I thought I had videos uploaded from all 4 years, but must not have them all on youtube. Here's three years of Eisa performances from Bechtel Elementary School (BES) Ryukyu Festivals. The first two videos were when Brandon was at Bechtel and the last is from this year, when Luke was finally old enough to participate in the Eisa Club.
This is Brandon's second year of Eisa but first year on the Odaiko drum, he is to the right of his teacher and they're playing Miruku Minari. All first year students play the paranku (pah-lan-koo).
Here is Brandon's second year on the Odaiko, this time playing Kariushi, right behind his instructor. This was his final Eisa performance, no performing groups at the middle school level. I love this song, sound
s so pretty. Who am I kidding, I love all the songs they do. I'm gonna miss this place, (and this school). :(
I am so happy we extended on island long enough for Luke to be able to be a part of the Eisa Club. The three previous years he was so envious of Brandon being able to play. He got his time to shine too. This is Ashibina, a song they do every year and one I just can't get enough of. Luke is third behind his instructor and visible off and on through out the video, darn him for being so tall. If he were shorter he'd be right up front. ;)
We've been so lucky to have this opportunity. As an added bonus (for me), Mr. John has a weekly evening class. I can say that with a few minutes to remember the routines, I can play the paranku to each of the above songs right along with the boys. Tons of fun, a nice little work out and a cultural experience I couldn't get anywhere else in the world. If we stuck around a few more months (August) we'd be performing in the 10,000 Eisa Parade. For me, it's almost worth sticking around for...
ALMOST.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
This might just be our last Family Update from Okinawa
I sent this message out to all the family I have in my e mail address book but in case I don't have an updated e mail address for anyone I'm posting it here again, minus the phone numbers. If you need them then please send me a message, or comment to this blog and I'll be sure to get it to you.
Hello all,
I just wanted to let everyone know that after almost four years in Japan we'll be leaving Okinawa in 3 weeks. With that said, our stateside phone number will only be effective until March 31st. We will be disconnecting it next week and will only be reachable through either e mail or facebook. We do have a stateside cell phone already but until we are in the states we won't have it on/charged. That number is ...-...-.....
The movers are coming to pack us up on April 1st and 5th and on the 8th we move into a hotel. We'll fly into Dallas on the 15th where our Jeep is now waiting. Driving on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left should be an adventure.
After a short stop in Texas we're hoping to make it to North Carolina by May 1st. The kids have to get registered for school and we've got a house to close on. Once we get settled in the house I'll send out another e mail with our new address and phone number.
And because I'm sure things will be pretty hectic for us over the next few weeks, I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.
We send our love,
Denise, Derrick and the kids
Hello all,
I just wanted to let everyone know that after almost four years in Japan we'll be leaving Okinawa in 3 weeks. With that said, our stateside phone number will only be effective until March 31st. We will be disconnecting it next week and will only be reachable through either e mail or facebook. We do have a stateside cell phone already but until we are in the states we won't have it on/charged. That number is ...-...-.....
The movers are coming to pack us up on April 1st and 5th and on the 8th we move into a hotel. We'll fly into Dallas on the 15th where our Jeep is now waiting. Driving on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left should be an adventure.
After a short stop in Texas we're hoping to make it to North Carolina by May 1st. The kids have to get registered for school and we've got a house to close on. Once we get settled in the house I'll send out another e mail with our new address and phone number.
And because I'm sure things will be pretty hectic for us over the next few weeks, I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.
We send our love,
Denise, Derrick and the kids
Monday, March 22, 2010
Okinawa has left me blessed
I cannot begin to explain how blessed I have been by given this opportunity to live on this beautiful island for the last 3 years and 9 months. I have had experiences I may not have had under any other circumstances and being removed from my comfort zone I was able to find out so much about myself and what I really want in life. I'll never forget this amazing adventure.
This is kind of a tribute to the last 4ish years but also a guide for anyone here who has some more exploring they want to do. This is a list of my favorites, all of them I can think of. If there are any places I mention that you'd like directions to, or information about let me know and I'll do what I can to help make your stay here as amazing as mine was.
