Cinco Man in Iraq

End of Contract

2008-09-21T16:18:00.001-05:00

Now that I have completed my one year, I am looking forward to a few weeks off with my family for my end of year R&R. I am taking them to Hawaii. It will be a blast.

MY youngest doesn't know really what to expect since he is only 4. Annalisa can't wait to swim look at the sea life and collect shells. Michael is looking forward to all the bikinis. HA! Nora and I just want to get away. It will be a perfect setting. 7 days. I plan on taking them all over the island. Lots of swimming and beach-combing.

...and a different kind of sand than Iraq.

U.S.Presidential Election - Part 1

2008-09-14T16:00:00.001-05:00

I haven't said much about the election but I thought I would note some observations.

I can safely say that Obama has most of the support over here, in terms of non-military personnel. Of those in the military, McCain has strong support from the rank and file, meaning all the enlisted, but many of the officers seem to support Obama.

What's really peculiar is the interest of non-U.S. citizens and how engage they are with this election. I am talking about people from all over, England, Australia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Honduras, Peru, the Philippines, and of course Iraq.

There are so many issues and opinions that they want to discuss....the biggest, obviously, is the occupation of Iraq. Nearly everyone wants the U.S. out as soon as possible. Most of us know the war on terror will be making a significant shift to Afghanistan in the next year. But the U.S. economy is also becoming a hot topic because it is affecting other economies.

Almost all foreign nationals want to see Obama in the white house as there is almost a universal dislike for the Republican Party. While this isn't likely to sway any American votes, as well it shouldn't, it makes for some interested and heated political conversations. It does become apparent that there are just a few polarizing issues they know about but there view is very different. They've grown up in war-torn countries and varying degrees of democracy, and no two democracies in the world are the same.

But it does make me proud to be an American.

U.S.Presidential Election - Part 2

2008-11-04T14:00:00.001-06:00

Well today is the day. Many of us already cast our votes for the election weeks ago as required by the Foreign Voting Service. We printed ballots from the government web site and mailed them in. Now, we are eagerly waiting for the first polling places to close and for the networks to report the results....trying to screen out the exit poll info that got everyone in trouble the last two elections.

Some of us are staying up late to just to watch the fireworks on TV. In all reality, it looks like Obama is going to be our next President. There are some people here who are so upset about that possibility that it is unreal. I think this election has created a deep divide in our country and I hope that we can cure it.

No More Rain

2008-11-07T15:00:00.000-06:00

Well, that was short-lived. We thought the rain would stay a few days but it's gone now. There are still some puddles around from the poor drain off system, or lack thereof. HA! Hopefully those will clear up soon or else we'll have lots of mosquitoes.

I'm hoping the beginning of the year brings us rain or we'll have the same problem as this past summer. We had lots of sand storms since the rainy season was very mild. It's hard to see, hard to breath, yuck. AND....transportation in and out of country gets canceled; so if you're due to go out on R&R, you might get held back and that affects all your travel plans. I've had that happen to me once and it was terrible. Not to mention that you usually get stuck somewhere you don't want to be, sharing a small room with 5 other strangers. But that's how it goes.

An Awesome R&R

2008-10-15T15:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I want to take a moment here to say that this last R&R was simply awesome. It really allowed us the ability to spend a lot of quality family time together. I was able to spend the mornings with my wife, sipping coffee, flirting, talking, cooking in the kitchen and wait for the kids to get up. The hotel room had a full kitchen, by the way and we had the fortune of taking a trip to Hawaii.
My wife and I reconnected, even after we got back from our trip. We spent lots of time talking, even going to IHOP until the wee hours of the morning. It was like falling in love again. I was able to play games and and fun with the kids too. They were all over me and watching them each day was something I will never tire of. I was only apart from the kids late at night after they went to sleep. My wife and I took in a few movies once we knew they were asleep. It all worked out perfectly.
They have grown so much since I've been gone, but it won't be too much longer that I will be in Iraq. I love and miss my family like you wouldn't believe. I am a lucky....scratch that,...I am a blessed man.

