Cheryl - Jan. 2009
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Baghdad Bulletin
26 April 2009
Issue 1
Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues!
Thank you all for your notes to
I landed in Iraq on Easter Sunday and watched the sunrise from the tarmac. Just missed going to a church service, but I thought of all the wonderful music and the Greatest Message being delivered in all my favorite sanctuaries!!!!!
You’ve all read accounts of Iraq over the last six years by others and may be familiar with some of my observations already. But I’m trying to capture my experience by highlighting things that are new to me. When our military leaves, it will be interesting to see what becomes of Iraq in years to come.
It took longer than anticipated to arrive here – a full month including training, travel, and in-processing. Time and computer access was nil and I am sorry if anyone worried. John is doing GREAT and you can imagine how much I miss him. We recently spoke on the phone and it was great to hear his voice. His first box came yesterday and it took 10 days to get here.
(FYI - His b-day is 17 May…..)
My days (2 weeks now) have been very long and productive, getting this new job under control. I’m looking forward to getting into a routine so that I can provide updates to you about every other week.
I am working at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. Picture Disney World, with the Magic Kingdom in the center (that would be downtown B-dad) and several large camps or forward operating bases (FOBs) placed around the downtown area (Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, etc). I’m about a 15 minute drive from B-dad Intl. Airport (BIAP) and close to the other FOBs (each with their own PX Base Exchange, Dining Facilities, etc.) I travel between all of these areas on roads that are secure, visiting units that have linguists and interpreters. It’s much safer than I first expected. I named my light gray Chevy Trailblazer “Serendipity” because I didn’t know I was going to have a vehicle and she’s been a Godsend. The distances between FOBs are too great to walk.
It's going to be an interesting year working with the Army’s Theater Linguist Contract. My job is to facilitate/mediate personnel and policy issues between military unit leadership and the Contractor who hires thousands of linguists.
I am responsible for MND-B (Multi National Division – Baghdad) and nearly half of all the linguists in country. We have a major conference this Friday.
I will start volunteering next Sunday evening in the Education Center, helping soldiers with English Grammar as they study for the Army’s General Technical (GT) test. This afternoon, I attended a chapel service and offered to volunteer a couple of times a month on the keyboard between travels.
Temperatures are beginning to increase into the mid-90’s. Long sleeves keep the sun off. Only hands, some neck and face are exposed. The sand storms are fascinating. Not unlike heavy fog with no visibility, or snow without the ice.
The Dining facilities are still fantastic. Surf and Turf on Friday nights has steak and lobster. Anything/everything you can imagine wanting to eat, you can find. (More food than on ANY cruise ship!) I’m eating breakfast daily and only lunch or dinner (not both). Have lost about 5 pounds from all the healthy eating and walking around Camp Victory between Al Faw Palace (my office) and my living trailer, almost a mile door to door.
Here are some observations about Iraq so far:
--Morning doves in Iraq sound exactly the same as they do in the States.
--I saw a white sun yesterday morning while walking to breakfast. Then it went behind the clouds and I didn’t see it again.
--Have met several Christians, including my first female Iraqi Christian. She was inspiring.
--The linguists/translators/interpreters that I'm meeting are very dedicated.
--Have run into two people I haven’t seen since Aug 2001 and June 1996; one Army and one Marine, respectively. Iraq is a melting pot of deployers.
--Lots of folks are preparing to leave soon or just arrived. Many are also being diverted to Afghanistan. (I don’t expect that to happen to me!) I will be home this time next year. In fact, my first 6 weeks are already behind me.
--The rainy season is over until November.
--Ugandan guards provide security for our buildings. I occasionally say “Jambo” “Sawa Sawa” or “Asante” (Hello, Good to go, Thank you in Swahili!)
--I try to remember to say “Shukran” to Iraqis (Thank you). They smile.
That’s about it for now! Take care and let me know how you’re doing.
Cheryl
