how many continents have you stepped foot on?

DtotheJ · (#1 (**permalink**))

2

North america and Europe

Parris · (#2 (**permalink**))

DtotheJ wrote:

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2

North america and Europe

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North America

Africa

Australia

Europe

Asia

PaRrIs

DtotheJ · (#3 (**permalink**))

Parris, did you visit all of those places as a soldier ?

Parris · (#4 (**permalink**))

DtotheJ wrote:

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Parris, did you visit all of those places as a soldier ?

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Initially yes, but I've gone back on vacation to many places.

North America - goes without saying.
Africa - Military only, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria
Australia - vacation to Sydney, Perth, Darwin
Europe - vacation to England, Germany, Paris,Yukraine, Russia, Ireland
Asia - vacation, Japan, thailand, Korea, Hong Kong (military - Japan, Thailand,)

MILITARY (if I can remember)

Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia
Canada
China (hong kong)
Estonia
Fiji
France
Germany
Guam (but that’s really the US)
Ireland
Italy
Japan,
Korea
Mexico (on vacation I forgot to add that)
New Zealand
Nigeria
Philippines
Russia
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine

I've actually been to more places outside of America than inside. and to be honest I'm pleased to be in a job now this less likely to take me away from my home.

PaRrIs

DtotheJ · (#5 (**permalink**))

How were your experiences different traveling as a civilian?

were you treated differentlyby the locals?

Parris · (#6 (**permalink**))

DtotheJ wrote:

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How were your experiences different traveling as a civilian?

were you treated differentlyby the locals?

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It actually depended on which country I visited and whatever the feelings was towards America in general. I think I was treated better than the white soldiers in every place except Africa and the US.

I try to be respectful of culture. For example in Armenia short pants on men IS A NO NO NO, but in America it is the norma. Also holding hands with your woman is considered boastful. And casual wear is not even a consideration. when one leaves their home they are dressed....almost formal. It was a little hard to get used too. HOT!, and I'm walking around in slacks and dress shoes.

I try to learn the language, and I try to dress like whatever country I'm in. A big problem with America is we try to take America wherever we go. Usually its a bad thing, sometimes its a good thing. When I went to Capri, all I wanted was a glass of water.....with some ice. All I could find was carbonated water.

In Japan if theythoughtI'm African I get treated like garbage. I met a guy from Ghana and hung aroundhim once while on vacation and I honestly can't see why he stays in Japan.Only when they found out I was American did their moods change. If the Japanese thought I was simply an American living in Japan or a tourist...no problem. If they thought I was Army, Navy, or Airfore...they were kind of stand-off ish, but still not issue. JAPANESE HATE MARINES. And outside the general area of Marine bases, it came be dangerous if they think you are Marine

Places like Australia and Russia, no big change. We go their for training andcan't leave the base in uniform so as far as they knew I was a tourist.

For military operations in Somalia and Sierra Leone....the blackMarines actually got shot at more than the white Marines. So bad in fact for awhile they took us off missions completely. The Somalis would ignore patrols that had not white Marines, and try to set up ambushes for the patrols with black Marines. It got to the point where our presence would simple mean a fire fight. Not good to turn on CNN and see 20 dead Somalis and the only reason the fight started was because they hated black Marines. As a young Marine I didn't really get this. A patrol with a black Marine for the Somalis meant.....we'd stomp them from putting a boot in guy's head just for the hell of it. Took me a bit of growing and maturing not to hate Somalis.

Nigeria I was at the embassy and didn't leave the compound much.

PaRrIs

interested 1 · (#7 (**permalink**))

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@ Parris

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What did you think of Nigeria when you went, and would you consider going on anymore military operations in Somalia (I'd expect that from them anyway as they aren't TRUE Africans!!!!)

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Oh yeh wot did you think of England?

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ower

Parris · (#8 (**permalink**))

interested 1 wrote:

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@ Parris

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What did you think of Nigeria when you went, and would you consider going on anymore military operations in Somalia (I'd expect that from them anyway as they aren't TRUE Africans!!!!)

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Oh yeh wot did you think of England?

