liberty port

We just enjoyed three days in Cartagena, Colombia for our liberty port {vacation} and are now in Panama. I celebrated my 'hump day' the first day we were there. I will be home before I know it, and I'm not at all ready for that reality yet.

We stuffed each day with as much as possible. The first day we were there I was 'voluntold' to go to the Mil to Mil reception at the officer's club. I like parties but I didn't think I wanted to go. I wanted to be poolside and enjoying the non-ship life. It turned out to be a really fun night full of dancing and adventure; including but not limited to a swim in the ocean in my party clothes and a taxi ride with a destination unclear to the driver and no way to communicate it other than miming waves and saying 'naval base' with a lot of different inflections in my voice until by chance I saw the gate as we zoomed down the street Top Gear style. Taxis are 5000 pesos no matter where we wanted to go. {$2.50}

The part of Cartagena known as the Old City is a surrounded by a stone wall and is very pretty. It felt like a movie set, like this was someones interpretation of what a city street should look like in Colombia. It was the lack of electrical wires or garbage throwing me off. The streets are jam packed with vendors and people. Lots of music and commotion and even though it is a really old city and there is that wonderful ancient culture, there is also an undercurrent with a trendy vibe coming from the ultra cool restaurants and designer shops lined up in perfectly manicured buildings. The street vendors on the sidewalk outside strike up this crazy contrast that made each corner turned a surprise because I never knew what to expect: old cathedral, designer bags, or a street vendor selling lime aide or candied goods in large glass jars.

We went on an MWR tour the second day to an island beach club on a yacht. It wasn't really a yacht, and it wasn't really a beach club. Fine Colombian advertising at its very best. But we had a great day regardless. I snorkeled for the first time and had fun playing in the water for hours. The boat ride to and from was a lot of fun too. Dance contests and beautiful sites. We were learning how to salsa on the way home and I didn't have a partner so I danced with the instructor. It was fun if I ignored the fact that he was yelling into the microphone what not to do based on what I was doing. 'Don't move like a mechanical.' Oh man.

The third and final day we started early by touring a castle, then we wandered the city for hours and hours. Over 12 hours if we are counting. It was incredibly hot, something like a 105 degree heat index. That is super hot and humid.

My fixation with finding the perfect souvenir while growing up has been replaced with finding pictures that will remind me of the way I felt while visiting a place. It is a lot less expensive and frustrating, and a whole lot more gratifying in the end. I think this next picture of the baby is in my top 5 favorite. He was so happy to be hanging around with his mom who was one of the many vendors in one of the plazas.

One of my favorite things about this trip was having my mom with me. We have been having a blast.

If I got stuck in Colombia {if I, oops, missed the boat} I would set up shop selling limes on the street during the day then make and sell jewelry at night. My friend told me I was over qualified for the position but I told him I thought I'd probably have a lot to learn before I was able to live off of my lime stand.

ship life

Meet my adopted brother, Sgt Chad Rix. Along with people putting it together that my mom is here, I get questioned all the time, 'Is that vet guy your husband or your brother?' Neither, but I'll gladly take him as a brother, he is super cool and hooks us up with pineapple and other good stuff from his adventures out with the animals.

My dad has been asking for more photos of my mom. Here you go dad.

It has become tradition to go fishing as the ministry team when the army chaplain leaves after his 3 week rotation. We've had two come and go now and expect a new arrival in Columbia. We haven't caught anything yet, but we have a good time. I am reading a book on U.S. Denominations to keep up with all the religions I'm being exposed to.

I haven't shared photos from the interior of the ship because, honestly, the inside is dark and not aesthetically pleasing. A designer's nightmare. But like everything else about the experience, I love it for what it is, {utilitarian at its finest} Since it is a pretty unique way of life I thought you guys might like to see some of it.

The days are predictable, but not in a bad way.

0600 - 'Reveille Reveille. All hands turn out and trice up. Breakfast for the crew.'

This is how we are woken up. If you can sleep through the 'call aways' that while we are in port start as early as 0445 and continue throughout the day. Call aways are the announcements made an hour before a boat departs and goes something like this, 'Call away, call away, now mustering Alpha Bravo 27 in CAS REC' which means boat 27 for Antigua is meeting in Casualty Receiving to call off the names on the manifest and you better be there or Gunny will be an angry marine.

