When I went into this assignment, I really was excited about the surprises I would find along the way, which, I suppose, always accompanies travel.
And, so far, the one thing that amazes me the most is the comraderie of the soldiers.
Most of them are among the friendliest and kindest people I have met. They'll just talk to each other, even those they met for the first time and it doesn't even matter if they know each others' names.
They'll share equipment like ear plugs with people who don't have it.
At one of my stops, I found a soldier was selling small versions of concrete barriers so that 100 percent of the proceeds would aid an orphanage run by Mother Theresa's Sisters of Charity. There's such an incredible bond that they share.
Perhaps we could all learn from them.