Cheryl - Jan. 2009
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Baghdad Bulletin
6 July 2009 - Part I
Issue 6
There is so much to tell you about! I started making notes for this issue weeks ago, but could never finish! On 22 June, I reached my first 100 days since I left Alabama. That's 25% completed on my 400 day tour. By the time you read this, I'll be one third complete (15 July!). It's hard to describe how quickly this is going. I know the next third potentially be slower but I have my R&R to look forward to in October. Since I last wrote, we've celebrated the first day of summer, 30 June for the Iraqis, and the 4th of July for the Americans. It's been a fascinating and challenging time to be here. More later on that.
First – computer connectivity: I've struggled with more "Baghdad internet Blues" over the last few weeks, hoping to be able to email you back on Windows Mail, but I have not succeeded. I'm using my Web mail now and hope this will work out as an interim solution. I moved to a new work location at Camp Prosperity in Baghdad's International Zone. I started over with a different Internet service. This one is called Tigris Net, an Iraqi company, which has connected me to the outside world. However, between sand storms, power generator outages, work hours, and my availability to let them in to hook up the lines, etc, it's taken longer than anticipated. I have had more difficulty sending photos, but will keep trying because I know people enjoy photos and don't have much time to read these Bulletins!
The couple of Skype sessions with John have been better quality than I had at my previous location at Camp Victory. If you have a Skype address you'd like to send me, we can try the video calls. It's a free program you can download. I can also call you over the computer even if we don't have video. The connections are quite remarkable. If you live near a military base and know the DSN operator's number, I can also call you from my work phone. I just need the operator's phone number. I have the ones for Ft. Meade and Maxwell Air Force Base that allow me to make calls. John still has a 301 area code on his cell phone, so that works well! These calls last approximately 15 minutes. The other challenge is when to call you with the time difference. I call John after my dinner time which is in the morning for him. That's not a good time for those of you at work!
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, cards, and offers to send care packages. I've made contact with some offices that I will share your packages with. They've helped me get set up since I'm not here with a unit. I'm a one-person office and have no staff. I borrowed military offices with computers and phones while mine were being installed. I recently learned of some office furniture that was about to be discarded and I rescued it for my office. I have a wonderful, simple wooden conference table that is not unlike a kitchen table. It was last used by Marines probably as a smoking table – it was outside on a balcony – but to me, it's a heroes' table. I gave up a nicer table that was in my trailer so I could have this one moved in. I can imagine them gathering around it, talking about their day. Now they have left Iraq.
Also, before I bought a small refrigerator, someone donated one to me. Those who have helped me will benefit from your generosity. I promise to share with them and others I'll meet!
The largest unit that moved to Camp Prosperity is from the Wisconsin Guard and they wear a patch with a Red Arrow that points "up" on their sleeve. They've been doing a great job managing the affairs of this post. There is a "Mayor's Cell", Post Office, Billeting, Convoy Ops, JAG, Personnel, Finance, Dining Facility, and everything you would need to live day-to-day. This unit also started an evening volleyball tournament. At night, there are two games going on – 32 teams signed up! It's double elimination so everyone gets to play twice. The Ugandans have an excellent team I'm told. It's nice to see some "normal" activity here. They have loud music playing in the background. Between the palm trees and sandy courts, it almost seems like a beach resort with some imagination!
Camp Prosperity is an interesting place. I live in a walled area and behind a gate. John says I live in a "gated community". The Peruvian and Ugandan Guards are very good. One day I was coming back from the gym and Peruvian asked if I'd been "footing" (instead of running!) They are friendly, professional, and helpful. I feel safe. They stand guard 24 hours through the heat, the night, and sandstorms too. The first night I spent here felt so different. I could hear city traffic sounds – sirens, buses, car horns, and traffic noise. When my air conditioner is on, I hear very little. But the helicopters are hard to miss. The sounds of freedom!
My little trailer is home now. I asked John to mail me the thermometer he sent me when I was deployed to Djibouti in 2004. I have it on my wooden handrail. Others stop to see the temperature. It's usually above 110 (or 95 at night). The highest it can go to is 125, so we won't really know how hot it gets from looking at this thermometer. July and August are the worst, and we're half-way through July!
He also sent me the beautiful-sounding wind-chimes that he sent to me 5 years ago. They sound just as beautiful as they did then. There's little wind, but I can touch them as I go by and hear them. One morning, I heard them from inside. Then I heard two people talking. The American supervisor of the guards told the Ugandan," they are called wind chimes." I heard the Ugandan slowly say "w i n d c h i m e s". The American said to him, "The Colonel likes them." As I write this, I see the humor in it. The Ugandan must have wondered why I had wind chimes where there is no wind! (By the way, I remind folks I'm only a "half-colonel" like my British friends call LTCs. Occasionally, though, I still hear Colonel.)
Another wonderful sound that I have is sleigh bells – on the inside of my door. We've only brought them out at Christmas to hang as a decoration. Besides the wonderful familiar sound of home and Christmas, I think of it as an "early warning" device. If I should accidentally forget to lock my door from the inside at night, and someone should try to enter from outside, I'll hear them. However, the Guards are excellent. No one gets to my door without an escort. They started that on their own and I thanked their boss. Since I live next to my office, this is very reassuring.
The only full day I've had off since March was on the Fourth of July. My boss asked our team (scattered all over Iraq) to "stand down." That Saturday, I did not turn on my work computer, but I did try to get my personal email working. I was on the computer phone with Bellsouth for much of the morning, but the results were the same because I could not send Windows emails, only receive. Two emails seemed to go through but it was a freak thing. I haven't given up completely, but it's more important to stay in touch with each of you, even if it's not perfect! Instead, I wrote cards that afternoon to some of you who have taken the time to write to me. I also watched the movie "Gettysburg" in honor of those Americans who fought another kind of war in another time. (By the way, this was only the second movie I've ever watched on a deployment. John sent me some DVDs to use in this new computer – his 2009 birthday present!) I must make time to watch more….
On the Fourth of July, we had a bad sand storm. Our local July 4th BBQ at Meadowlands, the compound within Camp Prosperity where I live, was postponed until the 12th. The sand/dust storms are fascinating. The sky is grey/brown – sort of like a rainy day, but dry. The sun, if you can see it, is white. The guards wear surgical masks or scarves around their noses and mouth. I hope to send a photo of the dust on the handle of my office door. I actually had to sweep off the steps on my porch! It's like brown snow that does not melt. The dust is very fine and gets into everything as you've probably heard from others. I keep the computers covered with the original plastic they came in. Even still, the dust appears on the screen and keys. Amazing
More to come in Part II!
Cheryl