The next announcement will be at 0730 'Quarters for muster. Submit muster reports to Admin by 0830' which means you'd better be where you muster because they are calling roll and then reading the POD {plan of the day}

I'm usually a little late to everything in the morning in real life, but walking in a little late to muster is like asking for a good stare down. So my morning exercise is running from the mess deck to Admin at around 0728 to slide in right as this announcement is being made.

This is the 3 aft level of the ship. This is where the Chaplain's office, chapel, self serve laundry, officer's lounge, barber shop and MSC berthing can be found. After muster in Admin I come downstairs with RP2, RP3 and we sweep and swab the decks and vacuum the Officer Lounge.

At 0800 and 1500 every day an announcement is made:

Sweepers, Sweepers man your brooms

Give this ship a clean sweep down

For and Aft

Sweep down all the lower decks, ladder wells and passage ways

Hold all trash on stations

Now sweepers

We are usually done with our cleaning before they call this out, but if you are traveling around the ship during this time you'll see people everywhere cleaning. Very motivational.

After we are done cleaning we hang around the office and chat until Chaps is done with his 0730 meeting then we have our morning ministry meeting. Chaps lets us know what is coming up, they plan the worship services and we talk about the day. It is a nice way to start the day with a prayer and some laughs.

Next time, I'll show you berthing, chow, and a plethora of scenes from day to day life on board the USNS Comfort T-AH-20

last day in Anitgua

It is our last day in Antigua. Tomorrow we are on our way to Columbia where we will have three days of vacation. Also while we are there I will hit my half way mark and will be home before I know it.

I don't want to think about that just yet. I'm not ready to be done, and don't know if I'll be any more ready at the end of July, although I am excited to get back to school in the fall.

When I started playing with the idea of doing something in between semesters I couldn't have imagined falling into such an amazing opportunity. I feel a little like a broken record when I say this has been the most incredible experience. I feel a huge responsibility to do my small part to the fullest to make this mission a success.

If you want to read more about what we have been up to {other than this blog and the cp2009 blog} The Church News also has an article on Continuing Promise 2009.

Mail Call, Mail Call

olCHEFski, You asked for a eulogy, and I've tried to think of something wonderfully articulate and moving, but I can only come up with inappropriate things like 'you might think you can eat more hot dogs than me, but you can't'. It isn't nice to rub short comings in the face of the eulogised.

The COMREL last week was enjoyable, even with lack of planning. We ended up at a rest home when we should have been at a boy's school doing yard work, but I was ok with the mix up. There were a few buildings with rows of beds for the residents in each, and an overall peaceful atmosphere. I liked the airy openness to the rooms allowing birds to fly in and wander around. Angel is one of my new friends I made during our visit.

A new aspect to my days: I'm a mail orderly now. {Not to be confused with a male orderly. Easily done as Chaps tried to wrap his head around how I might be suited for that position.}

I was asked to pick up the mail for our group {LDS Charities} and what I thought would be just as easy as walking in and asking for the mail turned into forms, signatures, and some light training. I could find myself in prison, or fined heavily, should I do any number of things that I don't plan on doing like giving someone a piece of mail not addressed to them, tampering with stamps, et al.

What does my tattoo say, you may be wondering. 'Property of the United States Navy' and below is 'small package'. The other arm: spoiled, fragile, and do not bend.

Happy Mother's Day from St. John's, Antigua!

Amazingly enough I didn't see my mom for an entire day, and then some. I last saw her Thursday night before I went to work, then we somehow missed each other all day Friday. I went out on a COMREL early Saturday morning and finally hunted her down after dinner when I get back. Once I found her we headed for the weather decks to relax and enjoy the sunset.

Being the cool lady that she is, she has volunteered to work nights in the ICU. True she has had years of practice doing the night owl thing. But at home it was common knowledge that 8 - 10 pm was her time to sleep and slamming doors or talking loud wasn't permitted. Then she had the house to herself when we'd go off to work and school.

It is a little different here on the USNS Comfort because the 1MC {announcements} goes off for everything from 'Serial Call Aways' starting at 5 am, scheduled announcements like "Sweepers, Sweepers...." and then the constant random paging of personnel and calls for trash to be taken to the incinerator or the trash barge...

