Dumpster surprises and the Big Dipper

Well, I had a pretty challenging day yesterday. I was put through some situations that could have easily made me cry, but it all worked out okay. As I wrote in yesterday's post, I lost my key to my room. It was a four hour ordeal to try to track someone down who could help out. My coworker graciously drove around with me from building to building all over the base. It was interesting to see the night life, which is fairly minimal except for a lot of people running with their PT gear on and reflective belts, as well as overnight restocking activities at the various dining facilities. As a last resort, I finally got into my room using a random key that was provided to me for our work space all the way across the base. I couldn't believe it actually worked. I wonder why God tests people like this. I mean, I'm exhausted, I'm dehydrated, I'm in Iraq on the third week away from home and then I lose my key to the only comfortable thing here. I guess it's always good to be pushed and pushed so you realize how strong you really are.

Anyway, then tonight as I returned to the education center to check email, I asked if anyone had found my jacket and the guy here said he found it this morning on the ground and threw it in the dumpster. We both went out and checked and it was there! Can you believe it? So, the day ended well.

We had meetings all day and toured around the base a bit more and took lots of pictures. I think I might go to bed early tonight so I can actually get a good night's sleep. Oh, you wouldn't believe how clear the night skies are here...the skies are so expansive because it is so flat here and there is no city glow. It's so beautiful and at the same time weird to think that I'm in Iraq. As we were driving after dinner I wondered how those people "outside the wire" live like and what their homes and families are like. Even though they are within a few miles of the base their world is so different from mine and everyone else on this base.

We have more interviews tomorrow to binge on as much information as we can the 5 days we're here. It's total sensory overload. ~e