My Favorite:
Festival- Shishimai Festival in Ishikawa. The first year we were here it was at the bull ring in Agena, just a 5 minute walk from our house. Each year after it was moved to a bigger venue in Ishikawa. I haven't missed a year and fall in love with the music, dancing and of course the amazing liondog or Shisa dances. MCCS does a tour for it, but save the $20 a person, take the drive up, it's a free event and a beautiful park on the beach. Take in more than their schedule will allow. This is followed by a close second, the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival. Put on some comfy shoes and start climbing to the top of the Nago Castle ruins. What a beautiful view, with the cherry blossoms, the city of Nago and the East China Sea below you.
Beach on base- Oura Wan Beach on Camp Schwab. A beautiful beach not many Americans know about tucked away in a bay. Cabanas, volleyball, horseshoes, a boat house and water sports... enjoy this beach while you can. If the Funtenma relocation goes as planned the bay will soon be filled in and this beautiful beach will be destroyed. :( Save the dougong!
Beach off base - Uken Beach, aka "Trash Beach" is a great little beach a few minutes from Camp Courtney. It's on the Pacific Ocean side so it's lacking all the coral and sea life you'd want for snorkeling but it's a great beach with jetties to block the waves. This beach also has rentals and such though we've never needed more than we brought with us.
Place to snorkel w/the kids - Maeda Flats hands down! The kids can snorkel and not worry about being too deep, and in just a few feet of water you can see a million tropical fish. Chasing blue tangs and having the angels nip at your fingers was always a highlight for us. Four years here and I've never actually been to Maeda Point- I've heard the steps are not kid/beginner snorkeler friendly so we've skipped it all together.
Place to snorkel w/o the kids - Sunabe Seawall. It's where I learned to snorkel thanks to a friendly national girl who literally took my hand and walked me waist deep and showed me how beautiful the water was just right there. It's amazing what you don't see from looking down at the water that you can see once you put your face into the water. The seawall has tons of hidden crevasses in the reefs where you can see just about everything. I don't know that I ever got tired of snorkeling off the seawall. If you can, do it & bring an underwater camera. You won't be disappointed.
MCCS Tour- The battle sites tour. What was even better than the MCCS one was the tour Chris Majewski did for Brandon's 5th grade field trip of the tour. He does both the school tours & the MCCS tours but offered so much more information during the school tour. I was amazed at the history this island holds. I knew of the Battle of Okinawa. I didn't realize what our troops endured here, or worse, how the Okinawan people were treated and what they were led to believe about the American GIs. I now understand why many thought the suicide cliffs were such a better option for their families. The NBC evening news has a segment called "Fleecing of America", this was a case of the Japanese Fleecing Okinawa. A very emotional tour, and you'll get both sides of the story. This tour includes the Battle of Okinawa Museum on Kinser, the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, Kakuzu Ridge (Hacksaw Ridge is under construction) and Peace Prayer Park. When we went with the school we didn't make it to Peace Prayer Park but instead went to Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Animal Park - NEO Park! I can say we have been to this park easily a dozen times and have yet to get tired of the cute lemurs crawling across our arms to get a yummy treat or trying to keep up with the wallabies. This is the best hands on animal experience you'll find on the island (& maybe anywhere you've been in the world). The only place I'd skip is the additional fee "petting zoo" it's a sad little area. Maybe if we boycott it, they'll stop nursing baby pigs on dogs. The whole park is in essence a petting zoo, why pay to see dogs, and bunnies. You can see those anywhere. A great thing about this park is the price, you can get tickets at the door for about Y600 yen per adult and less for kids but the better option is to go to Tours Plus and pick up an annual pass for a family of 5 for about $15. (I think it's actually $16 but it's been a while since I bought ours).
