There is training for everything you want to do. You can't operate on a patient until you are trained. You can't cook a gourmet dinner in a 5 star restaurant until you are trained. You can't be a parent...scratch that. But apparently you also cannot go to Iraq...until you are...yes, trained.
There are four requirements for going to Iraq. One, you have to pass a massive medical exam. Two, you have to pass a security check. Three, you must go to a week long Iraq familiarization course. And finally you have to do a week long program called "crash and bang". More to come on that later.
One and two are getting processed and today number three began. Five days in a classroom to learn all you need to know about Iraq.
It reminds me of when I was a nurse at Camp Blodgett. Just 3 days of First Aid training folks and as far as all those little munchkins knew, I'm an R.N. I imagine I'll be as savvy in Iraq after this week of class as I was when my first camper had a seizure.
Good news...the camper lived.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Think About It
Today I found a website that allows you to read about every foreign service post in the world. It's called Real Post Reports. People post answers to questions like, "what kind of housing is there?" or "how's security?" On a whim I went to the Iraq page and found this (not exact, but very close) quote:
IDF ( intensity, duration and frequency) is a great big deal. We have had major rocket hits--with significant damage--happen on a weekly basis. If you think you can't die here you're wrong! You can.
This is funny. And terrifying. On many levels. I think what was most shocking to me is that a person intentionally went to a war zone thinking they COULDN'T die.
Anywho, it's probably a wise rule of thumb to consider whether you're sleeping, crossing the street, eating cheerios or living in Iraq---hey, just don't think you can't die. OK?
*Editorial Note: I just went back and checked that post again and the last sentence was removed and replaced with something much gentler. Either things got remarkably safer over the last week, or Big Brother was watching.
The First Day of the Rest of my Life
Fast forward to two months ago and this spinster found herself....happily married. Never would have predicted that crazy life twist. And based on various family reactions I wasn't alone. Well here I am.
And not just married, uprooting and changing every possible area of my life.
Let's sum up. After forty years of single-ness, in a matter of five months I will find myself compromising with a HUSBAND, quitting my beloved job at Root Learning, moving away from family and home, taking a new and unknown job, and living in Iraq. True, I'm not pregnant, so I haven't done EVERY life change in one fell swoop, but I hope this gives you some solid clues why I'm not. And won't be for a while. So, for the love, don't ask.
So here I am. New blog, new life, fresh start. Welcome to the second half of my life. I hope we like it.
Everything is different, but one thing remains the same....like my brother Ryan, I still crave adventure. (Yes, it's an inside family story that only 8-12 of you people will get. Get over it.) Let's go to Iraq.
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