Rain, Rain

2008-11-06T05:26:00.000-06:00

Well it is officially raining here today. I mean REAL rain...not just a sprinkle. The ground has gotten enough water to create a little runoff. This is an interesting point because the streets here are not built for runoff. There are lots of pools of water that collect in odd places. You tend to take these kind of things for granted in the US with all the regulations and standards. But I have yet to see a runoff drainage built into a curb.
Rain here is just so rare, especially this time of year. No one can explain why we are getting rain since the rainy season is typically in the early part of the year, like Jan-Feb.
It is a nice change of pace, although there is so much mucky build up of oil, soil, and goop and some of the walkways are slippery.

Halloween in the IZ

2008-11-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

So Halloween is definitely different here than when I was at Kirkuk. There were hundreds of people who showed up to work wearing anything from simple T-shirts and masks to full head-to-toe costumes. There were evil jesters, Hare Krishnas, pirates, zombies, the cast of Wizard of Oz including monkeys, witches & trees, werewolfs, fairy tale creatures and so much more. Some people showed up at meetings and official functions wearing their costumes. It was hilarious and no one seemed to mind, including the management. Some of the management actually showed up in dress as well. I guess it's all part of breaking the levity of being in a war zone.

It was all good fun. Plus there was lots of candy in each department. Chocolates, gum, lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, Twizzlers and most everything you can get in the states. Now I'll have to hit the gym more to work off all the extra sugar I have consumed. HA!

Clouds and Thunder

2008-09-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day in my many months that I have seen actual clouds in Baghdad. Some people saw a few drops of rain this morning. I didn't see any precipitation. When I awoke this morning, I noticed that it was a little darker than usual outside and my immediate thought was that another dust storm blew in. So I was not looking forward to going outside. I was relieved as I made my walk to work.

To my surprise, in the middle of the day I heard thunder. I almost thought it was another explosion, like a distant car bomb or something, but this sound rumbled and echoed like only thunder can. It was somewhat refreshing to think that it might rain. I've been told that as the weather starts to cool, more clouds and rain will roll into the area. I had no idea. I'm not really looking forward to the rain in this dusty environment because it will cause a lot of mud and dirt to infiltrate our rooms and offices. But I will welcome the cooler temperatures.

TRANSFER

2007-09-28T04:35:00.001-05:00

That didn't take long. And neither is the time they are giving me to leave.

They have decided to transfer me to Camp Warrior in Kirkuk. Not sure what to expect but hopefully it will be a little better than Speicher. People are really stressed out here and not because of the war or violence or anything like that. It's the politics of KBR. There are so many people here and it's a dog-eat-dog world on steroids. No one can give me a good description of the place so I feel like I will be going in there blind.

I leave in a couple of days....just enough time to pack my stuff and ship some things to Camp Warrior and pack my suitcases. I can send footlockers via mail which is actually U.S. Mail that is handled by the military. But that usually takes 7-10 days so I have to make sure I take enough clothes and supplies to last until that gets there. I have no idea what the living conditions are but I have heard that they have plenty available, instead of living in the dorm, two to a room.

Getting there is a pain since I have to fly to Baghdad and then wait a day and then fly to Kirkuk. It is similar to being in Austin and having to fly to Houston to get to San Antonio. And I'll have to carry all my stuff with me over more rocky terrain.......great.

Orientation and BOOM!

2007-09-14T21:15:00.001-05:00

Today I attended an orientation for new hires and transfers into Camp Speicher. Some of it was informative but most was more of what we heard in Houston over and over. Some people were falling asleep while one of the sleep nazis went around tapping people to wake up.

During one of the presentations, we heard a distant boom and almost immediately the whole building rattled and shuttered. Everyone looked around and the presenter, at first paused for just a couple of seconds and proceeded with his presentation. I was bewildered with what happened. I didn't hear an explosion, just a muffled boom, but the fact that the whole building shook caused alarm, for me anyway. The presenter continued for another minute or two when he came to a stopping point. He then announced he was going to check on the situation.