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ower

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the Nigerians in the embassy treated us REAL good. I have a bottle of plum wine I've been saving for about 6 years that I plan to drink when my son graduates highschool...or get married some ocassion like that. But just being in the Embassy they treated me real well and I got a sense from talking to some of the people. Sitting on break having a smoke.....things like that.

Would I consider going back to Somalia. yes, and No.

yes, so far in my military career i can say the jobs I have had to do where honorable. Bascially I've asked as the middle person between two people (or sides) trying to kill each toher. I'd go if called. I wanted to go to Haiti, I wanted to go to Rwanda....I wanted to go to places where I could actually do some good.

....all that being said, that was before my daughter was born. I'm done with war fighting. DONE. Its made me cold and jaded. I have to catch myself when I work with "my kids" my temperment is usually calm but I have no patience. I'm quick and sometimes were calmness is called for I fail. Sort of like using a hammer to kill a fly.

1 June, I'll be leaving the infnatry field. 8 years in the Marine Corps, and now in the army as a scout sniper. And to be honest, I'M READY. I'm 33, I'm thinking quality of life now.

England. Man I thought england was funny really. The buses, the people....i didn't get to meet many blacks. Got lots on the train alot. But I did have a good time in England. I did three thigs.

TRAINED...PARTIED...DRANK... and when I got done with that, I TRAINED...PARTIED...AND DRANK SOME MORE.

My one regret is that I didn't take pictures when I was doing a lot of my operations. Most of this was pre-digital camera. (pre-2001). I would like to have been able to SHOW my son what I was doing rather then tell him. Now I take pictures of EVERYTHING.

PaRrIs

PaRrIs

DtotheJ · (#9 (**permalink**))

thanks Parris...

i've not traveled that much....but what you've said mirrors what I've been told by peopel who travel other places...... especially the part about being treated one way when people know and do not know your nationality...and just see your appearance...my friend said the same thing about his travels..he said it was distressing that being american meant that much and he wasn't treated a human being before people knew he was american.....

the japanese...if I'm not mistaken..in addition to just people having individual views ....the treatment towards marines is because of a few cases of US marines/servicemen raping japanese teenagers in the past and not going to jail....japanese were justifiably outraged...

Parris · (#10 (**permalink**))

DtotheJ wrote:

Quote:

thanks Parris...

i've not traveled that much....but what you've said mirrors what I've been told by peopel who travel other places...... especially the part about being treated one way when people know and do not know your nationality...and just see your appearance...my friend said the same thing about his travels..he said it was distressing that being american meant that much and he wasn't treated a human being before people knew he was american.....

the japanese...if I'm not mistaken..in addition to just people having individual views ....the treatment towards marines is because of a few cases of US marines/servicemen raping japanese teenagers in the past and not going to jail....japanese were justifiably outraged...

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yeah, its kind of disgusting. "Oh so now I'm somebody because I'm American" What shocked me is that there are a lot of Africans in Tokyo, in fact it was the only place i was able to buy wave grease. LOL...don't ask me why African where selling wave greace int Tokyo...BUT I WAS HAPPY THEY WHERE.

The Japanese dislike, and hatred of Marines is due to WII. The Marines decismated Japan. The Germans are the ones that called Marines Devil Dogs, but the Japanese called Marines "AKUMA" The Devil, or Satan. Those wounds still havn't heald...and the rape cases in Okinawa didn't help any.

The problem is through the entire Marine training its not about being a soldier but a WARRIOR. So you take a guy and you feed him war, death, war, death...and then you expect him to be civil...........doesn't really work.

The one thing I've learn...is that NOTHING IS DIFFERENT UNDER THE SUN. We all have the same wants and desire, the same fears...what seperates us is not even skin color but our culture.

PaRrIs

Vubundada_Kandaba · (#11 (**permalink**))

Well let me see.

The Continents I stepped on are the following. Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and North America.

Countries I have been to.

Uganda

Democratic Republic of Congo

Sudan

Egypt

Kuwait

Jordan

Germany

Holland

Canada: provinces I visited (Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta)

Jamaica

Trinidad & Tobago

Nicaragua

USA: (Been to about 25 states from East to West, South to North)

Next destination is Australia and then back to Africa.