In Country

So here I am, first post from inside the country. Upon arriving, I managed to bring with me a fairly impressive windstorm/dustorm/rainstorm. Yes! I am the bringer of life and squeals from small heavily armed female soldiers! It IS kind of odd to see them in their off duty shorts and shirts running from the dust and rain while carrying a rifle not quite as tall as they are. But then again, big ruff and tuff guy that I am, I went and hid in the PX for a while and finally bought a bandanna and did a Jesse James with it over my nose and mouth to make it back to my hooch. I was sure to pull it down anytime I got near any one who was armed since the last thing I want is to be mistaken for a bandito! :) On the way back to my hooch, I walked by one of the larger bodies of water nearby, and there were whitecaps on it. (I'll try and upload a picture of this later, it doesn't seem to be working right now.)

Speaking of my hooch (small room where I live), first they put me in a tiny room in the TOP bunk. which is, to put it mildly, pretty much guaranteed death for the guy in the bottom bunk sooner or later. I kid, mostly, but I was concerned that jumping down (because there was no way to climb down) was going to do my knees and ankles no good at all, and it'd be a matter of time until something gave, probably in a way that would require surgery to fix. Luckily, I was able to secure a different room with two single beds, with a co-worker, so while space and privacy are not quite what I'd prefer, at least I'll still have functioning joints next week. Hopefully a single room will open up in the not too distant future. I've got my name on the list. Probably get it the day before I go home or something. :P

Today was mostly flying up (an experience all it's own) and getting settled in. Tomorrow is badges, because badges rule the world. Can't go here, there, or anywhere without a stinkin' badge! So, we'll get that done and then do a sort of mission statement so I know what I'm really expected to do on a daily basis (it's all been a bit vague up to this point) and I'll begin recieving the turn-over from the guy I'm replacing.

You hear the crackle of small arms fire occaisionally, and every now and then something that could be an explosion (or thunder) wayyyyyy off in the distance. Plus the occaisional fighter jet or helicopter. Frankly, other than the rattle of firecrackers someplace, it's not that much different than being near any large military base. I'm so used to all those noises from where I've lived before (including the gunfire) that it's really just background noise.

So that's about it for this post. I'll try and write again sometime in the next couple of days when I have time and a better handle on what my role here is.

Regards,
-Bouncer-