Sunday, December 9, 2012

Festivities postponed

The tree lighting at Cafe Roi last night was put off until next week. It seems that a crane was not available to place the lights at the top of the tree. Our culture of safety here forbids the use of ladders above certain heights.
We did manage to get some presents wrapped for the children of Enniburr at C-building last night. We had a great turn-out. Since our gift bags have not arrived via USPS, bag-stuffing will also be put off until next week. We wrapped all the big things though; mostly sports equipment.
Softball gloves, bats, baggo (some of you call it "cornhole" i believe, ive never been able to say it without snickering). Softball is a bit of a phenom on Enniburr (we call it 3rd Island). Softball is THE sport there. We have a small softball league for a few months each year in the spring. The Marshallese teams are invited to Roi to play our team. When it comes to softball, these Marshallese are INCREDIBLY GOOD; i think they share a brain when out on the playing field. They take their game quite seriously and they always win.
As the wrapping of the presents concluded most of us went to the local bar: The Outrigger.
The Outrigger is the local watering hole on Roi-Namur. Attractions include wifi, big screen television, computerized jukebox, table top shuffleboard (mostly unused except to place your drink on when playing pool), dart board, and two pool tables. We also have a snack bar here with a limited menu. The "missile burger" is quite good and is a welcome change from the chow hall fare. Folks from Kwajalein come up on the weekend to get away from things and eat here quite a bit. It's open 24 hours a day..the building is anyway. Good place to come anytime to get online besides in our BQ rooms which only have dial-up internet access at this point. The bar itself opens at 1700 everyday. Full liquor, beer (cans and bottles only) and wine are available. Not many wine drinkers at the bar though. If you decide to order wine, there is a better than average chance it won't be any good. Wally, our resident bartender will cheerfully open a new bottle for you. Wally is a bit of a fixture here. He is in his seventies and has been here on the atoll for over 30 years. Although slightly hard of hearing, he is a great bartender and is a bit of a flirt with the (very few) ladies that we have on Roi.
Roi is a unique place. It is a working island with about 100 or so full-time residents. During the day, between the commuters from Kwajalein (more on them later) and the 3rd island residents who come over each day on the boat to work, the population of the island rises to about 250 people. By about 2100 each night, the island is back down to the 100 or so residents here.
Roi is the reason for the US presence here in the Marshall Islands. It is the home for a few large radar dishes and various other space monitoring systems. Lots of engineer-type people running the show. Most of the resident population is comprised of support staff for the island's operations. People like myself; i am the full time resident nurse and in no way associated with operations. I treat boo-boos, i've helped birth a baby. The list goes on, but i won't go into it. My time is short here on Roi. My last day of work will be May 1st. I'm ready to be back in the real world. Whatever you can imagine Roi to be, i assure you, it ISN'T the real world. I often say that you couldn't make this place up if you tried.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

WTH have i been?

I have just rediscovered this blog and realized i havent posted since before i came out here to the Marshall Islands...SHAMEFUL!!

As of yesterday, I have put in my official notice of contract-end. Looks like my last day of work here will be May 1, 2013. Getting on the ATI flight out of here on May 3, 2013. In the mean time, i'm looking forward to a last big hurrah of a vacation starting January 3rd. One week in Japan riding around on the bullet train. I bought an unlimited JR Pass while in Los Angeles at a travel agency. Cost me about $350.00. If i take 2 long rides across Japan then it will have paid for itself. Can't wait to try the Kobe beef in Osaka! Since I'm a government contractor with a CAC, i am staying on Yokota Air Force Base at the Kanto Lodge.
From Narita Airport, I will fly into Bangkok and hang out there for two days...shopping at MBK here i come!
From Bangkok flying into Ho Chih Minh City where i will spend two days. Im not really sure at this point what ill do while i'm there. I know one thing only; i have to try the Pho soup somewhere. I've already gotten my pre-approval letter for my visa. I just have to show up at the airport with two passport sized photos and I'm in!
From Ho Chih Minh City to Kuala Lumpur for two days. THIS i am excited about. I have always wanted to see the Petronas Towers. Lucky enough to be staying at Traders Hotel right next door. Incredible view at night according to the hotel booking site photos. Kinda pricey, but this is the most expensive part of my trip.
From KL to Siem Reap, Cambodia for 3 days. Angkor Wat is the name of the game here. A "must see". I'm sure i will be "templed-out" once i leave here. Another temple i want to see is nicknamed "Angelina Jolie's temple" Made (more?) famous from the movie Tomb Raider. So much to see here but only 3 days. I will make the most of it.
From SR back to KL one way and from KL to Chiang Mai, Thailand on the same day. Chiang Mai...(sigh), i just LOVE this place. Spent 3 weeks there last March and April. Much to my dismay i missed Songkran by three days. Once again, i will miss it this year as well. I console myself with the thought that a water fight is just a water fight anywhere in the world. Still i understand it is not to be missed; and yet I'm doing JUST THAT...AGAIN!! Staying in CM as of now for three weeks.I have 11 days open at the end of my vacation to mull over about where i'd like to go during that time.

In the mean time....all the hotels and flights are booked. I'm just waiting. I get more stir-crazy on this small chunk of land with each passing day. At least the holidays are upon us and tonight is the tree-lighting ceremony in front of Cafe Roi. Afterward we will all meet up at C-building to stuff gift bags for the children on Enniburr.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Travel orders

Got my travel orders and flight/hotel itinerary via email today. Things are finally starting to solidify and the realness of it is setting in. Very exited here folks. Going over in my mind the things that I need to send ahead in my "pack-out". Lot's of stuff to do before i go. Cancel cell phone plan(it ain't cheap). Freeze my credit. Obtain flashlight (I was told that these are a necessity...no street lights). Get a rain suit. Pick up a mask/snorkel/fin combo. Sell the car.
Clean up fishing gear before "pack-out".