Wednesday, 9 Jun 2010

Travel day...
It started the night before, where, because my body is not quite used to changing sleep schedules, I did NOT sleep Tuesday night. So, I stayed up watching movies until it was time to get up and moving. I headed to the bus for the airport early in the morning - knowing only what time I needed to muster (who, what, where, etc.. UNKNOWN) - yeah...
So - we get dropped off at the airport.. and I mean dropped off. Thats it. I am on my own (I say we, because there were a few other people heading to the airport, as well). SO - we get there and I take all (4) of my seabags off the bus and set them aside. We are told to check in at blah blah and so I did, where they scanned my ID and that was that. From that point on - there was NO guidance for me.. NONE. I had no idea where to check in, who to talk to, and everyone seemed to give me different stories of what I needed. Yeah - the LNO Afghan desk.. NO HELP! Thank you very much!
So I finally find the right place, move all my bags, and am where I need to be atleast for the next few hours..
When the ROLL call comes for my flight, my name is NOT called.. so I (at this point, tired, hot and hungry) get upset and go to the counter where they tell me I am in a different category - but on the flight.. go to the next counter... so I go to the other counter and sure enough.. I am booked.. (WAS ANYONE GOING TO LET ME KNOW THIS???) okay.. so - I find out I'm on.. now.. just a couple more hours and we muster again.. The next time we muster its time to take out bags over to be palletized. At this point I met COL Bruzese, who, with the help of Master Sergeant - helps me with my bags and informs me she is also at NKC..So, she fills me in on NKC and instantly takes me under her wings.. She was also on this flight. SO - bags are palletized, we are bussed over, where we find out there is mech probs and there will be a 2 hr delay!! OMG.. so we get bussed back to tents.. to wait.. I sleep.. yes.. finally.. a couple hours of rest..
1830 rolls around and we are briefed that our flight is canx. OMG.. the fiasco starts.
First off, there is no food over here.. (well.. okay.. vienna sausages.. pizza with no flavor (which you have to pay $11.00 for) BUT plenty of warm water and gatorade!!
So - flight canx.. now what.. I am told to go to this counter, nope wrong counter, go back to other counter, nope.. back to LSO counter.. OMG.. can someone please give me a straight fucking answer? I need to know what to do, where can I eat.. where do I sleep.. SOMETHING people!! FUCK!
At this point, I am soo tired, hot and frustrated, I called my mom and the minute I heard her voice, I just broke down crying. Crying out of frustration, you name it. I could NOT get ahold of any of the 3 POCs I had to rebook my flight to Thurs.. no one was giving me answers.. no one was helping.. PLUS we had to now DEpalletize our bags and drag them somewhere else.. AGAIN! I am in a foreign country, and in unfamiliar circumstances. I have never felt more ALONE than I did on this day.. I think I have said I felt alone, but yesterday, completely on my own in a foreign place, and not knowing where I was going to sleep or when I would actually get out of here.. it hit me. I broke down like a baby with my mom for about 20 minutes.. I just cried.. cried so much I couldn't talk.. it was rediculous.. but much needed.. before I WENT OFF on the multiple people I got NO help from yesterday. INCLUDING soldiers walking right by me, seeing me try to carry 2 seabags at a time - weighing as much as me.. and taller than me.. without offering to help. (Fortunately at one point there was 1 guy that helped me carry 1 of my seabags across to another tent earlier in the day..) - NOT that I am saying they are douche bags for not offering.. I know.. equality and such.. but.. chivalry, ehh? what happened to it..
Anyhow, ERRGH.. COL to the rescue. Her and MSGT helped again, then she took me to the billeting tent to get overnight billeting.. and then we all 3 went to the DFAC to eat.. then planned to meet at 0800 Thurs for the morning brief.
So - FINALLY.. I get a little rest. I was woke about every 2 hours, but it was sleep none the less and a SHOWER! Yes, MSGT helped carry my bags to my tent.. THANK GOD for the two of them!! OMGosh!! THANK GOD for them!
AS far as Thursdays travel.. well, its all yet to be determined.. I have gotten a hold of everyone and hopefully had everything changed.. so.. we will see.. will blog about it later!