Friendly interaction generates intercultural understanding

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Seon Ik Cho
  • Republic of Korea Medical Group deputy commander
GANCI AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC (AFPN) --  Ganci Air Base at Manas is a fascinating place.

Far away, the peaks of the Ala-too Mountains, perpetually covered in snow, surround us like a panorama.

Below them lie seemingly endless plains of green grass and sand and that is where Ganci is located.

Many coalition forces have been deployed to Ganci in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. France, Norway, and Spain have finished their mission here and returned to home. Now, European air forces partners from Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands join New Zealand and Korea in participating in the mission successfully with U.S. forces.

Ganci is not only the outpost of the mission, but also the place where people from all around the world can understand each other and learn about each other. We sleep, eat, work out and relax at the same places. We almost spend 24/7 with each other.

We may not understand customs and lifestyles of others and we may get into misunderstandings while working and helping each other. We may not become very close friends because of language problems, even if we try very hard. However! We are soldiers who are fighting for the same mission and we share our joys and sorrows.

If the successful accomplishment of the mission contributes to "Operation Enduring Freedom,” wouldn't the way we understand each other and care for each other contribute to "Enduring World Peace?" Let us greet each other, talk with each other, and understand each other.

Not speaking other person's language fluently is not going to be an obstacle to us being friends. Let's go together, not only for the mission, but also for humanitarian aid activities and sports games among coalition forces. These are going to help us to understand each other and we will be the courageous coalition forces.