Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone, hope you all got your fill of yummy candy. I know I did thanks to my family back home, thanks again Mom and Nana.

I have a few interesting stories and events that have occurred the last few days. The first that jumps to mind is that I went to Church on Easter Sunday. It was interesting seeing passages being read by people wearing side arms and whose job is killing people for a living (an oxymoron that I don’t wish to get into). The service was nice, the Priest was funny and intelligent, and the message generic. And it also gave me an hour to sit down and relax with my radio off (Heck, I might no next week).

Easter Sunday on base is like any other holiday here. Everyone goes to work, but no one actually does any work, it is sort of an accepted thing. I just realize that it was the last holiday that I will experience on base; the end is near my friends.

On a somber note my buddy demobilized (went home). The management here is getting funny due to the reality our contract is winding down. They have started to make up ridiculous rules and many people are just tossing in the towel and heading home. JG is one of those people. Three and a half years here is enough and he decided to head on home to be with friends and family. He stayed long enough to pay off a house, car and to live it up for a few years (got his “bling” on, for lack of better terms).

I am already missing him. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and he taught me things that I couldn’t have learned from anyone else. He grew up in a NYC ghetto during the 70ies and got out. He couldn’t read or write well due to the fact his schooling was probably subpar at best, but his people skills were amazing. The way he received respect from these racist, bigot, Southerners still astounds me. He can walk into a group of people who make it obvious that they already hate him because he is black (and from the North) and still get his ideas and needs across. In no time at all he earned these guys respect and had them doing the work he needed them too. To add to the amazement, New York Ebonics is his first language I think.

I learned a lot of life lessons from him; everything from how to read people’s interactions to bullshitting like a professional. I could write pages of funny stories he told me about growing up in NYC, and leaving to join the military. I have already written down a few for my own records so that I don’t forget, ask me sometime and I’ll tell you one.

Other then that, I am just trying to keep my head above water. like I said before the management for my company is getting ridiculous. They are pulling every trick in the book to get people fired (it seems). One of the rules being enforced now is how to properly back you vehicle up. Everyone working for KBR has to “combat park.” Which simply means you back into parking spots, not pull in. But now you have to have your passenger jump out and guide you into the spot using hand signals which isn’t so annoying to do. However, if you are alone in the vehicle you have to:
Swing out and line up with the spot
Put on your hazard flashers
Get out of the truck
Lock the truck
Walk completely around the truck checking for hazards
Unlock the truck, and get in
Then put your seatbelt on
Honk Back the truck up slowly into the spot

Yeah, I know, a bit ridiculous. I think I have heard every curse word in every language on this base while blocking traffic to do this “back up from hell.” Anyone caught not doing that exactly as stated gets seven days off work with no pay and if you are caught a second time you are fired. Not to mention, no hat=fired, no lanyard=fired, caught taking lunch to long=fired. Also, if you truck is in a hit & run you get five days off work with no pay, how the heck are you suppose to control that? If you don’t like someone, you could kick in a headlight on there truck when no one is around and they would get penalized.

But I just have to last 70 something days, a walk in the park *knock on wood*

No elaborate decorations for Easter

They won't eat Peeps for some reasonCandy from Nana

Letter from Polish PenPal (Three months Travel time)

Me and my homeboy JG

Emergency Tank Empty Job

Krishna

Hey mom, ignore those danger signs. It's cool, It's cool.

Grrrrrrrr

AC

Well yesterday was the day I switched from Heat to Air Conditioning. The Iraqi summer heat is coming and I already hate it. It gets into the 80s during the day now and I very much miss those 35 degree mornings. On the bright side, the days have gotten long enough for me to catch the sunset on my ride home from work. I love tossing up my hammock for an hour at the end of the day before I go to the gym.


I’m down to 80 something days until I leave here and I already know I am going to miss this place. I have wanted to go home since I got here, it was weird when I realized that I am going to miss it here. I have a close group of friends that I will probably never see once I get outta here. Heck my roommate called my house when I was on R&R because it had been so long since we talked.


I have started a list of things I want to do when I get home, when I finish it I will post it up on here. But until then I want everyone to know I am looking forward to seeing each of you. I apologize for not calling or writing some of you guys back, I’ve been crazy busy here.

Happy Easter everyone!

Hey Mom, I'm thinking about a new job...

Photoionization (Fuel Sinffer)

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!

Peru

My apologies for not writing sooner, but I wanted to get settled in before writing about my AMAZING R&R. There is nothing that could have made my R&R better, I had an absolute blast and I can’t think of anywhere else I would have enjoyed more.

