Groundhog Day

I couldn’t decided between “Institutional Mentality” or “Groundhog Day” for the title of this blog, as both so perfectly fit my daily life here in the sand. Melissa thought that “Groundhog Day” was the better fit and so here we are.

I am sure most of you have seen the 1993 movie with Bill Murray where he is forced to re-live the same day over and over again.  Well, if you haven’t, then go watch it because you are missing a part of American cinema history in your life.

Groundhog Day

I don’t get to have nearly as much fun during my groundhog day as Bill Murray did with Punxsutawney Phil or eating all the food he wanted without any repercussions, I do, however, live the same day in and out like in the movie.  I wake up, workout, get cleaned up, get breakfast, go to work, then lunch, then work, then dinner, then to my CHU (that’s a containerize housing unit, you can see some pictures below of my CHU) to “relax” and then sleep — only to wake up and do it all over again.  My one reprieve from this insane scenario is on Saturday, when I get to experience my one day off.   I get to sleep in and afterwards I get some brunch and Skype with my wife (best part of my week by far).  The rest of my Saturday usually consist of me doing my laundry and  trying to veg as much as possible before church in the evening.  And then my whole groundhog week repeats again. And again.  And again.

Institutional Mentality

Going through each meal makes me feel like I am in a prison or mental hospital.  I haven’t experienced either of those two scenarios, but, hey, it’s the easiest way to describe the chow line based on movies I have seen.   I enter our cafeteria through the approved entrance, sign-in, wash my hands, grab a tray, utensils, and a plate.   Then I proceed through the various lines of food, often giving my plate over to someone else to plate since apparently I am incapable of putting food on my own plate.  And if that wasn’t bad enough, imagine more selection than a high school cafeteria, but the food is just as processed/frozen/fried.   What vegetables that do exist are frozen and then boiled to death.  Occasionally, I can get some broccoli that has dried out on the top of all the other broccoli that is at least edible.   I have found uncooked carrots and have started to grab them to provide something healthy in my diet.   Then I proceed to sit down and eat, after which, I take my tray and clean the plate off in the trash can, place the utensils in the water bucket, and place the tray on the stack of other trays and exit out of an approved exit. For some of the people that have been here for a long time, they have gotten so disgusted by the institutional process that they live off of the “sandwiches” in the “grab-n-go” snack area in the office.  And “sandwiches” is in quotes because no respectable individual would actually consider one slice of meat and two pieces of bread a sandwich.  It takes two or three of these “sandwiches” minus the extra bread to actually make one sandwich.

CHU

After over two months of being here (of which I lived on seven days worth of clothes), I finally got my UAB (unaccompanied air baggage) shipment and my place is starting to feel more homey.   I made my bed with my sheets, comforter, and pillows, hung up a blackout curtain so I didn’t have that annoying security light (which hangs about 15 feet above my door) shining into my bedroom all night long, setup my computer screen with speakers, and the PS3.   I so far got to do one race in Gran Turismo 5 but only after the PS3 insisted on several 100 mb of updates because it had been offline for so many months.  I still have quite a bit of laundry to do with all the new clothes, but it is so nice to have additional clothes now.

Below are two pictures of the inside of my CHU.  I figured you didn’t really need or want to see the bathroom.  But, rest assured that there is a bathroom with a shower in between those rooms.  I still have some more work, like hanging pictures and artwork on the walls (photos updated), to make it feel more like my space.  And of course it really isn’t one of my places until I put up Christmas lights year round, so those will be going up shortly too.

Extended reprieve from the sand and heat, well sort of.

Our trip to Dubai was wonderful.  I got to physically be next to my wife that I miss so much during our absences.  Also of vital mental importance, I got to be disconnected from the stress of my work.  I left the Blackberry at home and I had no way to be contacted.  Dubai’s weather is pretty similar to my current home.  But, the ability to meet up with friends, go out to places, shop, and eat real food really makes all the difference.  Melissa and I did some of the touristy things in Dubai but mostly just relaxed and spent time together. We walked around the malls and shops, ever mindful that one kiss in public could get us thrown in jail.  Although it was a short trip we both really needed it.   And yet again, we had to watch as we got on different planes to head to our different homes.

Our next trip will be back home to the US of A (heck ya!).  We will be visiting some of my family on the east coast before heading to the west coast to visit Melissa’s family.  Most likely in late October to early November.  We are still trying to determine the dates as so much of the schedule for when I can fly is (pardon the pun) up in the air.  But, keep an eye out for our trip plans on FB and let us know if you will be in the area when we are.