Dispatch #3 from Service to the Armed Forces Maryl Neff in Balad, Iraq
Straight from Balad, Iraq, please welcome dispatch #3 from Maryl Neff:
The day-to-day life here has become predictable rather quickly. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s good to get into a routine, especially since I’m working the night shift.
I need to remain cognizant of when to go to bed so I can be up in time for work at 10 p.m. I have a tendency to stay up too long since it’s broad daylight.
The later in the morning it is, the hotter it is. I try to do my errands before 10 a.m. – I go to breakfast, to the laundry and pressing shop to pick up pressed uniforms once every three days or so and to the PX for odds and ends. Yesterday I was out until noon, and it was HOT by the time I got back to my room. Today I’m going to go to the gym. It’s time to start working off all those good meals and pastries!
Other activities that take up my time right now are reading and watching movies in my room. From time to time I’ll volunteer at recreation activities like the 5k runs or the upcoming talent show.
I went over to the hospital yesterday to fill out a volunteer application. I’ll go back early next week for a training session, then figure out what volunteer job I want to do. I’d like to visit wounded soldiers waiting to be medevaced to Germany, but I’m not sure I can handle it. We’ll see what happens.
Have I mentioned our accommodations yet? Our team is lucky in that we’re in individual rooms that each have a bed, closet, nightstand, lamp and chair – and air conditioning, of course! We don’t have to walk far to go to the bathroom or shower trailers, and those are very clean and nice.
Until next time. . .
m
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Hi Maryl,
I am intrigued by your updates and impressed with your dedication. Would you please write about what kind of work you do in Iraq? What are your duties? What qualifications are needed for one to do this kind of volunteer work?
Bless you, Maryl. You’re a great example of the good work done by folks from ARC.