger then a 4 cy car. 8 cy are only for the affluent. Most cars a diesel also.