Spring is in the Air

Things here have been busier then ever. My company’s contract is nearing the end and we are doing out best to look good for the new bid. DCMA (the people who inspect us) seem to have the opposite drive. All my areas are doing fine, but they are making up more rules by the hour. This Sunday we have a big meeting for most of the camp. I’m trying not to think of what will come of it. Chances are it will be some crazy off the wall regulation like, “Everyone needs to march or jog when outside, no more walking aloud. Look busy people!”


I have been also trying to get a job for my brother over here, but with this end of contract thing and Iraq shutting down it doesn’t seem to be looking up for him. I am doing my best but I don’t know if things will work out. Only time will tell.


Easter is getting close and I am going to see if I can get off an hour of work or two so I can go to the service. I was lucky enough to get a letter from West Chester. To be honest I was very surprised. Everyone says they are going to send letters but never do. It brightened my day by leaps and bounds!


Here are some pictures of me making a big version of my self water flower box. I used the big yellow thing to mix the dirt, vermiculite, poop, and sand then put it into the box that had been drilled and stoned for drainage. I have a 3 other boxes to do, I really hope things grow well, especially my cantaloupe. 87 days to harvest, 91 days until I’m out of here!

"Home cooked" Indian meal

Tomatos, Cury, onoins, garlic, red pepers, water, sunflower oil

Cook down to a simmer and add whole hard boiled eggs

Serve with rice and enjoy

The guys playing with my camera

Labor crew after a big dig

Mixing soil, poop, sand, ect.

Setting in bottles for irrigation

Add the soil and seeds

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!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I know that is a little late, but I had to have my Thanksgiving before I write about it. I was bummed not being home for the holiday for the first time, but I did have a good time. Every year they decorate the DFACs with lots of homemade foods, breads, and displays. They make a contest out of it, and the best decorated DFAC get a trophy. They have been working on displays all month and go all out to make sure they win. I was lucky to end up eating in the DFAC that won, DFAC4.

To say I was impressed by what the Indian guys created would be an understatement. For not knowing much about the holiday at all they did an awesome job capturing the spirit of Thanksgiving. It surely raised the morale of the homesick Americans here. I attached a lot of pictures here at the bottom of the page; I hope the quality comes out good so you can get a feel of what the DFAC was like on that day. Under Each picture I put a caption so you know exactly what you are looking at if you can’t tell because of the picture quality.

Me

Wine Bar (NA wine)

A Few of my DFAC buddies

Platter made peals

Big Ass Cake

Turkey Made Of Veggie Peals

Watermelon Carvings

Thanksgiving Viking

One of those horn things

DeePack, Me, And a buddy

Me and buddy W/ potato chip turkey

Colored Grits

Me and JG

Another Big-Ass Cake

Deck of the ship

More Carvings

Ice Sculptures

Potato Chip Turkey

Me and scary looking plastic pilgrims

Friends & Food

I have been getting to know the SCWs more and more. They have me eat lunch with them. The Indian food they have is really good! Some of it they make themselves, some is from their bosses. They introduced me to "Cha-bat-ee" which is awesome. They also eat some yellow sauce thing with rice that is really good. They love when I eat with them, they always insist that I sit and eat or hang out with him.

I have started to try and learn Hindi, the language is hard, but I am getting it slowly. I can say "hello", and ask how someones day is going, and answer them. I can also say "yes", "no", and "thank you". I enjoy learning a new language when I am actually going to use it on a daily bases, and that makes it easier too. On the other hand I have been trying to learn some Arabic, which is even harder. I visit a man who works on base but lives outside the wire. He brings in pretty much whatever you need, and sells it to you for cheap. I get dress shirts from him for around 10 bucks a piece, which I think is a good deal. I ware an XXL in Iraqi size. They are pretty small people. I hope to get a picture with my buddy to show everyone back home. He is very funny and friendly.

Today I found out the one person in the group from Nepal actually lives at the base of Mt. Everest. Not only that but he has worked as a guide for the trek to the top! He has seen the top of Mt. Everest numerous times. I think that is really bad-ass! It blows my mind. I jokingly said "I visit you at your house" and he go all excited and would love it if I came to his village. I might have to do that! The SCWs are pretty amazing people.

Today I have also been assigned the task of visiting a few of the DeFacts (Dinning Facilities) on a daily bases to make sure they keep they keep hazardous materials out of the food prep area. I have worked in kitchens before, but have never seen anything like this. The place is packed and everyone is running around getting food ready very quickly. The massive amount of food that is used every day at one DeFact boggles my mind. They cook like 50-60 stakes at once, chop fruit by the barrel full, and peal boiled eggs by the basket full. I hope to get on the good side of the people in charge there that way I might be able to get some raw seafood to take by to my hooch and grill. They have times where they have lobster tail on the menu, I'd love to get my hands on a few of them. My mom sent me "Ol' Bay" and I'd love to cook with it.

I am burning all the videos and pictures I have taken and sending them home today. I got in trouble for using to much internet. They don't want people to use over a certain bandwidth and Collegehumor got the best of me the other day. I hope that once Ashley gets them she can post them in a photobucket for everyone to see. I hope all is well at home, and thank you for the people to read this, it is nice to know someone enjoys this.

Andrew