Agricultural Park - Nago Pineapple Park. (Like how I worded that, "agricultural park" that way I can include "adventure park", "family park", etc.) I have probably spent as much time at the Pineapple Park as I have at NEO Park (maybe even more). For Y500 you get to go on a narrated self propelled pineapple shaped golf cart voyage through a small forest of varying pineapple related plans. After the ride you can stroll through the forest, plenty of great photo ops, then make your way to the shell gallery. Once you've made your way though the shells head on through the winery and cannery. You can watch workers process fresh Okinawa grown pineapples for canning or wine. Follow up all of that fun with something even better... taste testing. Those of you 20 or older can taste 1 or all 4 pineapple based alcohols, 3 wines and a sparkling champagne. Move on through the wine and you enter into a huge shop where everything in the store is offered as samples. Juices, cakes, cookies, pies, tarts, chocolate- yes pineapple chocolate, and even perfume and body lotions. I almost forgot, and as much fresh picked pineapple as you'd like. Taste one, some or all and buy everything or nothing at all. Well before I say buy nothing at all, before you leave the pineapple park you've got to grab a cone of soft serve pineapple ice cream or one of their amazing pineapple cream puffs, they also have sweet potato for those who love the purple potato delights. :) I've got 3 weeks left on Okinawa, there will be one more trek up to Nago before I leave. Anyone care to join me? We can do a midweek get away while the kids are at school. :)
Adventure Park - Forest Adventure, with no competition! Do it, that's what I have to say about this place. Grow to 4'6" if you're not already and Go, Go Go & hurry up and do it. SO much fun, liberating, exhilarating and just awesome. Oh, bring your camera and 100 yen up for a locker or remember to leave everything in your car. Must have empty pockets for this one.
Roller Slide park - The most amazing roller slide park I've been to is on the grounds of the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. There are two amazing slides the twist, turn and spiral down the hill. I was looking for a link to the park but only found youtube videos. I have my fair share of those for this park but I only want to post informative links, not videos. If you'd like to see them look up Rollerslide by the JNUHQ (Spell the words out though).
Photo spot - Toguchi Beach or Fukushen Chinese Gardens. I don't think the photos on these links do either place justice. Check them out & bring your favorite photographer!
Tourist location- Kokusai Street -totally 'OMGosh Only in Japan' type of place. Nothing will surprise you like half the things you'll find on Kokusai Street. Make a day out of that street alone. Bring plenty of yen for shopping, food and parking. On many weekends you'll see eisa dancers perform in the street, then there's the many festivals that take place there too. You can't live here and not go to Kokusai St at least a time or two. (I've had more than my share of Kokusai St memories) ;)
... more to come.
Food - will also add soon.
Suggestions? Anyone have a favorite location question you want to ask of me? let me know and I'll add my response here.
And to wrap this up, here is a list of some of the "must see/must do" while you're here on Okinawa. These things may not have made it to my favorite list, but definitely something you've got to check out. First and foremost, get OFF BASE. The island is your adventure and the base simply confines you. This island is amazing, don't let this once in a life time opportunity pass you by.
This is kind of a tribute to the last 4ish years but also a guide for anyone here who has some more exploring they want to do. This is a list of my favorites, all of them I can think of. If there are any places I mention that you'd like directions to, or information about let me know and I'll do what I can to help make your stay here as amazing as mine was.
My Favorite:
Festival- Shishimai Festival in Ishikawa. The first year we were here it was at the bull ring in Agena, just a 5 minute walk from our house. Each year after it was moved to a bigger venue in Ishikawa. I haven't missed a year and fall in love with the music, dancing and of course the amazing liondog or Shisa dances. MCCS does a tour for it, but save the $20 a person, take the drive up, it's a free event and a beautiful park on the beach. Take in more than their schedule will allow. This is followed by a close second, the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival. Put on some comfy shoes and start climbing to the top of the Nago Castle ruins. What a beautiful view, with the cherry blossoms, the city of Nago and the East China Sea below you.
Beach on base- Oura Wan Beach on Camp Schwab. A beautiful beach not many Americans know about tucked away in a bay. Cabanas, volleyball, horseshoes, a boat house and water sports... enjoy this beach while you can. If the Funtenma relocation goes as planned the bay will soon be filled in and this beautiful beach will be destroyed. :( Save the dougong!
