Arrived at Post, finally!

Arrived Baghdad

 

 8/13/14

Well, the day has arrived..I am here now in Baghdad.  I’m at the airport and it feels like a sauna outside. It’s superhot, to the point of uncomfortable.  Have I been that way before?? I guess that’s why it’s called a dessert.  Wow…I know what feeling it is like to be cold, but the extreme end is also not great.  Thank goodness for air condition..what will we do without it? I land here at the embassy airport and I know I’m not in Kansas anymore.  I see firefighter planes and whatnot.. Not the typical scenery you get when you touch down at an airport!!  One of the pictures that amazed me while I was at the Amman airport was the mosaic picture of Petra.  Here it is:

You may have recalled that from the 3^rd Indiana Jones movie where they take his dad to get healing water and you saw one of the knights guarding the holy grail.  Well I also saw a documentary about the ingenuity that went into the construction of this magnificent building made inside of a mountain.  It was made over 3,000 years ago and back then, they didn’t have the technology of today but what was built is a wonder to say the least.

After a fattening meal at DFAC it’s now time to close my eyes and get some nappy.  I can’t believe how tired I am.  It could be the heat or the psychological effects of stress (losing luggage and uncertainties to be met with).

August 13, 2014

Well I have arrived safely at the consulate in Basrah.  Not pretty as a picture as what I would think but at least I know I can survive this temporarily.  I can understand how people here can go nuts.  For now I like my quiet time and maybe I’ll have time to exercise..Although the cafeteria has such tempting foods and desserts.  SKUNK.  I think you can be skinny or a hunk…one of those categories!!  I met my supervisor who is here for two days before I depart.  I guess I’ll be doing some work supervising while he’s gone.  Tomorrow will be discussion day, today is all about checking in and getting my stuff straightened out.  I met a couple of ladies who have showed me around the compound already.  It’s quite nice to have someone fill you in…They’ve got movie nights near the gym every day at 8 PM, they got some pool and games over there.  I went to the commissary and bought me another shirt to wear..I cannot believe how much we depend on clothes for living!!  I also got myself some nice red flowered flip-flops.  Here they are:

 

LOL, the next best thing to Paradise.  I guess I’ll spend my time studying for my Microsoft Certifications or at least in preparation for my next assignment.  With all this time, I can study, develop spiritually, not worry about cooking and just take care of me..I will focus on that.  For now I hope it stays nice and quiet here..No live action, please J
Well, my day is done.  5 pieces of laundry and 1.5 hours gone; what did my previous life consists of ??!! J

8/15/2014

Well, the weekend is here, Friday and I’m beyond joy that it starts now.  Their days off is Fri and Sat, good for me having just arrived Wednesday.  I can use an early start to the weekend.  I know I’m still jetlagged when I feel like sleeping at 8 PM just to wake up and realize it’s 2 AM in the morning only :P  Well, good news it won’t be much longer.  I usually get over jetlag by the 7^th day.  Maybe easier for me now that I just did this 2 months ago. 

OK, so they told me I got lucked out and go the “executive suite.” I have to say it is indeed!  Executive in that I have it all to myself, LOL.  Yes, no bunk beds or nothin’.  But I sure wish they didn’t use that terminology, because when I think executive suite, I think… Hmmmm, awesome spacious Penthouse type of room with your own jaccuzzi.  Let’s just say this is as “executive as it gets” when it comes to being in a danger post.  I’m definitely safe, or at least I think so.  We are sheltered from the rest of the world, which is why this blog will seem like a diary for me, the “sailor out to see.”  The space is definitely confining but I can’t complain, I got it all to myself.

Looking forward to my first Skype session with Alyssa…I’m making a list of things to do so I won’t get bored. I have no trouble, I keep myself busy.  I haven’t even turned on the TV that much only when I’m eating..I’ve eaten at the cafeteria quite a few times already.  The food is good but now I’m learning to get food “to go” because you can get carried away with the calories.  The gym is a bit of a walk but I’ll learn to go during the day.  Even in a “safe place” like here you get the night owl characters at the gym and no I don’t want that kind of attention before I head to my quarters.  I think walking group with the girls and the bike rides should be nice.  There’s prayer service Saturday and Tuesday study I will look forward to that!!

Til next week!!