We finally got to board the ship today. I must say it was quite... disenchanting. Not that I was expecting a Navy Ship fairy land or anything. I knew the bunks would be tight and the work hard. But for a ship this ginormous, its surprising how small and stuffy- even muggy our cramped hot little areas are. The military personnel were nice- but somewhat unprepared for us. We ended up digging around in the basement of the ship for bed linens after lights out in the bunks. The only bunks left were top bunks, which means I have to step on two peoples beds to get in at hazard of my life. Although i guess that's better than having the bed that gets stepped on. I keep thinking how Garrett would lose his marbles completely if he had to stay in a place like this. There are someone else's muddy tennis shoes on a shelf about 6 inches above my head. I found a dirty towel and a used tube of vaginal cream stuffed in the side of my mattress. And have you ever tried to put multiple bed sheets on a bed while sitting on it? How about with a foot and a half clearance over head making you have to lie down while doing it? I couldn't do it from the floor, it's too high up.
I don't mean to sound whiny but I think I'm getting some of that homesick-bitter "everything is dumb" feeling one seems to get when one is forced to adjust abruptly. It all seemed to crash down on me when I heard the kicker: all nights. ALL nights. They didn't assign me a single day shift for my entire stay. Anyone who knows me well knows why this is so upsetting. Its only 6 shifts total from what I can see, but it's a huge let down to realize I won't even be able to enjoy this even in the smallest way like I hoped I might. I know I know, I get it, this was not meant to be a vacation or anything. I came with a desire to serve. This is my mission be it small. But hey it would've been nice to at least not be in agony the whole time. I can live with dirty, with small and cramped, with tasteless food, with grumpy condescending military bunk mates, but nights? This probably means I won't be doing any shore trips. Two and a half weeks. I can hack this. I will roll up my sleeves and do it with energy, because if not me, then who will do it? What a relief that I dismissed the brief military whims I considered in college. Whew. Well I tried to take a picture or two of the bunks but there were too many naked ladies parading around to pull out the camera for long. I won't be able to take pictures of the work I do either cause apparently starting this year, HIPPA now applies to work in foreign countries too. What a load of- well anyways.. I'll find a way to make this a positive experience. I'm working with Kathy Cooper- probably the most positive giggly little lady that ever existed. Right now outside my little privacy curtain she's telling the grumpyp military bunk mate who we are and what we stand for. Bless her heart, what a darling. I also get to work with Jordan, who was the first of the group I met in the SLC airport where we became instant buddies. She's about my age, unmarried, and just as obsessed with taking pictures as I am. She also has determined to work out every day, which is what I need because I find myself eating with reckless abandon to attempt to cope with my situation. I should sleep cause I have to be up at 5 am and I'm still jet lagged. Tomorrow I will look for the good. 
(Scott on the right, who picked us up and brought us to the boat)
No comments:
Post a Comment