Beach off base - Uken Beach, aka "Trash Beach" is a great little beach a few minutes from Camp Courtney. It's on the Pacific Ocean side so it's lacking all the coral and sea life you'd want for snorkeling but it's a great beach with jetties to block the waves. This beach also has rentals and such though we've never needed more than we brought with us.
Place to snorkel w/the kids - Maeda Flats hands down! The kids can snorkel and not worry about being too deep, and in just a few feet of water you can see a million tropical fish. Chasing blue tangs and having the angels nip at your fingers was always a highlight for us. Four years here and I've never actually been to Maeda Point- I've heard the steps are not kid/beginner snorkeler friendly so we've skipped it all together.
Place to snorkel w/o the kids - Sunabe Seawall. It's where I learned to snorkel thanks to a friendly national girl who literally took my hand and walked me waist deep and showed me how beautiful the water was just right there. It's amazing what you don't see from looking down at the water that you can see once you put your face into the water. The seawall has tons of hidden crevasses in the reefs where you can see just about everything. I don't know that I ever got tired of snorkeling off the seawall. If you can, do it & bring an underwater camera. You won't be disappointed.
MCCS Tour- The battle sites tour. What was even better than the MCCS one was the tour Chris Majewski did for Brandon's 5th grade field trip of the tour. He does both the school tours & the MCCS tours but offered so much more information during the school tour. I was amazed at the history this island holds. I knew of the Battle of Okinawa. I didn't realize what our troops endured here, or worse, how the Okinawan people were treated and what they were led to believe about the American GIs. I now understand why many thought the suicide cliffs were such a better option for their families. The NBC evening news has a segment called "Fleecing of America", this was a case of the Japanese Fleecing Okinawa. A very emotional tour, and you'll get both sides of the story. This tour includes the Battle of Okinawa Museum on Kinser, the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, Kakuzu Ridge (Hacksaw Ridge is under construction) and Peace Prayer Park. When we went with the school we didn't make it to Peace Prayer Park but instead went to Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Animal Park - NEO Park! I can say we have been to this park easily a dozen times and have yet to get tired of the cute lemurs crawling across our arms to get a yummy treat or trying to keep up with the wallabies. This is the best hands on animal experience you'll find on the island (& maybe anywhere you've been in the world). The only place I'd skip is the additional fee "petting zoo" it's a sad little area. Maybe if we boycott it, they'll stop nursing baby pigs on dogs. The whole park is in essence a petting zoo, why pay to see dogs, and bunnies. You can see those anywhere. A great thing about this park is the price, you can get tickets at the door for about Y600 yen per adult and less for kids but the better option is to go to Tours Plus and pick up an annual pass for a family of 5 for about $15. (I think it's actually $16 but it's been a while since I bought ours).
Agricultural Park - Nago Pineapple Park. (Like how I worded that, "agricultural park" that way I can include "adventure park", "family park", etc.) I have probably spent as much time at the Pineapple Park as I have at NEO Park (maybe even more). For Y500 you get to go on a narrated self propelled pineapple shaped golf cart voyage through a small forest of varying pineapple related plans. After the ride you can stroll through the forest, plenty of great photo ops, then make your way to the shell gallery. Once you've made your way though the shells head on through the winery and cannery. You can watch workers process fresh Okinawa grown pineapples for canning or wine. Follow up all of that fun with something even better... taste testing. Those of you 20 or older can taste 1 or all 4 pineapple based alcohols, 3 wines and a sparkling champagne. Move on through the wine and you enter into a huge shop where everything in the store is offered as samples. Juices, cakes, cookies, pies, tarts, chocolate- yes pineapple chocolate, and even perfume and body lotions. I almost forgot, and as much fresh picked pineapple as you'd like. Taste one, some or all and buy everything or nothing at all. Well before I say buy nothing at all, before you leave the pineapple park you've got to grab a cone of soft serve pineapple ice cream or one of their amazing pineapple cream puffs, they also have sweet potato for those who love the purple potato delights. :) I've got 3 weeks left on Okinawa, there will be one more trek up to Nago before I leave. Anyone care to join me? We can do a midweek get away while the kids are at school. :)
Adventure Park - Forest Adventure, with no competition! Do it, that's what I have to say about this place. Grow to 4'6" if you're not already and Go, Go Go & hurry up and do it. SO much fun, liberating, exhilarating and just awesome. Oh, bring your camera and 100 yen up for a locker or remember to leave everything in your car. Must have empty pockets for this one.
