Big Day Tomorrow!

Privete!!! That's "hello" in Russian. Things are going well here. I'm known by the U.S. and Azerbaijani Soldiers as the "Ping Pong Queen." Also I'm getting a lot of compliments from the Azerbaijani Soldiers about my soccer skillz. There's this HUGE Russian guy who laughs at me whenever I try to guard him. He asked me "What are you doing?" and I replied, "Uhhh....marking you?" and he responded (in this thick Russian accent) "Why? You so little!" I'm aggressive out in the field and the Azerbaijanis aren't afraid to be rough with me back. They think it's cool that an American woman in the Army to be playing soccer and also really athletic.

I feel that being here really opened my eyes. I've been talking to some NCO's about changing myt MOS. I like public affairs but I don't like doing some of the things that I've been doing here. Officers keep coming up to me and have me do printing and computer work. It's not my job to be doing things like that but I can't say 'no' BECAUSE they are officers. I've been asking around about military intelligence because it will give me the opportunity to do more annual training in other countries. I also get extra points because I'll be able to speak another language which will help if I do go to certain countries. I heard about a Civil Affairs unit that drills out of Vegas. Civil Affairs focuses on more humanitarian things and works closely with the civilians of other countries like distrubuting food and water and making sure they get proper health care. They also are able to write stories and do photojournalism. I don't know....I just want to keep my options open.

The other day I was out on the patrolling lane (which was a 4 mile lane) with Hansen. We ran all over the place. We'd run up ahead of the platoons, take their pictures when they would walk by, then run back up ahead of them and take more pictures. I was so freaking tired at the end of the lane!! I didn't want to look like a wimp and jump into the Jeep that was following us because there were a couple Marine Master Gunnary Sergeants on the lane so we wanted to look like badasses in front of them...mission accomplished!!

I've been taking so many pictures...I have well over 2,000 and I'm about to go out to the firing range to take more. I'm hoping I'll be able to shoot an AK (Doug would be so jealous!!) and the Azerbaijanis are also firing an RPG...SA-WEET!! What's kind of funny is that I'm more interested in the Azerbaijani Soldiers than I am in our own Soldiers. It's a conscripted army and they have to serve 18 months when they turn 18 years old. The Soldiers are some of the nicest people I've ever met and are wanting to learn English. They appreciate it when we try to learn their language. I just know the basics like hello, thank you, see you later, good morning. If you say pis it (piss it) it means bad dog. LOL. Anyways, I took a lot of pictures of the Azerbaijani Soldiers. Whenever they see me or Hansen approach them with a camera, they get all serious because they want the picture to come out good. We took some pictures of the US Soldiers and posted them in the chow hall bulletin board and their First Sergeant and XO got SUPER mad because they didn't think their Soldiers looked enthusiastic enough. Oops!

Tomorrow is Distinguished Visitor Day where representatives from 7 other counties will be here along with the media. Luckily I don't have to escort media around so I can run around and take more pictures. General Tarbet (Utah National Guard's 2-Star General) along with CSM Summers will be here. CSM Oman is working on getting us a coin from the General...that would be super badass!! Then on the 26th is the Closing Ceremony and Cultural Day. Since we aren't allowed to go to Baku in the day, the Azerbaijani's are bring the city to us by setting up a bazaar and bring their families on post. I'm hoping there will be some cool little trinkets I can bring back home. One of the Azerbaijani PA Majors gave Hansen and I a beautiful blue dish. He said that in their country, women are first and treated like royalty....awwwww. His wife also made some ethnic foods for us to try. One of them was meat and rice wrapped in grape leaves...I had a hard time eating it. It tasted like a pickle and the meat mixed with it didn't taste right. I liked the meat and rice wrapped in cabbage. I tried to explain how it was like Chinese lettuce wraps and the Azerbaijani PA Majors looked at me funny. :( They've brought us breads, soups, cheeses, olives, and POTATO CHIPS so we can try their food. We totally got hooked up and all the other Soldiers in Headquaters are super jealous so they try to sneak in and steal our food. The Azerbaijani privates shoo them away from our food.

Anyways, I should do something productive, or at least look like I'm doing something productive. I'm looking forward to coming home but at the same time I'm going to miss a lot of people here. Glad you like all the letters you've been getting Doug...it wasn't easy to do all that work but it's well worth it. :)