Digs in the Cradle
Tom encouraged me to post again tonight so I thought I'd tell you a bit about daily life and try something new...a video! It's night time here so you'll have to settle for a video of my digs. One of these days soon, when it is daylight, I will take a video of the outside of my living accommodations.
The area I'm in is referred to as Motel 6, once you see the outside set up you'll understand why. The standard work week in Iraq for Army Corps of Engineers employees is 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday - Thursday. On Friday's (the Middle East's version of Sundays) is half day. Which means, I get to sleep in tomorrow and don't have to go into work until 1 p.m. Folks obviously work longer hours when the mission requires it.
With my half day off tomorrow I plan to spend the morning unpacking my trunk and getting settled a bit more in my room. You'll see in the video things are still a bit messy, but if you ask Tom he'll probably tell you I tend to be cluttered and he wouldn't buy me using a deployment to Iraq to cover up that fact up :)
I'm all done with my in-processing. I have all the proper badges, an Asia cell and more security training than you can shake a stick at (don't actually know where that saying comes from, or what it means, but I'm going to use it anyway). I used the term "we're cooking with propane" today at work and my boss DeDe had never heard that expression before. I thought it was a pretty well known saying but maybe it's an outdoorsman term that I've picked up from Tom and his family.
I've already got a few projects...one of them is my first media visit. I've also enjoyed my first local Iraqi meal. It was delicious! I have a picture that shows me piling up my plate with food but I'll have to share it later I don't have it with me right now.
The lunch was part of a special meeting yesterday between Coalition Forces and tribal leaders from southwestern Baghdad. I learned that the communities west of the Tigris River in Baghdad providence (approx. 3 million people) have only one wastewater treatment plant. It is designed to support 2 million people...so it doesn't have the capacity, but even worse, it is not even working right now. So, yep, that means hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of untreated sewage is being channeled into the Tigris River every day. A major health concern and environmental problem. No safe potable water impacts the citizens, livestock and the agricultural industry in the area. A picture I took of the meeting is on the Gulf Region Division's website. Go to http://www.grd.usace.army.mil and click on "Snapshots of Progress." It should be the first photo.
This was a good introduction for me because it looks like the Water Sector is going to be one of my areas of emphasis. There should be a lot of good news stories to tell...efforts to get wastewater treatment plants on line and provide safe, potable drinking water to the people of Iraq.
Well, I think I'll call it a night. Hope you enjoy the video of my hooch. I joked with Tom that I can stand in the middle of my room and spread my arms out and touch the walls but it's really not that bad. I am very comfortable and have been provided all the essentials. I even have housekeeping. So that means 6 months of no cleaning chores! Awesome ~
The area I'm in is referred to as Motel 6, once you see the outside set up you'll understand why. The standard work week in Iraq for Army Corps of Engineers employees is 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday - Thursday. On Friday's (the Middle East's version of Sundays) is half day. Which means, I get to sleep in tomorrow and don't have to go into work until 1 p.m. Folks obviously work longer hours when the mission requires it.
With my half day off tomorrow I plan to spend the morning unpacking my trunk and getting settled a bit more in my room. You'll see in the video things are still a bit messy, but if you ask Tom he'll probably tell you I tend to be cluttered and he wouldn't buy me using a deployment to Iraq to cover up that fact up :)
I'm all done with my in-processing. I have all the proper badges, an Asia cell and more security training than you can shake a stick at (don't actually know where that saying comes from, or what it means, but I'm going to use it anyway). I used the term "we're cooking with propane" today at work and my boss DeDe had never heard that expression before. I thought it was a pretty well known saying but maybe it's an outdoorsman term that I've picked up from Tom and his family.
I've already got a few projects...one of them is my first media visit. I've also enjoyed my first local Iraqi meal. It was delicious! I have a picture that shows me piling up my plate with food but I'll have to share it later I don't have it with me right now.
The lunch was part of a special meeting yesterday between Coalition Forces and tribal leaders from southwestern Baghdad. I learned that the communities west of the Tigris River in Baghdad providence (approx. 3 million people) have only one wastewater treatment plant. It is designed to support 2 million people...so it doesn't have the capacity, but even worse, it is not even working right now. So, yep, that means hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of untreated sewage is being channeled into the Tigris River every day. A major health concern and environmental problem. No safe potable water impacts the citizens, livestock and the agricultural industry in the area. A picture I took of the meeting is on the Gulf Region Division's website. Go to http://www.grd.usace.army.mil and click on "Snapshots of Progress." It should be the first photo.
This was a good introduction for me because it looks like the Water Sector is going to be one of my areas of emphasis. There should be a lot of good news stories to tell...efforts to get wastewater treatment plants on line and provide safe, potable drinking water to the people of Iraq.
Well, I think I'll call it a night. Hope you enjoy the video of my hooch. I joked with Tom that I can stand in the middle of my room and spread my arms out and touch the walls but it's really not that bad. I am very comfortable and have been provided all the essentials. I even have housekeeping. So that means 6 months of no cleaning chores! Awesome ~
Hey Nicole -
ReplyDeleteJust want to let you know that I (and a lot of other folks) am truly enjoying your "BLOG". I feel so "internet savy" now that I'm following and "commenting" on a "BLOG". Anyway, as God would say to Joshua "Be strong and very courageous" - for God has commanded you. And, with that commandment comes the enablement to "go forth and do". We all miss you already, but it's nice to "stay in touch" this way. We're keeping an eye on Tom while you're gone, although you might want to check the mileage on your car when you get back ;) Joy of The Lord! Lorn and The CC O'Fallon Fellowship
Honey, what can you expect from a pastor but to add a little bit of condemnation in with his supportive message. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love you and your baby now has 2k miles on her - I'll keep you posted as the odometer goes up. ;-)
T
Hey Nicole...Looking at your hooch video, I was having "Voja De"...you know, the feeling I've never lived that good in the field! Glad to hear all is well and hope you have a Merry Christmas. I'm sure Tom is missing you too. Take care
ReplyDeleteKen Cook