Arrival

Is it me, or when human beings reach a new place, they automatically try to find the familiar and flock toward establishing a routine very similar to the one before? You could say I did just that when I landed in Iraq, but some changes of course, were inevitable.

Clinging to Comforts

Cross Trainers, Desert Style

While I was an intern at Red Cross headquarters, I ran with a great group of people every Wednesday after work, so this post is for them. I’m happy to report that I can actually run outside on JBB. I thought I might be forced to the confines of the treadmill, but there is a paved track by the gym. It will be Cross Trainers, desert style, for the next few months.

Sunday at the Chapel

There are several chapels on post, but I decided to head over the Air Force side for their contemporary service. My pastor in Washington State was stationed at JBB a few months ago and his picture was on the wall. It was a most edifying service, and I was happy to see that they are hosting an evening series covering The Truth Project, which many of my friends have recommended.

New Adjustments

The Night Owl

When I arrived, my biological clock was spinning out of control. And to make matters worse, I am the official night owl on our team. 12pm to 9am are my new working hours. And everyone I have met warned that you can never get use to the night shift (I hope they are wrong!)

Armed and Ready

Weapons are like car keys here, you never leave home without them. I thought it strange they were on the airplane, even stranger that they were in the chapel service. But with conditions so variable, it makes since to always be ready. My work with the Red Cross is strictly humanitarian, so if anything were to happen, I would be fully relying on our soldiers for protection.

White Glove Test: will never pass in the desert

When I lived in Panama for a year, our house was located in the heart of the city. Each day, a layer of ash would cover our belongings, making it impossible to keep anything clean. Similarly, each day here means a new layer of dust. It reminds me of the Charlie Brown character Pig Pen, who always left a trail of dust behind him.

I think we have a failure to communicate

Think for a moment how long it has been since you used a cell phone. I would venture that everyone of you reading have probably dialed or texted in the past hour. It is a bitter-sweet feeling, but like it or not, no cell phone for the next four months.

Darkness means a scary walk to the bathroom

One thing my little casa in the desert lacks is a bathroom. And one thing the entire housing area lacks is lighting. So I had a very scary walk to the bathroom the first night I was here. Unfamiliar places make you skeptical of everything and everyone, and this feeling is only accelerated in the darkness. Walking in the dark is inevitable, with the sun going down at 5pm. My fears were focused more on who may grab me rather than what may grab me…until something small scurried across the path. Then my mind was awakened to a whole new set of worries. But as with most things, time will calm the nerves…along with a good flashlight!