You know you’re a military spouse when . . .

As the wife to an Active Duty Army National Guardsman, I find myself split right down the middle on this military life thing.

In fact, I've decided that being a military spouse is a lot like being a translator.

Let me give you a little background - There nearest "large" military installation is over two hours from our home. If a person around here is in the military, it's often ANG (Army National Guard) or a Reserve unit. I've gotten used to the quizzical looks, the blank stares and the confusion that spreads across an unknowing person's face after learning my husband is in the military.

If often begins like this:
"What does your husband do?"
"My husband is a soldier, he works full time for the Army National Guard."
"Wait, your husband is in the Army or the National Guard? Isn't that just on the weekends?"
"Let me explain it to you..."

Have you ever used an online translator? I did. Once. It was for my French class in high school. I couldn't figure out how to write a sentence for my homework, so I went online and I tried using a free translator. It was a disaster. Fortunately it was just homework, but you can bet I didn't try it again.

A genuine translator understands how to communicate between languages and cultures. He will grasp what one is saying so that the other will understand it in his cultural context.

So much of language is found in the emotion and emphasis and in those underlying clues that help you understand if the person is making a joke or a threat.

As a military spouse, I find myself constantly translating one culture to the other.

Before The Man left for his latest adventure, he was trying to explain to someone in our church that he was waiting on approval to MOSQ.

Cue the "glazed over look".

So I quickly and quietly jumped in,

Me: "Ahem, acronym." 
The Man: "Oh, I mean, I'm going to be Military Occupational Specialty Qualified."
Me: "Really?! Did you just say that?" (okay, that part was in my head).
I really said, "He's going to training for his new job, it's similar to changing your job title or job specialty."

...or something like that, hopefully not so snotty sounding as it looks typed. Seriously, this is why translators are important!

You know you're a military spouse when being a translator works both ways...

The Man is used to working with people who (mostly) think like him, have been trained like him and who work like him. Get it? Like. Him.

My favorite discussions with The Man surround his life post-military. Especially when it comes to the way decisions are made in civilian organizations or even things as basic as vacation days. Sometimes I even poke the bear just because I find his reactions to civilian organizations hilarious. I know, it's kind of mean.

I once had a boss who made me stay late stay late because his boss stayed late. I thought it was only going to be for that particular week because there was a big event coming up. But it wasn't. We couldn't go home until the big guy went home (don't get me wrong, this same situation can happen in the military, I'm just using it as an example).

The Man was not impressed.

The Man: "When I'm working in the civilian world, I'm not putting up with that. If my work is done, then I'm going home. And you should too. If your work is done and your hours are in, just leave."
Me: "Corporations don't work like the Army."
The Man: "Well when I'm working in the civilian world, that's how it's going to work."
Me: "HAHAHAHAHA. You won't be working for long!"

That job, thankfully, did not last long.

There are so many cultural differences between military and civilian lifestyles, I'm still learning how to properly translate. Each experience helps to make me more aware of how to communicate between and even blend the two into one very special life for us.

Sometimes it feels like I live on two entirely separate planets, but I wouldn't change a thing.


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This entry was written because of a special event sponsored by Wives of Faith. The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Blog Carnival runs all week and is open to all military spouse bloggers. Join in the fun by clicking here for the rest of this week's topics!

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