Roller Slide park - The most amazing roller slide park I've been to is on the grounds of the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. There are two amazing slides the twist, turn and spiral down the hill. I was looking for a link to the park but only found youtube videos. I have my fair share of those for this park but I only want to post informative links, not videos. If you'd like to see them look up Rollerslide by the JNUHQ (Spell the words out though).
Photo spot - Toguchi Beach or Fukushen Chinese Gardens. I don't think the photos on these links do either place justice. Check them out & bring your favorite photographer!
Tourist location- Kokusai Street -totally 'OMGosh Only in Japan' type of place. Nothing will surprise you like half the things you'll find on Kokusai Street. Make a day out of that street alone. Bring plenty of yen for shopping, food and parking. On many weekends you'll see eisa dancers perform in the street, then there's the many festivals that take place there too. You can't live here and not go to Kokusai St at least a time or two. (I've had more than my share of Kokusai St memories) ;)
... more to come.
Food - will also add soon.
Suggestions? Anyone have a favorite location question you want to ask of me? let me know and I'll add my response here.
And to wrap this up, here is a list of some of the "must see/must do" while you're here on Okinawa. These things may not have made it to my favorite list, but definitely something you've got to check out. First and foremost, get OFF BASE. The island is your adventure and the base simply confines you. This island is amazing, don't let this once in a life time opportunity pass you by.
*Make it to at least one Bull Fight, Ishikawa holds a free one every year, don't pay $20 for MCCS to get you there.
*Head up to Camp Mc Tureous and hang out with a friend while you pass out candy to the local Okinawan children as they Trick-or-treat. They're so cute, and much more polite than 99% of American kids and it's just a great cultural exchange.
*SchwabFest, actually hit up every Camp or Base Festival, there is one going almost every month of the year.
* Explore the Castle Ruins, all of them.
*While up in Nago, during the Cherry Blossom Festival take a tour through the Orion Beer Tour
*While on Kokusai Street find your way though the maze of shops and check out the fish market.
*Head to American Villiage, play in the arcades, ride the Ferris wheel and head over to Dragon Palace and ride a 4D ride.
*Park hop. Okinawahai.com has a list of parks. See them all, then scout out new ones and add to their list
*If you have kids, get them involved in cultural activities. My boys have been in their schools Eisa Club every year and participated in their Ryukyu Festival. Brandon did it in grades 3-5 and now Luke is getting his turn. Couldn't do something like this in the States. Soak it up!
*Head up to Ocean Expo Park/Churaumi Aqurium
*Snorkel
*Go Deep Sea Fishing
* Hike Hiji Falls
*Explore all the dams around the island. Kurishiki is the closest and a great photo location but there are many others.
* When the Okinawa summer is a tad to hot and humid for you, head on down to Southern Palace Sports Complex and hit the ice.
* Go to the Butterfly Garden in Nago
* Okinawa Fruitlands
* Go whale watching- it'll make for an amazing morning/afternoon. Breath taking, I tell ya!
* Go to the Naha Tug O War, it is the largest in the world. If you're lucky you'll be close enough to tug and at the end, take a piece of the rope home for good luck.
* Go whale watching- it'll make for an amazing morning/afternoon. Breath taking, I tell ya!
* Go to the Naha Tug O War, it is the largest in the world. If you're lucky you'll be close enough to tug and at the end, take a piece of the rope home for good luck.
*Head to Ryukru Mura, take in the shows and see how the island was like in the 1800s
*run a marathon, participate in Tour de Okinawa or just sit on the sidelines and CHEER those athletes on. They are doing something amazing!
*Take in the view of Cape Hedo, then travel down the Pacific side of the island to find the many look outs that offer a beautiful view of the most northern point of the island.
