For my current news, you can also check the Project hope blog.
http://www.projecthopeinthefield.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
more....
The other thing that is funny is that when we board the LCU in the evenings, many Haitians come out and stand along our line to watch the crazy foreigners wade through water to get on the boat. They get a laugh from the uniforms paired with crocs/water shoes.
Man Overboard
Just typed blog and then internet went away, arrrrggggghhhh. Now it'll be a itemized list.
1. woke up before 6am with a man overboard alarm. Everyone ran down in their pjs. ended up one of guys on flight deck pulled the overboard string activator on his vest.
2. started clinic 2 days ago. going well. yesterday was super busy. our team of 10 providers saw 250 patients.
3. day off today. so nice not to be sweaty.
Still having fun. Get to wade through knee to thigh high water each night to board the LCU boat back to the ship. Everyone has wet shoes and pants. more later.....
1. woke up before 6am with a man overboard alarm. Everyone ran down in their pjs. ended up one of guys on flight deck pulled the overboard string activator on his vest.
2. started clinic 2 days ago. going well. yesterday was super busy. our team of 10 providers saw 250 patients.
3. day off today. so nice not to be sweaty.
Still having fun. Get to wade through knee to thigh high water each night to board the LCU boat back to the ship. Everyone has wet shoes and pants. more later.....
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Update
No posts in a while as it's been hard to get on email. We just got access yesterday and I haven't had a chance to get online. I'm having a great time. Living the military life for a month! Sleeping on bunks in female berthing, eating in the officer's mess and trying to find my way around the ship. It's an adventure! The people aboard are so friendly and helpful. Everyone loves to show us what they do or take us to see something cool on the ship.
I'm sleeping a lot better as I get used to the close sleeping quarters. The food is great (for real!). Since leaving Miami we have had amazing fresh fruit. I'm told as the trip progresses the good stuff gets used up. :)
Got to stand up on the flight deck as we left Miami with all the other soliders. Avoided a tropical storm that fizzled out. We had helicopter safety class 2 days before our first flight.
We arrived yesterday in Haiti. I was the only one from Project Hope to go ashore. It's been a challenge in flexibility. Hung out at the UN compound all day. Today we spent the day trying to get to our place, long bus ride, helping unload material. Tomorrow we start seeing patients.
What is the coolest thing I've done? . . . . First day, riding in the CH-46 helo. Google it. Twin rotors. Amazing. Get to put on life vest and "cranium" with googles, ear covers, helmet. Very cool! But today it got even better. We were pulled by the Capt. to take the MH-60 Blackhawk back to the ship tonight. THE COOLEST THING I'VE EXPERIENCED. So cool to see the USS Iwo Jima from the open windows and land. Hard day today, but it was worth it for that experience. Last night we came back late and got to take the LCU back. Waded in knee deep water to climb aboard and head back to ship. Look this boat up. Goes into the back of the Iwo Jima.
Overall, great experience. People I'm with are great, lots of laughs. Ate my first MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) yesterday and not that bad. Actually pretty good. It's like a present opening it up to see what treats are included inside.
I won't be able to blog very often, but the ship has a blog on the mission that might be kept more up to date. Google "Continuing Promise 2010" or USS Iwo Jima.
www.southcom.mil/appssc/factfiles.php:id=155 (maybe?)
Lots more observations and stories, but I need to go to bed as we have to "muster" (meet) at 6am to board the LCU to head to shore.
Hope everyone is well!
I'm sleeping a lot better as I get used to the close sleeping quarters. The food is great (for real!). Since leaving Miami we have had amazing fresh fruit. I'm told as the trip progresses the good stuff gets used up. :)
Got to stand up on the flight deck as we left Miami with all the other soliders. Avoided a tropical storm that fizzled out. We had helicopter safety class 2 days before our first flight.
We arrived yesterday in Haiti. I was the only one from Project Hope to go ashore. It's been a challenge in flexibility. Hung out at the UN compound all day. Today we spent the day trying to get to our place, long bus ride, helping unload material. Tomorrow we start seeing patients.
What is the coolest thing I've done? . . . . First day, riding in the CH-46 helo. Google it. Twin rotors. Amazing. Get to put on life vest and "cranium" with googles, ear covers, helmet. Very cool! But today it got even better. We were pulled by the Capt. to take the MH-60 Blackhawk back to the ship tonight. THE COOLEST THING I'VE EXPERIENCED. So cool to see the USS Iwo Jima from the open windows and land. Hard day today, but it was worth it for that experience. Last night we came back late and got to take the LCU back. Waded in knee deep water to climb aboard and head back to ship. Look this boat up. Goes into the back of the Iwo Jima.
Overall, great experience. People I'm with are great, lots of laughs. Ate my first MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) yesterday and not that bad. Actually pretty good. It's like a present opening it up to see what treats are included inside.
I won't be able to blog very often, but the ship has a blog on the mission that might be kept more up to date. Google "Continuing Promise 2010" or USS Iwo Jima.
www.southcom.mil/appssc/factfiles.php:id=155 (maybe?)
Lots more observations and stories, but I need to go to bed as we have to "muster" (meet) at 6am to board the LCU to head to shore.
Hope everyone is well!
Monday, July 12, 2010
The journey awaits
On Sunday, I depart for Miami and Monday morning we board the USS Iwo Jima for a month long rotation with Project Hope. I'm so excited as I have wanted to volunteer with Project Hope in the past, but never have had the opportunity to take time off work.
I don't know how often I'll have email access, so a blog will be the easiest way to let everyone know what's going on. I probably won't be able to upload photos, so those will come once I'm back.
If you want info on Project Hope, their website is: www.projecthope.org
Pictures of the ship: http://www.iwo-jima.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/AerialPhotos.aspx
Carpe Diem!
Matya
I don't know how often I'll have email access, so a blog will be the easiest way to let everyone know what's going on. I probably won't be able to upload photos, so those will come once I'm back.
If you want info on Project Hope, their website is: www.projecthope.org
Pictures of the ship: http://www.iwo-jima.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/AerialPhotos.aspx
Carpe Diem!
Matya
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)