Day 3: So What's There To Do?

So, three days have gone by since D. left. We are doing fine so far, with no real problems. Z. had his dogtag taken away in class. I guess he was playing with it and his teacher took it. I hope she gives it back. N. is doing alright too. She has a science project coming up, and wants to do an experiment about prehistoric bugs caught in amber and how that helps scientists see how life was like in the time of the dinosaurs. Which is all well and good, until she told me she needs a real dead bug. Ewww. Ohh the joys of middleschool science projects... This will keep us busy for a while.

But, what's there to do at Camp Victory?

This one just made me laugh.

Camp Victory, even though the sprawling base near Baghdad International Airport is the headquarters for the U.S. military in Iraq, I've read where some soldiers call it "Campus Victory". Soldiers mill about fast food joints, waiting for Pizza Hut--which serves about 500 pizzas a day-- to call their orders over the blare of pop music. The Subway sandwich shop next door has about 400 customers a day. There is a Popeye's, Burger King and a Taco Bell too. The PX sells anything from candy bars to televisions. Manicures are available at a beauty parlor, there are pools to take a swim or play a little water volleyball, and soldiers can go and surf the internet at an Internet Cafe. Most ignore the explosions that periodically rumble in the distance.

A little pool fun at Camp Victory

Better living conditions are a part of efforts to keep soldiers happy who spend more time beside their fellow soldiers than they spend at home with their wives and children. The efforts are appriciated by most. "Taking a swim. Surfing the Internet. And I'm getting paid for this?", said one soldier.

On January 12th 2005 the Army and Air Force Exchange Service opened a new bazaar to "provide more shopping for soldiers, but also to help Iraq take another step forward in the rebuilding of the country," said Dan Tompkins, AAFES Iraq vice president. "This bazaar represents a historic moment; this facility was planned, coordinated, financed and built by the Iraqi vendors," said Tompkins. "These entrepreneurs represent the future of Iraq - men who will not yield to the terrorists and will bring Iraq into the brotherhood of democracies."
The all-Iraqi bazaar has more than 70 vendors selling everything from local perfumes to Iraqi souvenirs. Many of the vendors sell items that are unique to Iraq and provide soldiers an opportunity to buy a true souvenir without having to go outside of the camp. Shoppers can find items such as stained glass, handcrafted art, paintings, electronics, hardware items, custom made leather goods, Iraqi jewelry and footwear.

There are organized baseball, basketball and even rugby games. There is a cinema that shows movies. Basically Camp Victory seems to have all the ameneties of home.

Baseball game in Iraq

So, what's not great about Camp Victory?

Sand storm rising up.

Dust. Sand Storms.
Check out this video I found.

Keep in mind, Sand storms aren't really dangerous, just dusty, really dusty.

No Greenery.

This soldier had his wife send him some grass seed!

And lets not forget the separation from families.

A soldier hugs his family goodbye.

A soldier has his duty to defend our country here and abroad. We honor that duty as a military family. May God bless them all. We love you!