He went to the rear of the class and into the lobby and office area. When he came back, he said that the camp was going to be under a Red Alert and shortly thereafter, several radios went off to announce for us to take cover in a bunker. We rushed but didn't run. Some people just moseyed along like nothing. No one knew what was going on but there was a lot of speculation. There were no further booms or anything else. There was lots of conversation on different radio channels and I was fortunate to be standing a couple of people away from someone who had a radio on the right channel.

The bunkers we were in were made of concrete. Picture a large square concrete pipe about 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide and about 20 feet long. Now picture the bottom part taken away. That's basically a type of bunker. The floor is the ground and the walls and ceiling are about 8-10 inches thick.

The class filled several bunkers. After about an hour and a half they announced the All Clear. Know one knew what happened, only that it was clear. Later, during our orientation, one of the head honchos addressed the situation...... there was a car bomb about 3 MILES away that sent shockwaves for miles. Apparently it was a large one somewhere in the city of Tikrit. Maybe we'll see something int the news.

For now, we're good. (whew)

Possible Transfer

2007-09-26T14:35:00.000-05:00

So I've had heard that there is a strong possibility that I will be transferred to Kirkuk. It's a city northeast of Tikrit (where I am now). The base is smaller than Camp Speicher but not as small as some of the other camps I could go to. From what I understand, they need someone with computer experience to help them out.

I thought I would be sticking it out here at Speicher. There is a large sense of security knowing this place is so large. It may not go through, they are still trying to decide who will go since there are several cadidates. We'll see.

12 hours a day, 7 days a week

2007-09-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you that working these hours really takes some getting used to. I am fortunate that the DFAC is right next door; the Dining FACility, that is. Otherwise I would have to work a little longer to compensate for the time it would take to get to and from lunch and dinner.

Even the soldiers out here don't work these kind of hours. Depending on the mission, they sometimes work 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I am surprised more people don't have a mental or emotional breakdown. It does happen though. I've heard some pretty bad stories of people losing perspective out here and getting a little wacky. They typically quit abruptly or are just sent home.

Finding the right amount of sleep is important because can set in easily. By the time you get off work, have dinner, walk back to your room, take a shower and get everything ready for the next day, it gets to be late quick. If you read or do something else to unwind you have to be careful that you're not still awake at midnight. It comes too fast, as does the morning.

So I've been trying to sleep at night, but it's a big adjustment without Nora. I'm used to having her right next to me and occasionally waking up with either Jon-Gabriel or Gaby somewhere on the bed as well.....either in between us or to the side. I miss them tremendously. I wonder if I can really do this. Can I be out here for a year? Can I be out here for 6 months? Only time will tell. I really hate missing out on the day-to-day happenings of my family.

MWR...It's a Job

2007-09-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

Well I've been getting accustomed to preparing events, answering questions, signing out equipment and various other tasks. The job is mostly what you make of it. Because of my prowess with a computer, they have put me i charge of creating flyers, posters and signs about everything. This has met with a little resistance from some of the staff because they wanted to do more of that. I tried to quell some of that animosity but to each his own.

The soldiers seem grateful when you really put forth the effort to help or show concern and compassion. I have heard from the soldiers that many MWR employees really don't care about the job but only the paycheck. This is most unfortunate because you can tell that many of the people we cater to, really need a place to relax and get away from the work they do.

I've learned about the missions they go on, and many times they don't know until minutes before they leave so the security of the mission remains intact. They have a highly stressful job. I've talked to as many as I could to try and lend an ear. It's always good for them to vent or share their problems with someone instead of bottle them up.

The competitions and events we've had, like ping-pong, foosball, 8-ball, karaoke, video game tournaments really serve as a good distraction from their daily work.

First Day on the Job

2007-09-11T21:00:00.001-05:00

So I slept well last night after the exhausting day. I met the shuttle to get to the Dining Facility (DFAC) for breakfast. They told me the MWR facility I was working at was right next door. How convenient!! So after I ate, I went to the Main Recreation Center and found Larry Selvey, the person in charge. He sat down and gave me a brief of the facility and what he expected. He seemed eager to fill me in once I told him my background in events, sports, recreation and graphic design. We hit it off fairly well.

