Through seven separate (dropped) phone calls over 45 minutes time I was able to talk to Derrick for the longest time yet. He sounds so good right now. His spirits are up and he was able to just talk. The first time we've really been able to relax and talk together in over a month. I know more about his living conditions, and how he is eating. Both of which I am not pleased with, but what to do? It's the nature of the beast.
After their Christmas dinner fiasco, they have decided to no longer send fresh (frozen) meat to the camp Derrick is at, now they only get processed proteins which he says aren't the greatest. That just means I'll be sending him more groceries each month so he is able to get something a little better tasting to eat. He told me about his 'stove.' It's 4 empty ammo cans holding up a metal grate over an open flame. He told me before he left that he'd heard it was a very "spartan" camp, I guess I hadn't fully wrapped my mind around that. He is eagerly waiting for his blanket (still). He said the colder it gets outside the colder it gets inside. The overnight temperature last night was 7 degrees and the daytime high is supposed to be 36. He told me a little more about his 'house.' We've decided at best it resembles something you'd find in a run down area of Tijuana, Mexico. Even with all of that, he doesn't complain. He actually said, aside from working with the ANA, I'll explain that part in a minute, and the conflicts/violence in the region, it's a beautiful place to live. If circumstances were different, where he's at would be an ideal place to live. I'll take his word for it. It still isn't appealing enough for me.
The ANA is tough to work with, they seem to know everything and know that their way is the right way. Basically, it feels like he's dealing with an army of teenage girls. One soldier broke something on a vehicle, when Derrick arranged for him to fix it he came up with every possible excuse. He wasn't a mechanic, neither was Derrick. He didn't have tools, Derrick found him tools and so on. Eventually he ran out of excuses and Derrick taught him how to fix it. I don't know how he reacted to accomplishing something he'd never done before, but I'd like to think it made him proud.
Derrick told me that Manam is wearing his shoes now. Manam is a 12 year old boy who works at the camp with the Marines. He wore an old pair of tennis shoes that Derrick knew wouldn't be enough to keep his feet warm through the winter so he asked me to pick up a pair of boots. Fortunately they arrived a few days before Christmas and he's wearing them now. I asked if they fit well, but the through the language barrier he just doesn't know. He said they look like they do though. He's mentioned that when he's out on patrol kids will come up to him, they are so used to firearms that his don't seem to phase them one bit. They'll walk straight up to him and ask for candy. I guess they've learned that Ameicans carry candy just for them and they know just enough English to ask for it.
He's been able to have a few laughs with the nationals and his interpreter. Care packages come in from people across the country, some of them have items for female soldiers. Since there are none where Derrick is at those items go unused. Unless you've got Derrick's sense of humor. He gave a box of feminine products to his interpreter and told him they were more effective "super absorbant" napkins for his face. He said he had him going for a few minutes before he caught on. He never did use them. :) There have been other stories he's shared, but that one is the most G rated I could recall. While they are busy with many things, he is still able to find a few minutes to laugh each day.
E mail is still hard to come by, the community computer room is about the size of my bathroom, and houses 3 computers and 1 phone. That phone is only able to call other bases so when he does call from there he's only allowed ten minutes. He also has a satellite phone that allows him to call home for longer durations, that is how we were able to talk so long this time. With those calls the signal is often weak and because he has to be outdoors in an open area he tries to limit his exposure. He brought his laptop with hopes of being able to connect to a satellite signal but for the location he is at, that service is unavailable. In any case, he sends his love, misses everyone and appreciates all the well wishes, love and support.
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