Christmas greetings
The first snow has finally arrived in Enköping!
As I left my house after the weekend, a cold breeze of fresh air greeted me on my doorstep. A completely white landscape had transformed the city over night. Instead of a dark morning, it looked like someone had switched on a deep baby blue lamp in the sky and sprinkled powder on top of everything and leaving some to float in the air. It was beautiful and very silent, apart from the squeaking noise from my boots.
Unfortunately the snow just missed our Christmas celebration at work. It was a full day with Christmas activities and I’m happy to say it didn’t involve any weapons, physical strains, staring at goats, etc. Instead we had everyone gathered in best uniform for a medal ceremony in the morning, where we applauded those who has served the Army for 25 years, or recently gotten back from a mission. A trumpet played a vigorous fanfare every now and then making sure people didn’t nod off during the annual recap-of-the-year-speech, amongst others.
The 20 mins break of drinking “glögg” was enjoyable, as well as the two hours Christmas lunch, despite the lack of traditional alcoholic beverages during and after the meal. I thought the fun would end there but as the sun set, we were driven to the church of Litslena, outside Enköping. Known for its medieval frescoes, the twelfth century church had a magically soothing effect and I felt like going to sleep in the wooden bench. I closed my eyes and listened to the choir and the hymns that stretched in sound between the stone walls.
Joining the Army hasn’t been what I expected. Strangely, it has been a huge challenge. Not professionally, but personally. Many times I have wondered if I am too individualistic to blend in as a soldier or within this government body. I didn’t expect to feel so robbed from personal choice, time and freedom, nor was I aware of how important these are to me. I’ve also been surprised at how little value my employer has put into individual skills this year. Then again, our main goal for 2012 is to learn to operate as a unit. To move, set up, produce and deliver psychological operations as a team – a big team.
Having broadcasted radio in the woods of Uppsala for five days, survived a week in the forest, completed five weeks of international soldier training, attended a Psyops course and a three weeks NATO course, served with FL02 in Italy and spent five weeks getting a truck license, none of which has been chosen by me: I’ve learnt to be patient this year.
In hindsight, it’s been good for me. I’ve been put in situations and had experiences I didn’t think existed and sometimes I wished they hadn’t! I’ve gained a lot of new perspectives on my life and I’ve met people I normally wouldn’t have met. Life is about balance and finding our own unique mix of things to blend, at different times in our lives. There are so many options available but they need to be felt to exist, it seems. The Army and Enköping have shown me the opposite side to the life I’m used to in London, yet it is still the same old life.
And it can always be made rich – in thought, creativity and love.
