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So, we've been having a bit of a dust storm...
though you can't tell as well in this photo.
There is a quality of living in a video game here. The dust drops the visible horizon to a couple hundred meters, and everything just gets fainter the farther you are from it. Even before this storm, everything was coated in a layer of dust so that nothing looks as it did when it was new. Everything blends together - there are sand drifts that lead into the concrete barriers, the dust sticks to any and everything, lending everything a mottled tan hue. Essentially, there are a limited number of textures that get repeated throughout the world.
More than just visually, though it seems the analogy holds. There are no windows in our tents and buildings, so when you exit buildings there are often dramatic light changes as the sun has set or risen. The map here is fixed - we stay within the limits of the camp, being stopped by fences and berms. Finally, is the voice of God. A massive speaker system/siren is mounted throughout the camp. It sounds taps and the Third Corps Song (the theme from the movie Patton) twice daily, and conducts a weekly test, running through its various alarms and warnings.
This is the weirdest part, as they very nearly use the same semi-robotic voice used the Half-Life game sequels. The disembodied voice that seems to come from every direction warns you of fire, artillery attack, ground attack or air attack, preceded by unique sirens and alarms. During this test, the constant discordant sound, the quality of the light, the visibility, and the difference of this place from normal life sends my mind to the closest parallel. As I walked though the din, I felt disappointed there weren't helicopters overhead, nor Combine soldiers firing at me.
And then there is the mildly surreal act of walking into a Starbucks with a gun.
Kuwait is ...
Kuwait. Yeah. Really, I don't know a good way to describe this place. It's flat, insanely hot and bright in the day; though night isn't so bad. The wind blows, but the dust isn't too bad.
The amenities aren't bad... there's a good size store, two dining facilities, once of which is much nicer than expected. I'm typing on inexpensive wifi from my cot. There are some mediocre pay food options (Pizza Inn, Panda knock-off, a coffee place) and a bazaar of local random vendors. We have a tiny movie theater, a couple of tents with TVs, books and XBoxes, a good sized gym, and an aerobics tent.
Let me take a moment to talk about the Starbucks. Imagine a triple-wide prefab building. One side is all windows. Inside, its is all but identical to every Starbucks you have ever been to. The floor tile, the light fixtures, the straws, and the little table they sit on - all the same. The only difference is that this Starbucks has the menu in Arabic and English. Sadly, they don't have the Date Frapaccino anymore.
Here, anytime we leave the Brigade tent area we must, on our person, have a weapon, water source, eye protection, and another person equally equipped. We are like little children - we use the buddy system. Of course, though we are required to carry our weapon, we are not allowed any ammunition.
As for the doing - well not much of that yet. In theory, we should only be here long enough to do some very limited training, get all our people and get our equipment off some ships. Through the vagaries of Big Army... things... we will be here for a while. Labels: kuwait army 3-2
Greetings from Limbo
Welcome to Kuwait, or Limbo, the first circle of Hell in Dante's inferno. Limbo is the land of the virtuous non-believers, and is filled with ennui. Its inhabitants lie around in its endless sand and heat, sighing. At its center is a castle in which Socrates and Plato reign. So far, i think, in this metaphor, that is the water tower.
I have some many weeks here in Kuwait as I await the arrival of the rest of my unit, and the arrival of our things. The two appear to be having a competition to see who will arrive later. it is dull here, and will likely remain so, intermittently interrupted by moments of insane busywork and movement. I will likely call some of soon, as there are phones here, and, as you can see, internet. This is actually wifi in my tent, using my computer, so hurrah!
Finally, I have been instructed by my love to catch and bottle the soul of an unbaptized baby so that she might flavor cookies with them.
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