* Tour Shuri-jo Castle
* Camp on the beach
*travel off island if you can. Plenty of opportunities available
*get a Cocok's pedicure (at least one)
* Stop and eat at every hole in the wall place, and also every bright lighted flashy place you pass. Don't let fear of the unknown stop you.
* and I would be withholding information if I didn't throw out there the Banana Show. Not for everyone, really NOT for everyone but it's one of those things that words cannot describe (& maybe shouldn't).
A few things I've yet to do, but would love to before we leave:
Parasail over the East China Sea
The Southeast Botanical Gardens
Hike Hiji Falls, (I say do it, but haven't yet) :(
Do you have any suggestions for me?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I read this and thought of you
You is figurative. It is for every American who shares their life with someone who has served overseas in a combat environment, and more poignantly it's for every service member who makes that sacrifice.
I look forward to seeing this documentary when we return to the States and hope that it is played nationwide and more specifically in all military communities. America needs to know what these brave men go through, and those brave men need to know that they are not alone.
Back From Iraq war, and alone. By Mike Scotti
It was 2003, and I was attending a friend's wedding. As I sat at the table listening to the conversation, I suddenly realized that someone who had never been in combat could never even remotely understand what I had just been through.
I looked around. The chamber music quartet, the beautiful bridesmaids, the steak dinner ... none of it was real. My buddies were, at that moment, probably on patrol and quite possibly engaged with the enemy. That was real.
And as for the other guests at the table who were staring at me in my dress blues, we were no longer even the same species.
As the Iraq war winds down and those troops return home, and as other soldiers and Marines cycle in and out of Afghanistan, a new generation of Americans --vets' family members, friends and co-workers, a population basically untouched, unbothered by the fact of a faraway war -- will have to develop a fresh mindfulness of what these hundreds of thousands of men and women have been through and may be struggling with when they return.
There is a new generation of combat veterans and, as I discovered through personal experience, we all must be conscious of what, exactly, this means.
When I returned I became aware that, though I had hoped my days on the battlefield were finally over, I was in for one last fight. There was a new and unexpected foe: the feeling of isolation from the people all around you at home.
Their complaints seem trivial: The plane is delayed 30 minutes. They put onions on your sandwich. You don't like your job. "You think you got problems, pal?" is the thought that would go through my mind. I would think of the people I knew that were still over there -- in convoys hitting IEDs that rip apart armored vehicles and the troops inside them, or on patrol caught in a firefight in some dusty alley somewhere. Or of close friends that I had already lost.
This sense of isolation, if not dealt with, can quickly lead to problems with loved ones, with colleagues or worse; self-destructive behaviors feed upon themselves, pulling the vet down the wrong path. The isolation can also manifest itself in feelings of anger or resentment.
For the first year after I returned from Iraq, the only people to whom I felt really connected were those who had served in combat -- in any war -- or those who had lost family members on 9/11. In my mind, they were the only ones who "understood."
For warriors who return and have fulfilled their active- duty obligation, and swing from active military service in a war zone to becoming a civilian in a matter of days, the transformation is particularly traumatic. What's more, because there is no draft in the United States, there is a far smaller pool of the nation's population serving in conflicts or with military experience, unlike during World War II or the Vietnam War, making the search for shared understanding and a connection even more challenging.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America brilliantly portrayed this feeling of isolation in a 2008 ad where a soldier returning from the war walks through an empty airport. He continues through downtown Manhattan, which is also completely empty. No cars. No people. It isn't until a young veteran approaches the soldier with a handshake, a smile and pat on the back saying, "Welcome home, man," that the street becomes populated.
I was a bit shaken the first time I saw it, as it immediately resonated with me. It hit an exposed nerve, and I knew that those guys at the IAVA "got it." They knew exactly where we were coming from.
The problem, of course, is that we, as veterans, live the rest of our young lives in the "civilian" world and not on the battlefield. It took me several months to fully comprehend this. After realizing that my sense of isolation was alienating me from those I loved, I made the conscious decision to use my experiences in combat as a source of great strength, versus letting them become a weakness.
