Column: Guest Column

It seems hard to believe that in a week and two days I’ll be in Kuwait and getting picked up at the airport before going to Camp Buehring, which is in the northwestern region of Kuwait.

Yesterday I was interviewed by one of the local TV stations, KIMT. The reporter who interviewed me was Jon Theuer, a former Tribune employee. It was a little hard to be on the other side of an interview as I’m used to asking the questions, but it was fun. I’m glad more people in the area will know about the trip, because not everyone sees the paper every day. I will also be interviewed at KATE Radio shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.

So far while in Kuwait I’m looking to have a story with photos each day about various things like what kind of jobs the soldiers have, how they communicate back home, what they do in their spare time and what it’s like to live on the base at Camp Buehring.

Other feature ideas include where they eat, as there are some fast food restaurants on the base and a large “chow hall” as they call it, which has cafeteria-like food. On missions soldiers also eat MREs or Meals Ready to Eat. Soldiers have also received care packages from all over the United States filled with packaged goodies including chips, snacks and candy.

Another idea I hope to explore is what soldiers will carry at all times. On missions, packs and gear can get quite heavy, and if we can find a scale I’d like to see what they need and how much everything weighs.

There are many other ideas including what medical care is like and how weather and storms affect jobs and free time, and I also expect to have stories that I didn’t anticipate.

I also hope to do a profile on one soldier from the Albert Lea area and one from the Austin area each day, since I’ll be writing for both the Tribune and Austin Daily Herald. I want to be able to see as many soldiers as I can who are interested in being interviewed about their experiences.

I’m getting more and more excited as the days pass until I’m there! I’m working on getting all the equipment ready that I’ll be bringing including the laptop, camera and all the accessories I’ll need. Today I get the second shot in the series for hepatitis B and then I won’t have to worry about shots until six months from now when I get the ending series shots — which you can read more about in my blog, Kelli in Kuwait, on the Tribune and Herald websites.

I only have a few blog posts so far, but these will become more numerous and interesting as the days get closer and as I start posting from overseas. The blog will be a chance to be more personal as all the stories will be about the soldiers and not about me. It will be a chance for me to tell any readers how the trip is affecting me and more.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at kelli.lageson@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3439 as I’m still looking for story ideas or suggestions!

 

Tribune Special Projects Editor Kelli Lageson will head to Kuwait Nov. 4 to report on local units of the Minnesota National Guard.