The Main Rec consisted of the following

front desk for siging in, checking out equipment, signing up for phone or computer use.
room for a library with lots of books, about 20'x30'
an art room with some drafting tables that looked like they haven't been used in a while. Thre was soem stained-glass pieces all around.
a multipurpose room that was divied into two TV viewing areas by some movable walls. There are some sofas and chairs here.
another multipurpose room that was divided into separate areas. 1. Darts, TV/Movie area, 7 pool tables, 5 ping pong tables, a computer room with 12 stations, a phone and computer room with 18 stations.

It was a regular recreation center. The building is a permanent structure which existed long before the U.S. go there. I met the rest of the staff which included two subcontract workers from the Philippines who worked the front counter and a staff 4 who did all the manual labr like cleaning, moving furniture and equipment. They were from India and Pakistan. All of them were very amicable and willing to work.

I used the day to get my bearings and figure out what I needed to do. I watched the front counter and helped direct soldiers to differenct areas and signed out movies, video games, and pool balls. Larry wants me to start events right away. He has some high expectations but that's what I'm here for. HA!

Driving in the IZ

2008-03-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

Okay remember the IZ means International Zone which means there are many nationalities here. This also means there are some crazy driver here. I went out on my first foray into driving out here and it was a somewhat nervous experience.

The roads here are real asphalt roads but they show tremendous wear and tear from bombings, heavy artillery, and neglect. There are pot holes, huge gashes, cracks and monstrous speed bumps everywhere. So you have to be careful where and how you drive. You also have to be very careful approaching checkpoints. There is usually a large mounted machine gun pointed at you from across the street as you approach the Marine or other security personnel to gain access to wheever you are going, like where you live, or to the store (PX), or back to work; it's very unnerving.

So the way people drive is completely insane. Forget regular U.S. traffic laws. Those are only a guide. The most important thing is to drive defensively. There are no traffic cops in the IZ, even though thre are IZ Police....but as far as traffic goes, the only time the intervene is when their is a collision. So people drive really fast, reckless and rarely stop at stop signs much less unmarked intersections. They even travel the wrong way on divided streets and stop in the middle of the roads to pick up and drop off passengers. Like I said. INSANE!

But my first driving experience here went off without any problems. You just have to keep your cool and avoid potential hazards.

It's the Smell...

2008-08-04T08:45:00.000-05:00

Since the weather has really heated up, we have noticed an awful smell coming from the famous and mighty Tigris River. The river is a polluted with wastewater, sewage and who knows what else. There are locals that fish in the river and eat what they catch. I cannot fathom eating anything that lives in the river. The smell is so foul that I have to cover my moth and nose sometimes as I return to my room from a long shift at work.

Many of the Iraqis do not see a difference in regular wastewater, which is like runoff from car washes, rain (when there is any), watering, leaking hydrants, etc. and actual sewage from sinks, tubs, and toilets. It's a pretty gross concept by Western standards.

Crazy Drivers in the Green Zone

2008-08-28T19:00:00.001-05:00

I know I've spoken about the people driving in the Green Zone, but today I saw another example of how the Iraqis view driving. They are nuts. They have no regard for traffic patterns or common sense approaches to driving.

Riding in the shuttle this morning, there were several scooters or vespas or whatever you call them that came up along the right side of the shuttle. The shuttle is like a city bus but about 20% smaller. A group of about 9 of them zoomed perilously close to the bus in order to pass it before they would slam into a parked dump truck. None wore helmets and a few had passengers on the back. These little vehicles aren't in the best shape and have tiny wheels and anemic engines. So it's totally incredible how they drive. It's reckless.

They do not know the concept of defensive driving. It's all selfish. They zoom in and out and brake suddenly trying to get to their destination. I've seen many collisions after the fact and am surprised I haven't seen any actually happen. It's almmost as bad as driving in New York..........kidding.

It's no wonder why a lot of the cars are beat up; they run into things and treat their cars poorly.