To be honest, I went into the trip a little skeptic. I’m not keen on traveling in big groups; I hate being a tourist. But having my friends on the trip and getting the chance to make new ones was awesome! I had such a great time.

The trip started out in Lima, Peru. I got there a night early so I was able to scope out the night life in Miraiforles (Flipping sweet). It was a little odd at first; I stick out like a sore thumb (6’ tall white dude in a room full of short dark Peruvians). To add to the awkwardness, I can’t salsa to save my life but the Peruvian women are friendly and helpful. A young lady, who’s name I forget, gave me a crash course at the first “Disco” I went too.

The next night my friends were around for the fun. ‘Fe’ ended up with a giant balcony and we tossed a little party with a few of the Russian girls joining in. It was also a chance for me to try out a little of my night photography, which I didn’t do too much of.

We then jumped on a plane and headed to the Amazon basin which is exactly what I needed after eight months of nothing but brown. We were in a small town called Puerto Maldonado before we headed on a five hour river ride up stream to a small research station where we stayed for three days.

On the way up river we stopped at the little village of Vuelta Grande where we dropped off school supplies and toys. We hung out and showed the kids how to play frizbee. I partook in some of “carnival festivities” which included drinking some strange fruit juice looking liquid from some sketchy looking communal pitcher. It was the real deal “Jungle Juice” and tasted pretty good for being ‘jungle moonshine.’ I thought for sure I was going to be sick, but it seems that I have obtained an Iron stomach in my travels.

Once we got to the research station the people there were welcoming and showed us around the jungle. I got to see monkeys, snakes, bugs, and most importantly…. Trees! Then the rain came. I have never felt rain so hard, it was like big pitches were pouring from the canopy. I rapidly ran out of underwear and socks.

The last day at the research station we played some football (soccer) with the locals. One of the guides asked “would your group like to play some FootBall?” As soon as we said yes he turned around and yelled “Foooooooooooot-Baaaaaaallllllllllll” with his hands cupped at his mouth. Immediately, about 10 guys come scrambling out of there huts yelling “Foooot-baaalllllll.” They love football and were very good, but the slippery grass made for an even playing field. I have never gotten so dirty in my life!

After a two hour ride down river, we jumped on a bus, that took us to a plane, that took us to a bus, that took us to a train which put us well on our way to Manchu Picchu. The ride was gorgeous; I couldn’t believe the mountains we were passing. Some of them had glaciers at the top that we could see from the 75 degrees we were experiencing below. The train took us to a small town called Aguas Calientes at the bottom of the mountain that hides the ruins. I hate to use the word “magical” but that best describes the place.

The next day we rode a bus to the start of Manchu Picchu, which was a very scary ride up some cliffs. The ruins were incredible and the views were breathtaking. My pictures do no justice to how awe-inspiring the sights were. I think everyone should see this place once in there life. I want to take my brother down and hike the Inca trail to the summit.

I was also lucky enough to get a chance to hike to the top of Huayna Picchu (‘Ha-wan-a Pich-chu’) which overlooks Manchu Picchu. It was a rough hike, but well worth it. I got a chance to stand on the tippy top of the mountain, and sat on the edge of cliffs with thousand foot drops (Never could you have a place like this in the States, lawsuits just waiting to happen).

The night following that remarkable day was almost as amazing. We went to some local hot springs, which is just what we needed after all that hiking. We then got some food at a nice restaurant, and went out to paint the town red. We were there at the low season so we ended up having a whole bar to ourselves (with our own bartender, who I think was about 15 years old). Heck I was behind the bar making drinks with the little dude, it was a blast. We took the place over.

The next day we hauled ourselves to the train and headed back to Cusco, the large town we flew to on our way to Manchu Picchu. The city is a pretty cheesy place. It is entirely oriented to Gringo groups. However, we had a blast that night, and the next day I taught the girls how to haggle a little(A skill I picked up when dealing with the Iraqis).

The next day we flew home and I got a chance to hang out with my family and friends. I got to go out to a nice dinner at Bonefish with an old friend, which was fun. It has been a while since I have had the chance to go there. And to top it off, I took another friend out and ate at Morimoto’s (one of the Iron Chefs’ restaurant) my last night home. I’d kill for some sushi like that here.

This R&R couldn’t have gone more perfect, I have no complaints! I have a lot to look forward to on my next one, but that is another Blog entry I’ll shave for later. I want to thank everyone that made it such an awesome time, I am lucky to have such great friends!