I realized that I just needed to "Let it go, man. Just let it go." Choose the high road. Take the "good" lessons learned from war -- the initiative, focus, discipline, attention to detail and strategic planning -- and apply them to everyday life. Drop the bad, the resentment, anger and isolation. There is no place for any of them in a happy, healthy or successful person's mind.
In the years since then, I have embarked on two key missions: to help the families of veterans in need and to tell the world the story of what it is like to serve in combat.
The first mission was to help provide financial support to those who have been adversely affected by being called to active duty. The platform to do so is a nonprofit charity I helped found five years ago called Reserve Aid , which has helped several hundred veteran families cope financially with deployments, including providing short-term relief for many servicemen and women who have been wounded, but who may have delays in getting disability benefits. To date, Reserve Aid's grants top $3 million, money donated by individuals, through corporate matching programs and direct corporate giving.
The second mission was to tell the world what it is like to be in combat, and to hopefully create a "shared experience" to help bridge the "isolation gap" -- to educate the people who have not served about what it is like for those who did. The film ""Severe Clear" is a cinematic representation of my experiences in the war, using footage shot by me and other Marines, and it does just that. Set as a first-person narrative, it offers an unflinching, uncensored look at what it is like to fight a war.
I believe it captures the chaos and complexity of it all, and intimately reveals the human elements of combat. And I think it is unique because it is a story told by someone who is actively engaged in fighting the war, and it bares all: the good, the bad, and everything else in between -- the parts of war that the rest of the nation should understand.
I look forward to seeing this documentary when we return to the States and hope that it is played nationwide and more specifically in all military communities. America needs to know what these brave men go through, and those brave men need to know that they are not alone.
Back From Iraq war, and alone. By Mike Scotti
Back from Iraq war, and alone
March 10, 2010 -- Updated 1905 GMT (0305 HKT)
Editor's note: Mike Scotti served as a U.S. Marine in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, and is a founding board member of Reserve Aid, a military-themed, nonprofit charity. He is the founder of the Military Veterans Club at the NYU Stern School of Business and is the subject of the documentary film "Severe Clear," which opens in New York on Friday.
New York (CNN) -- A few days after I had returned from a six-month deployment to Iraq, my second sojourn in the Middle East since 2001, I remember feeling like I was an alien creature from some other planet.It was 2003, and I was attending a friend's wedding. As I sat at the table listening to the conversation, I suddenly realized that someone who had never been in combat could never even remotely understand what I had just been through.
I looked around. The chamber music quartet, the beautiful bridesmaids, the steak dinner ... none of it was real. My buddies were, at that moment, probably on patrol and quite possibly engaged with the enemy. That was real.
And as for the other guests at the table who were staring at me in my dress blues, we were no longer even the same species.
As the Iraq war winds down and those troops return home, and as other soldiers and Marines cycle in and out of Afghanistan, a new generation of Americans --vets' family members, friends and co-workers, a population basically untouched, unbothered by the fact of a faraway war -- will have to develop a fresh mindfulness of what these hundreds of thousands of men and women have been through and may be struggling with when they return.
There is a new generation of combat veterans and, as I discovered through personal experience, we all must be conscious of what, exactly, this means.
When I returned I became aware that, though I had hoped my days on the battlefield were finally over, I was in for one last fight. There was a new and unexpected foe: the feeling of isolation from the people all around you at home.
Their complaints seem trivial: The plane is delayed 30 minutes. They put onions on your sandwich. You don't like your job. "You think you got problems, pal?" is the thought that would go through my mind. I would think of the people I knew that were still over there -- in convoys hitting IEDs that rip apart armored vehicles and the troops inside them, or on patrol caught in a firefight in some dusty alley somewhere. Or of close friends that I had already lost.
This sense of isolation, if not dealt with, can quickly lead to problems with loved ones, with colleagues or worse; self-destructive behaviors feed upon themselves, pulling the vet down the wrong path. The isolation can also manifest itself in feelings of anger or resentment.
For the first year after I returned from Iraq, the only people to whom I felt really connected were those who had served in combat -- in any war -- or those who had lost family members on 9/11. In my mind, they were the only ones who "understood."