Green Zone - week three

2008-03-06T10:58:00.001-06:00

The sites....well our department is lucky enough to have a couple of vehicles and a couple of my co-workers dove me around the Green Zone to check it out. We went to the Crossed Swords where thousands of troops would march ceremoniously and Saddam would preside over them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_of_Victory) I got to climb and venture up into one of the hands through a complex, narrow maze of ladders and tunnels. It was not meant to be used as place for the general public but a place for security to lookout.

In hindsight, it was a little dangerous climbing up and down, but our sense of adventure got the best of us. There are two sets of crossed swords that encompass a long avenue or general assembly area, one on each end. Huge light towers once lit up the entire 1 mile length. Now it is mostly abandoned with the occasional people like us visiting, taking some photos and walking around. There are some locals here and there walking about; not sure if they are just hanging out or on there way somewhere else.

We tried to see the tomb of the unknown soldier, which looks like a flying saucer. It's enormous. But we got turned away by some Iraqi security guards and we weren't about to argue. They didn't even want us taking pictures so we drove away pretty quickly.

Next we went to a place called Union which is another U.S. compound. It contains the Baath Party Headquarters building. It's tall and square.....like a big cube. We didn't go in that bulding, but there was a small restaurant and a few shops selling pirated DVDs, movies and TV shows, as well as music CDs. There are also a coupld of barber shops.

In our drive, we encountered many huge speed bumps andcheck point and had to repeatedly show our badges. It's oneof the things you really have to get used to. A wide assortment of people will check it.... from U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force, Iraqi Security, Iraqi Army, private security, contract security, wal-mart security.....ok ok I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. Which does bring me to an important aspect, you really have to pay attention at the checkpoints becuase they are authorized to use deadly force if they see something that doesn't jive. All the check points are armored and lock and loaded. It can be unnerving. There have been a few incidents where,...... well one example is a person behind the wheel accidentally lurched forward when he was reaching for his badge and he took 6 shots through the windshield. Unfortunately he perished.

There are precise rules about check points that they drill into you. Being extra cautious goes a long way. You have to respect and be aware of where you are at all times or else there can be catastrophic consequences.

Green Zone - week two

2008-03-01T17:15:00.001-06:00

Well, I have finally gotten my bearings about where things are located, where we are in Baghdad, where the Tigris River is, and of course, which way is north. Getting around is a bit easy since there are a few shuttle routes. We use mostly one to get to and from work. The embassy is located in the Presidential Palace. This was one of Saddam's newest palaces and it's quite large and grandiose. It has been fitted with offices, partitions, meeting rooms, lounges, and small deli shop, computer lab, etc. But mostly there are tons of offices here. Most of the large rooms have been partitioned and modified with sheet rock and plywood to accommodate the state dept. THere is marble everywhere and grand murals, some showing rockets which is just odd.

There is less military here and many civilians. Lots of state dept workers and other contractors. It's a little surreal since I am used to mostly military but people are dressed in suits, pantsuits for women, and then I see some jogging in regular shorts and T-shirts around the palace grounds. The palace grounds is another fortified location that can be hard to get into if you don't have the right credentials.

The job is good, I'm learning. Hopefully some experience I can take with me.

I have been told that it gets really hot in the summer like 140 degrees. We'll see. I have a hard time believe it gets that hot. It is dusty though and low, if any humidity....kind of like Arizona.

I've been around to see a few sites but more on that later.

The Green Zone - Week One

2008-02-22T09:50:00.001-06:00

Well I have settled in a little, albeit I am sharing a temporary room with 5 other people. It's a cramped room with three bunk beds and barely enough room to change clothes. I should be assigned my own room in the next few days.

The building is like a dorm but they call it the Barracks. We have a common shower area and there is no living area to speak of. I really want my own room and not be assigned to the barracks. I have only been sleeping in that room since there is no room so I stay at the office longer to avoid my room. ...Yeah it's that bad. But hopefully it will get better.

The people here are friendly and seem to like where they are. There are been some incoming mortars since I've been here. It's a little unnerving but from what I understand, they are sent from 3-6 miles away and they are trying to target specific places like the embassies, warehouses and who knows what else. But their target areas vary wildly and as long as you take cover when the alarm goes off, you should be okay. I guess we'll see.

