Week 13

Back to Updates

Remember a few months ago when I said this place was a tropical paradise? Well, upon reflection, I was very wrong.

It is not that it wasn't a tropical paradise when I arrived. It really was nice, but it has slowly become cold and rainy. I have been in denial for a while, but after sitting at a helicopter landing zone for three days freezing my knickers off, I changed my mind. Rumor is it rains from mid-January to March, then becomes incredibly hot.

Here in Baghdad it is not such a big deal because the roads are paved and the sidewalks tiled. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the rest of the country. When I go to other forward operating bases it is a muddy mess. Iraqi sand is like Velcro when wet.

I got to do some traveling recently. I saw other bases, other soldiers, and other people who want to kill those soldiers. I am surprised at how dangerous Baghdad is. Not the area I live - we are separated by concrete and well-trained attack dogs - but all around us is chaotic. A day doesn't go by where I don't hear at least one firefight or explosion. When I tell others I am stationed in Baghdad , they usually give me sympathy. I guess it is like being from Fitchburg . It sounds bad, but it really isn't.

I also realized that most women are deathly afraid of Iraq , even the ones who are here. They are scared of what is on the other side of the wall. There is nothing to be afraid of. The chances of dying are less than 1 percent, but they won't listen.

Of course, these are just minor complaints. Overall I have been very pleased with the experience. At times I have conflicting thoughts about our mission, but the experience can't be beat. I had a little boy explain to me all the people he plays soccer with for five minutes in very broken English. I still have no clue what he said.

I have had jobs indoors, with some simply sitting in front of a computer for hours. Only with the Army am I forced to be outside. Only in the Army have I caught some of the greatest sunsets of my life. Moments that have always been there for the taking, but I am always too busy to capture them. That is what I love most about my job.