Wow - only 19 days until I am home! A little R&R...but if you know me at all...you know there will hardly be any relaxation going on. I have my calendar pretty much full for my trip. I am so excited. Can't wait to see all of you!
In the meantime...just an update on the world in which I currently live. Life at Camp Lemonnier is actually not so bad these days. My temporary boss is out of the Country and I am running the HR department as the acting manager. It keeps me very busy! There is so much drama in the workplace. But I am learning a lot and everyone is finding out that I don't take things lightly. They are not going to pull the wool over my eyes! I ask lots of annoying questions and get the information I need prior to making any decisions. So I think it has gone well so far. Not sure when the temp. boss lady will be back...sometime next week.
I have been bust studying for and learning about Rescue Diving. This is going to be a tough course - but will also be the most rewarding of the diving classes, I think. I already know a lot of the first aid type stuff, and being an EMT I think I bring something even more to the table. The key will be in me trying to figure out how to rescue people who are much bigger than me in the water! We'll see. Will keep you posted. We haven't had a chance to get in the water for this class yet. Looking forward to that.
Last night was Karaoke Night at 11 Degrees North. It was a blast. Liberty is cancelled here right now due to the protests in Djibouti City over the government. I will include links to some of the information on this below. So since Liberty was cancelled (meaning no one was allowed off camp for anything other than official business) 11DN was packed! Where else is everyone going to go? Another thing going on right now which I find very interesting...lots of rotations on people coming and going. So a large number of military peeps have just rotated back home (or elsewhere) so there are all new people here on their new rotations. So at 11DN seeing a lot of unfamiliar faces. But getting to meet lots of new people. And of course I have my usualy suspects I hang out with - mostly the Ecuadorian fire fighters and EMTs, as well as my CLUmate Lorraine and her friend Mark. Somehow last night the marks on my beer card must have been made with invisible ink - as they never seemed to show up! I got one mark....and then nothing! So I managed to purchase some beers last night...sshhhhhhh....I think everyone was having a great time! Lots of singing going on and dancing too. And there was one of the new Japanese guys who decided to sing Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing song...it was AWESOME! He could hardly pronounce any of the English words...but he tried so hard! He was a riot! We were trying to figure out if he lost a bet or not? HA HA I did a little of my usual rapping - Baby Got Back. I didn't get up to the microphone...but entertained my friends with my ability to rap and my dance moves that go with the song!
So anyway, just another Friday night at Camp Lemonnier.
They caught another Striped Hyena this week. This one on camp, near the running trail. I am thinking it just doesn't pay to exercise outside around here! ;-) I got to see this one up close and personal. They really are not very attractive animals. YUCK! They don't even look like you would want to touch them. Very coarse looking hair. And they have really strong jaws...so wouldn't want one of those to bite you! Maybe I should carry pepper spray with me when I run? I have included these new photos below. Gross!
So with these protests going on in Djibouti City, doesn't look like we'll be allowed off camp for awhile. But we'll see. I just hope nothing leads to having to close down the airport. Yikes! I am coming home on March 10 dang it! Last night was the biggest of the protests so far. I was talking to our security officer today and he gave me the scoop. A government person (I believe Police) and a civilian were killed last night. They lit the back of one of the police stations on fire! And they are buring cars and other buildings throughout the areas of Djibouti City we are not allowed to go anyway. But you have drive past and/or near most of the areas to go to the most common places we all like to go. The police ended up using tear gas to disburse the crowd a bit. So we'll see. It is interesting - Djibouti City is mostly inhabited by refugees who don't belong here anyway. And this is how they treat the city after they have been allowed to stay here? I have to count my blessings that I grew up in the USA for sure! At some point the President could just decide to take large trucks around the city and just scoop up all these refugees and send them out of the city. They have blocked the entrance to the city and they are vetting entry. I don't feel unsafe being on the base, that's for sure. But so strange for me to be in an area of the World like this with this going on. And then add to this all the troubles in Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Yemen, Egypt, and Bahraign. Good grief! We truly are blessed in the US. And I read today where Somali Pirates took over a US Sailboat with 4 Americans on it. They were sailing around the world. Didn't someone tell them coming through these parts is not the safest on a small vessel such as that? I hope things work out for them. Very scary - being held hostage now.
Sunday is a rematch of the Army vs. Navy Flag Football Game! I am going to referee for them as usual. I do so enjoy that. I have missed football season! I think the Navy is mad they lost last time...so let's see what happens.
Well that's about it for now. I just wanted to check in with y'all! I miss you all very much. Counting my days until this girl gets on Air France and heads for home! WOO HOO
As promised, information:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/18/djibouti.protest/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/18/protesters-djibouti-rally-replace-president/
Ciao!
Kathi
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