There are several checkpoints to get into specific compounds, like from where we live and where we work and other places. Security is everywhere. The IZ is also home to several thousand Iraqis. There are apartments, villas and other homes in the IZ that belong to Iraqis. But it's nothing like the U.S. The apartments are run-down and the villas are constructed entirely of concrete except for the roofs. The paved roads have a lot of wear and tear form miitary vehicles, bombs, mortars, heavy machinery, etc. Some street lights work but it can get dark for being in the middle of a city of millions. Traffic laws are non-existent. There are stop signs and round-abouts but no working stop lights. The speed bumps are brutal but exist to slow potentially threatening vehicles.

You have to make sure you ahve the right badge to enter the compounds. Each one is run by a specific entity. There are many countries represented. Many companies. I'll get more of a feel for things I' sure. So far I like it compared to the camp I was at. at least there are sidewalks, streets and shuttles.

Riding the Rhino

2008-02-18T13:00:00.000-06:00

Okay the rhino sucks. Picture a Winnebago, only a small one, that has been completely gutted and only contains very hard padded seats...like theones at a football or baseball stadium. No seatbelts, no place for luggage. Armored and really tiny windows with 6 inch glass. And that's not even the worst part.

We travel overnight and the times are never set for security purposes. It's pretty scary. We travel in a heavily armed convoy in the pitch black. It is totally disorienting, bewildering and frightening. We have to travel through the "red zone" to get to the Green Zone, or International Zone (IZ) as it is now referred to. Our luggage goes separately in an 18 wheeler.

So as we wait at the depot, we don't know when the convoy arrives, we have to fight to stay awake, because I have been told that sometimes it can be as late as 5:00 am. Crazy. I am still beat. It's gonna take some time to recover. I have the rest of the day off to sleep and get situated.

But it was brutal.

New Job in the Green Zone

2008-02-15T09:29:00.001-06:00

The Green Zone is in downtown Baghdad. It is roughly a 2 kilometer by 2 kilometer area that is heavily fortified and has heavily guarded checkpoints to enter. The Green Zone is a military term which means relative safe area.

So I applied for and accepted a position in Baghdad. I transfer in a few days. I'm pretty excited to see another part of Iraq, new people, new job, new living conditions, new everything. I hear good things since it is actually in a proper city and not just a large camp with lots of rocks. We'll see when I get there.

I am doing research on what to expect and what there is in the Green Zone. I won't know anyone there and I have to travel by Rhino, whatever that is. I still have lots of questions. In the meantime, I have to pack, sell and give away all of my stuff. I'm probably going to end up shipping several footlockers to my new destination and try to travel light. Traveling with heavy baggage is not the greatest because there is always rocks or other terrain which are not very luggage-friendly.

I'll miss this place and the people I have met. It has been a quaint and mostly quiet place but I am looking forwarad to what lies ahead.

Hotter than Texas

2008-08-17T11:34:00.001-05:00

Man, it's really hot here. I have no idea how the Iraqis survive. Most do not have air-conditioning ar a lot of access to ice. today registered 139 degrees according to the Medics thermometer. Not sure how accurate that is since it sits out in the sun but it's painfully hot when walking outdoors.

Many of the outside workers wear head coverings and wrapping that cover their nose and mouths in addition to gloves. I have no idea how they do this. I commend them. I would be done after about 10 minutes....maybe less. As it is, I drink about a gallon and a half of water each day and most of my day is spent inside behind a computer.

I'm looking forward to it gettign cooler starting in October, I think.

Camp Speicher

2007-09-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Well I have met several people in my first few days here. I got a tour of all the MWR facilities as well as a feel for the size of the base. It's huge. I didn't get to see all of it but we drove around alot. There are three big DFACs, 4 recreation centers, 3 weightrooms, 1 gynasium, 1 auditorium with stadium-style seating, a track, a softball field, and two soccer fields. And those are only the facilitieds that we manage. the military has additional facilities that they keep as well.

