Our replacements are coming on February 18th! I can hardly wait. I just got word of the CDR that I will sponsor (essentially just means that I will tell him what it is like out here and answer any questions). There is still no word as to the possibility of Camp Virginia getting another dentist, but the rumor is that I will not have a replacement.
Since I last blogged a I have been really busy:
On Dec 10th I took a helo ride (unknown type) out of Camp Virginia and over to the coast of the Persian Gulf. It was unbelievable! I saw how the Bedouins live (Bedouin (from the Arabic badawī (بدوي), pl. badw) are a part of the predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group.) They are essentially camping in the desert (long term) and have whole herds sometimes of camel that they own. It is impossible to see the routes they take off of the main roads to get to their “tents”, I am not sure how they do it? With my exceptional sense of direction I would have to live with different families every day. The ride was fantastic (a little scary at first) but it was intended to show the medical unit how to load litters on and off the helo in a medical evacuation type situation, I just got to go along for the ride.
On Dec 11th I left Camp Virgina to go to Doha, Qatar on a 4 day R&R pass. It was a great escape from the ground-hog day I have been living in the last 5 months. It ended up being more than 7 days away from Camp Virginia because we essentially fly on Stand-By from a military airport and if there is cargo or troops that have a mission, they obviously take priority. It made for a haphazard traveling experience (packing and unpacking several times, living in tents, sleeping without linens, and waiting…ohhhh waiting!) which I can only assume will really help me appreciate how smoothly things go in my “other life”. Brad will be happy that I was able to experience that and it will hopefully allow me to put things in perspective when our future travels don’t go as planned.
Qatar is about the same size as Kuwait and is just a hop skip and a jump (or a 45-50 min flight) over the edge of Saudi Arabia to get to. The flight over we went in a C-130 that was fully loaded with cargo. We were in jump seats knee to knee pushed up against the cab with no lavatory on board! I was nervous about that, but made it okay. My friend Carrie (an internal medicine doc) was with me, but we were the only females on the flight. The air crew said the plane was built in 1962! It was OLD, and LOUD. There was no listening to music or reading with that sound in the back ground.
When we arrived we stayed on another Army Base but were able to go on several MWR (Moral Welfare, and Recreation) trips to and from the base. We went to the City Center Mall, the Old Souqs, (A souq (Arabic: سوق, also souk, esouk, suk, sooq, souq, or suq; technical transliteration sūq is a commercial quarter in an Arab or Berber city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city) Gold Souqs, and accepted an invite to the General of the Qatarian Army’s beach house. The souqs were impressive, but the Beach House was most unique. I was amazed by the clashing of cultures when I saw the American Air Force women in bikini’s drinking beer, next to the Sheiks in their traditional Muslim robes and headdresses? It was strange, but apparently “safe” since it was a military sponsored trip? The general did it up with 12 falcons, 10 ATV’s, 10 Jet Skis, Deep sea fishing trips, a catered traditional meal, Whippets (for petting?) and a Chetah (also for petting apparently). See photos! Obviously we were pawns for the fostering of this American/Qatarian foreign relation, which was okay by me. The General apparently extended his beach party after hearing that Qatar won the location for the 2022 World Cup (which we lost). Maybe this was his way of giving us a consolation prize.
After our four days were up we rode home on a C-17, a much more impressive ride than the C-130. I was only able to sleep at home one night before getting re-packed to go to Camp Buehring for 4 days Dec 20-23 to cover for the other dentist who is taking his R & R right now. On our way home I got to see a new born baby camel, only minutes old. It had not even stood up yet, but was giving it his best shot. It was so sweet! The sun setting and seeing mom and baby together just 3 days before x-mas. Nobody that I have talked to so far has ever seen this, and some of them have deployed 3 times before to the desert. It was a real treat.
I had so many gifts waiting for me at Camp Virginia for Christmas!
