Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Gurkhas
Gurkhas, professional fighters from Nepal, provide most of the site security in the I Zone. They are very friendly and approachable. I talked at length with one and his English was very good.
I asked if all Gurkhas knew English as well as he did. He said that some do, but added that he once received a poor evaluation because he spoke English “too much”: “You bloody little Gurkha, who do you think you are?” he recounted. Though some carry their traditional knives - khukuris, all have an M-16, AK-47, or MP-5.
He was very well informed about world current events, much more so than your average US Soldier - or average US citizen. He gave me a history of the Gurkhas. His father and grandfather were Gurkhas, but because there is less demand for Gurkhas in the military, they have signed on with private security firms. Heredity also determines one’s vocation, here, in Iraq. My barber’s father and uncle are barbers. I remember in history class, this practice was portrayed as very backward.
Gurkhas, professional fighters from Nepal, provide most of the site security in the I Zone. They are very friendly and approachable. I talked at length with one and his English was very good.
I asked if all Gurkhas knew English as well as he did. He said that some do, but added that he once received a poor evaluation because he spoke English “too much”: “You bloody little Gurkha, who do you think you are?” he recounted. Though some carry their traditional knives - khukuris, all have an M-16, AK-47, or MP-5.
He was very well informed about world current events, much more so than your average US Soldier - or average US citizen. He gave me a history of the Gurkhas. His father and grandfather were Gurkhas, but because there is less demand for Gurkhas in the military, they have signed on with private security firms. Heredity also determines one’s vocation, here, in Iraq. My barber’s father and uncle are barbers. I remember in history class, this practice was portrayed as very backward.
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