There are all kinds of walks of life. People from India, Pakistan, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Mexico, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Monte Negro, Croatia, Ethipoia, Colombia, Tonga, Samoa, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Somolia, Turkey, Hungary, and others I don't remember. On the military side, I've seen Russian, British and Australian. And most people have guns! except of course KBR and the subcontract workers.

There are security forces out here from many different companies in addition to the military. Even engineering and construction firm personnel are armed. I t takes soem getting used to. No one is allowed into many of the facilities with loaded weapons. There are discharging areas before you enter the buildings to make sure weapons are cleared. They are usually, 55 gallon barrels with sand leaning at an angle with a hole in the top. Soldiers are required to carry their guns and ammunition at all times in case of an emergency... even when they are off-duty.

There are all kinds of different vehicles out here too. Of course you see regular pickups and SUVs, but the HUMVEE is everywhere along with big military trucks, tanks, and assorted special vehicles. The distanc efrom my room to the DFAC and MWR ia about a 10 minute walk. But don't be fooled. It's a walk in 100 degree heat, through rocks and sand liek dirt. There are no sidewalks and only the main roads are paved. The straight path form room to work is not a road but a path. There are very few trees so it's kinda like a rocky desert. The sand is not like Saudia Arabia desert sand. It's like a fine dirt. It gets everywhere.

Baghdad Airport, Destination Tikrit

2007-09-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

So I finally made a flight out of Baghdad. Getting through the process was such a pain. Ready? Here we go..... First there is a roll call for all people and you are divided into groups by your destination. Then you have to get your card scanned, turn in your keys to your room, get your luggage to the luggage truck, meet again for a final briefing, find your bus, check in, get on the bus, then a long bus ride to the airport (over very bumpy roads), wait on the bus, get off the bus and find your luggage (which has been unloaded into rows on the pavement), get in line, walk through the lobby to the security check, go thru screening number one, collect your things, check your bags, bet the boarding pass, go thru screening number two, wait in the warm lobby for about 4 hours, get in line again, go thru screening number 3, get in line again, go downstairs to another shuttle, drive out to the tarmac, and board the plane.

It's exhausting just thinking about it again. We are like a herd of cows, moved from one place to another.

The plane is another story. It's a turbo prop plane and we entered through the back. It's a company that KBR has hired to charter flights in and out of Iraq. This plane is probably about 40 years old. It's Russian and the pilot and staff are from eastern Europe somewhere. There is a musty old smell and you can't even understand the safety briefing about seat belts and the plane. It can only hold about 32 people. We entered through the cargo hold. Once we were loaded the plane started up and MAN! it was loud. I'm glad I had my ipod with me. The snug fit drowned out the some of the noise.

The ride was bumpy but I expected this from the look of the plane. It's a two and half-hour trip. I tried to sleep but it was almost impossible. The landing was okay.

As we debarked, we got our luggage and I followed the 20 other people getting off at this location. There was no terminal or building. The airstrip is military so after we landed, the plane parks and we get off. It felt so unusual. There was a shuttle waiting for us so we threw our luggage into another truck adn rode to the next destination.

We drove a ways to the living area, which consisted of hundreds of cargo-like containers that were modified as living quarters called CHUs - Conainer Housing Units. It's surrounded by T-walls. 6 foot wide by 8-10 foot tall and 2 foot wide concrete walls that are arranged around almost all the structures. The T-walls contain collateral damage in case mortars or rockets land in the area.

So we got into the Billeting Building where there is a conference room and had a short orientation about where we willbe sleeping and who to report to. Then we unloaded our luggage. I ended up in the dorm with is single story unit that has abomut 50 rooms. Each room houses two people. Very small. Two built-in twin beds, head to foot on the right and two small wardobe-like closets on the left. There is a small desk n the left on the far side of the wardrobe. there is already someone on the far side so I take the bed near the door. The mattress has a hinge so underneath is open to a little more storage. The room is like a sardine can. No TV, no fridge. Just beds, closets and a desk. Ugh! LOL!

Welcome to Iraq....