Back in the Groove

It has been a week and a few days since I have gotten back from R&R and I think I am back in the swing of things; found my groove again, so to say. I am excited for my last R&R and returning home so I can get back to school. I am also very excited about attending Graduate School. I am looking into colleges now so I’ll be ready to apply next semester. I hope, with this job experience, that I’ll be a shoe-in for a research position or a Teaching Assistance spot. I hope to go to grad school for free; there is no reason at this point why I should have to pay to go. It would also mean a solid job for two years. I’ll check out what schools are offering in October at GSA.

I had a little pizza party for the guys to mark St. Patrick’s Day and did my best to explain to them what is was all about. In any case, they got some pizza and had an awesome lunch. Speaking of parties, I am having a grill made so I can have a cookout with my buddies and roommate one day soon. It is staying light enough to have one outside after work, and it isn’t hot yet. Now it’s just a matter of searching for things to cook. I’ll end up having to sweet talk some of the DFAC warehousemen.
I have gotten to the point where I referrer to this place as home which is kind of scary, but today actually marks 100 days until my next and final R&R! I’ll have to come back into country to pack up my stuff to send home, but in 100 days I’ll be done working.

Below are some photos I’ve taken here on base since I’ve been back. Also some photos MBH took of me while in Dubai, I had an awesome time that day, I can't wait to hang out with them again! Enjoy!

Decon

A few days ago started on a crappy note. I was sitting in the office checking my morning emails when J.G. walked by my room saying with a sad tone, “Get your gloves Drew, it’s decon time.” I had a pretty good idea what he was talking about, and wasn’t very excited to say the least. HSE Environmental is in charge of cleaning up not only chemicals, but blood as well. Back in the day, they use to get trucks from outside the wire that had been blown or shot up. The military removed the bodies but KBR Environmental is in charge of the clean up. They have some stories I’d rather not share.

This wasn’t nearly that bad. Some guy got really sick in his room. He got fecal matter that was mostly blood, everywhere. The walls, the door, the bed, the bathroom and the kicker was it was there for a whole day, caked on. Dressed in rubber gloves, makes and aprons, we used bleach, hospital spray and resorted to using a knife to getting up the mess. It was pretty graphic. The gentleman was airlifted to Germany for hospital care. Its pretty obvious he had a rough night.

I have been noticing some military discipline since I have been here. I take it that when you mess up as a soldier they not only get you in trouble, but like to make an example of you. For instance, the other day driving into the DFAC I noticed a young man with a “5 MPH” sign around his neck standing out in the sun at the corner for all to see. I couldn’t imagine what that must have felt like, baking in the sun, looking like a jackass. The next day I noticed a girl eating in the DFAC with a 4’ long 4X4 post next to her on the floor. Apparently she walked out the DFAC a few days ago without her gun, forgot it. As punishment they made her carry around, not only her gun, but that big 4X4 post with her. It isn’t something you can play off, everyone knows what you did. I felt kind of bad for her. Goodness knows Id be walking around with two 4X4 post with the way I forget things. Id look like an Amish construction worker or something.

I had a chance to talk to my friend Brad the other day. He left about the same time I did for Seoul, S. Korea to teach English. I got a phone call from him a week before I left, “I am carrying everything I own and am about to get on a plane to Korea.” I personally think that is pretty bad ass. It was nice talking to him, and he seems to really like it out there. He had stories to tell me that were very interesting. I hope to get to talk to him more now that we both have skype.

I think today marks 21 days until I leave here to come home, I am very excited. I will get to chill in Dubai for half a day before taking off on my 16 hour flight. I was able to get myself a isle seat, and when I get there they told me I can try and ask for seat at an emergency exit. I may have to pull out the "I am an Eagle Scout with years of emergency training and First Aid card."

No pictures with this post(I don't think any of you want to see pictures of a decon), I need to get out and find things to take pictures of. You run out of things to photograph pretty quick here, just T-walls and dirt. I hope to get a picture with the Iraqi guys I talk to.