[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.]
Throughout military careers we are told that we have to attend events that we call Mandatory Fun. These gatherings are usually attending your boss or coworker's holiday party, promotion parties within the unit, morale picnics and military balls. I was invited to a Military Fun event and I was not kicking and screaming… just the opposite. The Host Nation invited us to his private beach house. My boss actually said it was okay for me to leave my regular work world and attend the beach party as long as I stayed on my best behavior.
The military stresses to their troops to always be on your best behavior, especially when we are in a different country. We are sick of being viewed as ignorant, loud, and rude. Classes and briefings are mandatory that teach customs of the country we are visiting and food expectations. I was ready to wave only with my right hand, not to complain about my spoiled life, and to politely accept food and drinks without making faces. Waving with your left hand is beyond rude, that is the hand you use to wipe your bum after going to the bathroom… gross… I know.
There was a long bus ride to the Host Nation beach house, but as soon as we arrived we were given a briefing on safety first and to not act like a complete idiot. Then we were set free for beach exploration. This was not your traditional beach house that you may see in Florida. As soon as we entered the gates there were camels, falcons, ATVs, and food/drink tents waiting for us to indulge! I walked towards the Persian Gulf and there was a beautiful swimming pool, a pet cheetah, cabanas, and jet skis. Yes, I am writing this correctly, a pet cheetah. All of my Groundhog Days were behind me, because I was in paradise at that moment.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2009.