BY MIKE TUA
THE 17TH Pacific Partnership Mission 2022 in the Solomon Islands will not be unforgotten and has been a truly amazing experience, according to two U.S. Navy medical officers speaking to Sunday Isles on board the USNS Mercy during the official closing ceremony on Saturday.
Pacific Partnership Mission 2022, Radiographer, Director of Clinical Support Services, HM3 Parris Ariel described the social bonding and chemistry experience with students in various local schools in the country as miraculous.
“I went to the Mercy kindergarten school and another school in Honiara; the school kids were so much fun and amazing.
“I read to a class of Pre-A children and it was like the cutest thing ever and they were all answering my questions, laughing and giggling.
“We also went outside to watch the navy band perform, we all danced and I can’t get a drink of water and they were pulling us out of our chairs and they were dancing with us – screaming and laughing – it was so much fun and such a good experience and so glad to have the opportunity to do that and spend time with them – It is something that I will never forget and it’s something that I always wanted to do,” Ariel said with a smile.
On a similar note, the Pacific Partnership Mission 2022, Laboratory Technician, Directorate of Clinical Services, HM2 Crumley Anne Marie said the key objective of the mission was to build a lasting partnership with this country.
“We did that through medical care, and we go out to schools to interact with the children by reading to them, just building that bond with them and it was an amazing experience,” she said.
According to both navy officers, they were so fortunate to fulfill their time in experiencing the wonderful culture of the Solomon Islands through their participation in a number of community events over the past two weeks.
