I hear that train a-comin'

[aadler]

 
Okay. All done now.

I’ve put in my last day on the job, and we’ve met all the requirements for clearing except those that can only be checked off at departure. Equipment signed over. Awards and commendations received, plus a commemorative coin — I now have coins from all three JWOT theaters — plus a flag with a certificate attesting that it was flown over the camp for 9 minutes and 11 seconds (see if you can figure out what that symbolizes). Extra items mailed home. Office computer accounts closed out. I won’t be going back into any of the camps, so I can resume wearing name tapes on my uniform, and carrying a pocketknife. There’s really nothing left except to relax for three days, pack, and clear quarters on Tuesday.

I took the DLPT for Persian Farsi (the reading section a week ago, the listening section early this week), but don’t yet know the results. They probably won’t come in for several weeks yet, but at least it’s done.

During this tour, I did three Buffy fics, and 10,000+ words on a fourth. I genuinely intended to finish “Queen’s Gambit” while I was here — and I’ll put in further effort before leaving Guantanamo and while out-processing through Fort Benning — but weeks ago I made a choice to postpone fic-writing while I readied myself for the language test.

No predicting how long we’ll spend at Benning. I might possibly be finished and home by this time next week; even with unforeseen difficulties, it shouldn’t take more than four or five days longer than that.

It’s been a fairly substantial tour. Last time, before we got the last-minute extension, I didn’t want to leave. Now, I’m ready to be gone.

Comments

[lmzjewel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that everything is going good and I know that you will be happy to be getting back home. (:

LMZ

[aadler]

Thank you. Your good wishes are always welcome.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

I would imagine you're pretty eager to see your family after all this time.

How do you think you did on the test?

[aadler]

Looking forward to seeing them, yes.

As for the test, I really don’t know, because I don’t know what the standard is. My overall understanding is that there are four levels: 1, meaning general competence; 2, indicating conversational and reading proficiency; 3, generally achievable only by a native-speaker with professional education; and 4, which would be someone capable of teaching professional courses in that language.

I’m fairly sure I didn’t fail the test. The armed forces don’t start paying for language proficiency until you achieve level 2 in both listening and reading. I might — might, but don’t bet on it — have done well enough to score a 2. Considering how much there was that I didn’t understand (how many places where I simply had to guess, and not even educated guesses), I’m not hugely optimistic. Now that I’ll have a DLPT score on record, though, I can at least get language refresher classes, instead of having to make do with self-study.