On Dec 10th I took a helo ride (unknown type) out of Camp Virginia and over to the coast of the Persian Gulf. It was unbelievable! I saw how the Bedouins live (Bedouin (from the Arabic badawī (بدوي), pl. badw) are a part of the predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group.) They are essentially camping in the desert (long term) and have whole herds sometimes of camel that they own. It is impossible to see the routes they take off of the main roads to get to their “tents”, I am not sure how they do it? With my exceptional sense of direction I would have to live with different families every day. The ride was fantastic (a little scary at first) but it was intended to show the medical unit how to load litters on and off the helo in a medical evacuation type situation, I just got to go along for the ride.
On Dec 11th I left Camp Virgina to go to Doha, Qatar on a 4 day R&R pass. It was a great escape from the ground-hog day I have been living in the last 5 months. It ended up being more than 7 days away from Camp Virginia because we essentially fly on Stand-By from a military airport and if there is cargo or troops that have a mission, they obviously take priority. It made for a haphazard traveling experience (packing and unpacking several times, living in tents, sleeping without linens, and waiting…ohhhh waiting!) which I can only assume will really help me appreciate how smoothly things go in my “other life”. Brad will be happy that I was able to experience that and it will hopefully allow me to put things in perspective when our future travels don’t go as planned.
Qatar is about the same size as Kuwait and is just a hop skip and a jump (or a 45-50 min flight) over the edge of Saudi Arabia to get to. The flight over we went in a C-130 that was fully loaded with cargo. We were in jump seats knee to knee pushed up against the cab with no lavatory on board! I was nervous about that, but made it okay. My friend Carrie (an internal medicine doc) was with me, but we were the only females on the flight. The air crew said the plane was built in 1962! It was OLD, and LOUD. There was no listening to music or reading with that sound in the back ground.
When we arrived we stayed on another Army Base but were able to go on several MWR (Moral Welfare, and Recreation) trips to and from the base. We went to the City Center Mall, the Old Souqs, (A souq (Arabic: سوق, also souk, esouk, suk, sooq, souq, or suq; technical transliteration sūq is a commercial quarter in an Arab or Berber city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city) Gold Souqs, and accepted an invite to the General of the Qatarian Army’s beach house. The souqs were impressive, but the Beach House was most unique. I was amazed by the clashing of cultures when I saw the American Air Force women in bikini’s drinking beer, next to the Sheiks in their traditional Muslim robes and headdresses? It was strange, but apparently “safe” since it was a military sponsored trip? The general did it up with 12 falcons, 10 ATV’s, 10 Jet Skis, Deep sea fishing trips, a catered traditional meal, Whippets (for petting?) and a Chetah (also for petting apparently). See photos! Obviously we were pawns for the fostering of this American/Qatarian foreign relation, which was okay by me. The General apparently extended his beach party after hearing that Qatar won the location for the 2022 World Cup (which we lost). Maybe this was his way of giving us a consolation prize.
After our four days were up we rode home on a C-17, a much more impressive ride than the C-130. I was only able to sleep at home one night before getting re-packed to go to Camp Buehring for 4 days Dec 20-23 to cover for the other dentist who is taking his R & R right now. On our way home I got to see a new born baby camel, only minutes old. It had not even stood up yet, but was giving it his best shot. It was so sweet! The sun setting and seeing mom and baby together just 3 days before x-mas. Nobody that I have talked to so far has ever seen this, and some of them have deployed 3 times before to the desert. It was a real treat.
I had so many gifts waiting for me at Camp Virginia for Christmas!
I Skyped Brad and my parents on the 23/24th at 5 am my time which was 8 pm their time. And then was able to also get a quick Skype in with the Downey's, Linnenburgers, and Mosman's on Christmas Day. I did a 5K on Christmas morning and ate some turkey and stuffing in the cafeteria.
It is so nice to be remembered by all my friends and family. I wish so much I could be with you guys. I found out that I will have to steer clear of the Christmas music, or Christmas movies as these only tend to get you in the spirit when you are with the ones you love, and get you sad when you aren’t.
Thank you for making Christmas special! Love you guys!
