In a few years I plan to spend some time working over there, not in the military but in health, so I will be able to see all that beauty first-hand.
As for military service, I did two years in a communications unit in Cuba and despite its bad things (the command in Cuba is a whole other world, a world of assholes) it served me well in my training because as you say it gave me discipline and a sense of belonging to my work.
In my particular case, it helped me become a better man.
Well done for serving and it's good to hear that you have benefited from the experience.