Djibouti ROCKS!
And I don’t mean it is totally RAD…or fabulous…or awesome.
Hey y’all! Greetings from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. Where the temps are steadily rising and I hear they are going to keep going. We are steady in the 90’s+…Black Flag days everyday. In the evenings when it “cools” off a bit, the flag might turn to red or yellow (even saw Green flags the last couple of days at night since the rains have brought in some cooler temperatures). Funny how a little breeze after dark can make 89 degrees feel almost pleasant. Ha ha And this is only the beginning. I hear stories of 135+ temperatures in the summer months. I am headed to Italy and on a Mediterranean Cruise in Aug. with my girlfriends…I have checked the average temperatures of where I am headed and that average 85 – 90 degrees should be a nice break. Good grief!
Back to Djibouti ROCKS…I am referring to the fabulously rocky terrain we are constantly subjected to walking on this base. Not too many paved roads here. So they throw down gravel/rocks. Where there is motor traffic the rocks kind of settle and flatten out a bit, making it easier to walk on them. But where there is no motor traffic, obviously then where pedestrian traffic walks; the rocks can be quite a pain. I am convinced though that these rocks are helping to keep my legs in somewhat decent shape. When I go for a couple weeks without being able to get in a good run, I can pick right back up pretty easily. But wow, some days the rocks are just a bit much.
Funny…I haven’t blogged in a while and here I am talking about rocks at Camp Lemonnier. I am actually cracking myself up…seems I am running out of things to talk about. HA HA Imagine that?
Working at the fire department is fantastic! I am really enjoying it and really glad to be here. What a change from when I first got here. And wow – what a nice break for my sanity. I am learning a lot with these guys. I am already enrolled in several classes and will remain busy I am sure for quite some time. I am currently at the end of my 48 hour weekend shift – noon Friday to noon Sunday (5/13-5/15). We will be relieved in about an hour. And then some of us on my shift are headed to La Pergola – it’s a restaurant slash pool place not too far from base. I will post photos. But a nice break from being on base and a nice way to spend the day – laying by the pool and getting some African sun. The water is quite warm, unfortunately, but when you are really hot it still is almost refreshing. Should be a nice afternoon. Then I am back to work tomorrow at noon for just 24 hours. It’s an interesting schedule, but I am getting used to it.
I had steak last night for dinner. I had stopped eating it here since I think they mutilate the steak when they cook it well-done. But last night wasn’t too bad. I enjoyed it and all the sides. Then I actually took my radio and went to the Oasis Movie Theater on base to watch Anthony Hopkins in The Rite. It was pretty good. One of those spooky Exorcist movies. But based on a true story. I enjoyed it. Took a blanket to keep me warm – crazy! It is probably the coldest place on base – so you have to bring something to keep warm or it is miserable trying to get through a movie in there. But since the theater is so close to the fire station, our radio signal is crystal clear and we can watch a movie so long as we respond when called. Then some of the Ecuadorian guys made a really good seafood and rice dish. So I tried a little of that. It was yummy! They cook a lot in the station. I think, like the rest of us, they get tired of the same old thing at the Galley. So they take what’s at the Galley and get creative with it.
I am enjoying being able to work out at the gym while on duty. I am sticking to a good schedule and am working hard to get back into some really good shape. I am losing weight again, so I need to really watch that. It’s hard not too – when it is so hot and we are outside so often. Before I went to the gym yesterday we spent about an hour and a half in the apparatus bay doing ladder training. We all had to “throw” the 24-foot extension ladder and work with a couple other ladders as well. It was hot out there for sure. Most days I feel like I could take about 6 showers…but there is just never enough time for that. And with the heat, it’s hard to want to eat a good meal too. Who wants to be all full and bloated and sweating like a pig? UGH!
So this is the true test for my journey here….can I make it through the summer months? I will keep you posted. I am grateful for my new job, for all the activities that go on around here (softball, BINGO, comedy shows, poker tournaments, etc. etc.) They do try to keep us engaged and active. And I like to do as much as I can. No sense sitting around in my room doing nothing…
I am catching up on a lot of series as well. My sister Jodi sent me the first season of Cougar Town. That was great. I am up to Season 4 of Dexter. I have watched the entire series of The Wire. I have Rescue Me waiting in my queue…as well as the entire series of Homicide: Life on the Streets. So that keeps me entertained. I rarely watch TV. Nothing much on – we have lots of foreign channels…and I just am not multi-lingual! The movie theatre usually has some good stuff to watch. And every Tuesday night they have Big Screen Movie Night at 11 Degrees North – outside. So you can have a few cold beers while watching a movie or 2. This month they are showing a lot of War movies – new and old movies.
I am really missing my scuba diving time. But hope to be able to get some diving in one of these days when they start doing the half day excursions on their newest fast boats. So we’ll see. For now I have my trip in August to look forward to. Flying into Florence, heading up to Cinque Terre, then Genoa to get on the cruise ship. Cruise hits Palma de Majorca, Cannes, Barcelona, Rome and someplace else I always forget. My friends Connie and Jennifer are going as well. Then we are headed to Lake Como with a day trip to Switzerland, and then Milan where we’ll head back from. I cannot wait – 20 days! And then I will be headed home on Sept. 26….and as it stands right now, I will be coming back to Djibouti on Oct. 17….to start another year contract here. I know…I know…I said one year and done. But the training opportunities I can get here, not to mention the other trips I can take (safari in Africa, Ireland, etc. etc.)…another year will do me some good. Plus I will have even more money stashed aside for school for when I do come home. Call me crazy...but what's another 12 months?
Hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the Spring/Summer time back home! I love and miss you all! Drop me a line sometime soon!
Ciao!
Kathi
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