For warriors who return and have fulfilled their active- duty obligation, and swing from active military service in a war zone to becoming a civilian in a matter of days, the transformation is particularly traumatic. What's more, because there is no draft in the United States, there is a far smaller pool of the nation's population serving in conflicts or with military experience, unlike during World War II or the Vietnam War, making the search for shared understanding and a connection even more challenging.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America brilliantly portrayed this feeling of isolation in a 2008 ad where a soldier returning from the war walks through an empty airport. He continues through downtown Manhattan, which is also completely empty. No cars. No people. It isn't until a young veteran approaches the soldier with a handshake, a smile and pat on the back saying, "Welcome home, man," that the street becomes populated.
I was a bit shaken the first time I saw it, as it immediately resonated with me. It hit an exposed nerve, and I knew that those guys at the IAVA "got it." They knew exactly where we were coming from.
The problem, of course, is that we, as veterans, live the rest of our young lives in the "civilian" world and not on the battlefield. It took me several months to fully comprehend this. After realizing that my sense of isolation was alienating me from those I loved, I made the conscious decision to use my experiences in combat as a source of great strength, versus letting them become a weakness.
I realized that I just needed to "Let it go, man. Just let it go." Choose the high road. Take the "good" lessons learned from war -- the initiative, focus, discipline, attention to detail and strategic planning -- and apply them to everyday life. Drop the bad, the resentment, anger and isolation. There is no place for any of them in a happy, healthy or successful person's mind.
In the years since then, I have embarked on two key missions: to help the families of veterans in need and to tell the world the story of what it is like to serve in combat.
The first mission was to help provide financial support to those who have been adversely affected by being called to active duty. The platform to do so is a nonprofit charity I helped found five years ago called Reserve Aid , which has helped several hundred veteran families cope financially with deployments, including providing short-term relief for many servicemen and women who have been wounded, but who may have delays in getting disability benefits. To date, Reserve Aid's grants top $3 million, money donated by individuals, through corporate matching programs and direct corporate giving.
The second mission was to tell the world what it is like to be in combat, and to hopefully create a "shared experience" to help bridge the "isolation gap" -- to educate the people who have not served about what it is like for those who did. The film ""Severe Clear" is a cinematic representation of my experiences in the war, using footage shot by me and other Marines, and it does just that. Set as a first-person narrative, it offers an unflinching, uncensored look at what it is like to fight a war.
I believe it captures the chaos and complexity of it all, and intimately reveals the human elements of combat. And I think it is unique because it is a story told by someone who is actively engaged in fighting the war, and it bares all: the good, the bad, and everything else in between -- the parts of war that the rest of the nation should understand.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mike Scotti.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
I can see it but...
... can't quite smell or taste it - yet.
Today is Derrick's big day, well, one of them. Today is his Marine Corps anniversary. Fourteen years ago today he became one of The Few, The Proud, The Marines! In that time he's accomplished so much and seen so much of the world in ways many can never fully imagine. I'm so proud of him.
That light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter. Retirement is now as soon as six years away!
Congratulations Derrick on surviving fourteen crazy years offered courtesy of the United States Marine Corps. I'm looking forward to sharing the next six (or more) years of Marine Corps adventures with you!
Today is Derrick's big day, well, one of them. Today is his Marine Corps anniversary. Fourteen years ago today he became one of The Few, The Proud, The Marines! In that time he's accomplished so much and seen so much of the world in ways many can never fully imagine. I'm so proud of him.
That light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter. Retirement is now as soon as six years away!
Congratulations Derrick on surviving fourteen crazy years offered courtesy of the United States Marine Corps. I'm looking forward to sharing the next six (or more) years of Marine Corps adventures with you!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Too many choices
Our builder has a designer working on putting together color schemes for the house. I just got the first set for the exterior. These are just sketch renderings and if I don't like any of them I can choose otherwise. I am having a hard time deciding which ones I like but I definitely have a few I don't. So I'm asking you for some input. Which color schemes do you think look best?
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