Christmas Day in Iraq...my version!

Merry Christmas! It is 1pm Christmas Day right now (here)! Subtract 8 hours for most of Florida. I know, you're still sleeping.

I noticed that I must have been sleepy when I posted last time, because I found several errors: most notably that it is 14 hours when I worked from noon until 2am, not 20 hours. I don't want my math students thinking I'm losing my skills over here!

Technology is usually our friend, but my Iraqi simm card in my phone is not. I have wrestling pictures and others that I can't get off the card. I'll keep trying.

Well, today has been nice so far. About 16 members of my unit participated in a "white elephant gift exchange" this morning. (Notice the wrapping papers in the picture.) When it is your turn, you get to take someone else's present that they unwrapped or go get a new one of your own. I "stole" a nice 24in. x 36 in. "Operation Iraqi Freedom" wall hanging and got to keep it. It could be a rug, but I'll hang it up and bring it home later. Everyone laughed when I brought fruitcake out, cut in pieces to offer. I just don't understand the joke about fruitcake! I love a good one...and about 1/2 the people at the gift exchange admitted they like it too. The other half tried to use peer pressure to get people to leave the cake alone :-(

I'm on my way to my chu to open presents from home. My stuffed camel, Claude, will help me. I count my blessings! Many of our troops are working out of trucks and/or sheds, and are living in tents. One group did not have the ability to call home on phones until last night. I'll keep them in my thoughts!

I have to come back to the office to call home later, or go to the computer lab to use Skype and call.

Tidbits about life here: 1. Imagine trying to take 3-5 minute showers for fear that the water might run out! The water is all brought in trucks and poured into big containers. We've been told to turn water off as often as possible because hot water is being used up too soon.

2. We got our first real taste of the mud after a rain! ONE step in it and your shoe is caked with mud...very difficult to get off! Usually, so far, it has been almost completely dry. That means that some mornings you open your chu door and see light orange. The dust is so thick in the air!

3. I have a bike now. It's definitely used and maybe I have all the lights I need to ride in the dark now. OK: picture this: unlock your bike from the T-wall (see earlier picture); push it up the dirt mound; ride it to the walkway bridge (see pic); walk across; ride it to work; lock until night, then reverse the effort. I'm relearning the paths to take around here since I want to stay on a road, so can't use the shortcuts up and down steps etc. Oh, while you're riding, you have your weapon (rifle) slung over your back....keep it out of the spokes!

4. My new profile picture is showing me at work: teaching in a classroom. Imagine that! Baghdad Signal University teaches about computers and other related skills.

Enjoy the pictures! Does anybody recognize that nice man with me..and the four-legged friend?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Iraq in the winter!

Chu (trailer home) peeking out of its

protective T-walls. There are 3 rooms

with 6 people living here. Each person
has a 6 ft. by 12 ft. space. Two share a
room.

Bunker for Safety While

Walking By

You should see this place! We have a palace, lakes, lots of rock and concrete, and Florida-type winter weather without the rain. I'll include a couple of pictures of the area.

I work in a building or in the dirt/rock yard behind the building. It's a comfortaboe office, but I haven't been able to settle into a work schedule so have been working some long and odd hours. Some days have been 8am to 8pm; others noon to midnight; one was noon to 2am (20 hours later). The work is challenging! It is fixing equipment like computers and radios when they have to be fixed quickly so people can call on phones and use computers again.

We have seen professional wrestlers including John Cena, Bautista, Jeff Hardy, JBL, Crime Time, and The Big Show. They were on the other side of a large crowd, but I may be able to include a picture soon. I'm interested to see who else comes to visit.

We had Thanksgiving decorations at the Dining Facility and a holiday meal. Christmas decorations are showing up and we're eating candy sent from the US. : - )

I walk a lot. It is about a mile to and from work because I haven't found anyone to sell me a bike yet. We walk to meals, the store (like a Gate or a really small Walmart), the gym (when I finally get a schedule so I can go), etc.

The most notable daily event is a pair of helicopters that fly overhead several times a day.
Enjoy the pictures and write me when you can. dehjax@comcast.net for email.

Home Sweet Home!
My RoomMate's Bed

BTW: I dreamt of my students last night. It was on ok dream...nothing unusual, just interesting that I had you/them in my dreams.

Home Sweet Home again