How will she get any sleep?? If anyone can pull this off and still have a smile on their face, it is my mom. She has super human patience, as has been tested raising a child like me. {Ben was the good kid.}

This photo is from last Sunday. We had an UNREP {underway replenish} which means fresh fruit and veggies again. It was fun to watch the helo fly back and forth with pallets, all the while we were hooked up {see the lines?} getting 500,000 gallons of fuel.

I'm so glad my mom is here with me to celebrate Mother's Day together. Since I talked about her coming for the last month, her reputation preceded her. It is a common thing to hear, 'Oh hey Jenna's Mom!' And we get questions and jokes all the time. The Vet Tech on board happens to have the same last name and calls her Mom too. I'm happy to share cuz she is The Coolest.

Happy Mother's Day to all you bloggers back home too. Grandma, I love you! Vicky, Michele - I'm so lucky to have aunts like you! {and to all my great aunts who check in - I love you guys too!} Coree, Cara, Heather, Devry, Lindee {your pets count as kids right?} - Bloggn cousins rock! {still wishing Linnea and Danielle would jump on the bloggn wagon!}

Jax, Shan, Jen, Amy, Peach - I've been impressed with each of you as you've started your families and are raising your sweet, cute kids.

Don't think I forgot you Kwona. You are a rockstar. You are the amazing mother to my very most favorite kids in the whole wide world. You are wonderful.

I'm taking notes from each of you, I love you all!

sittin at the dock of the bay

We went to shore for a ceremony {more on the at ContinuingPromise2009 shortly} and afterwards I was talking to a couple of the Navy guys when the ACE team NCIS agent came up and told them he needed their help to drop off generators to one of the work sites. I asked if they needed a NUB to come along {non-essential useless body}. Of course.

We dropped off the equipment at a school then went on our merry way. We were hungry {when am I not hungry?} so Pete, the NCIS guy, {I wasn't as celebrity stricken this time around} took us to a road side shack for some of Antigua's fantastic fare.

Going with my customary 'give me your favorites' the woman there said in her lyrical drawl 'Watch me keenly, I show you the best.' and filled my 'walk away' with rice, chicken curry, lasagna, and mac n cheese with curry sauce drizzled all over the whole thing. I also had ox tail and conch meat. {who knew you could eat those things?} The very best part of the meal was the Banana Pancakes {top left corner}. I have a new appreciation for that Jack Johnson song now.

From my blog you might get the idea that it is all play and no work {no comment from you Santa Da'rell!}. But the work feels like play. We spent the afternoon at the clinic in the GYN area. My mom was screening patients as well as escorting them to the doctors. I was transferring them to radiology, the lab, or pharmacy. I didn't think I'd get a chance to work in the clinics being a non-medical volunteer so yesterday was a treat to play with the kids and talk with the women. We laughed a lot trying to understand each other's English.

I usually only sing 'sittin at the dock of the bay' whilst making icecream shakes but I hummed it to myself yesterday while I soaked in the sun waiting for our ride back to the USNS Comfort {I'm going to start calling the ship by it's full name so my blog will ping on google searches}

milling about smartly

'milling about smartly' is a term used to define looking busy. I was doing just that yesterday morning, I'm pretty good at it I think. I spent some time looking out at Antigua wishing I was there, then wandered the ship running small errands that, for the most part, are made up to give me something to do. I decided to make a stop in CASREC since there was a group getting ready to get on a boat and it is entertaining to listen to Gunny yell at people. He was yelling out the names of those going, checking them off on the manifest, so I headed off to my next destination and was just around the corner when I heard him yell out my name. Me? I went back to see if I'd heard right and the Lieutenant in charge of the NGOs on board told me he'd put me on the list.
I ran downstairs, grabbed my pack and an MRE from my locker and boarded the boat.

Antigua is pretty, but I'm sure you could have guessed that. The town is relaxed in the way you would expect a resort cruise liner port to be. Lots of tourists, vendors, reggae music, dogs, those awesome colors I'm in love with, that until now, have only lived in my idea of what the Caribbean should look like. I'm not disappointed in the slightest.

We had some time to kill before we were meeting with the senior missionaries so Rob and I ventured out and wandered the streets. I liked this vendor, I resisted taking a picture of her because they don't like it, so I took a picture of the saying on the side of her cart instead.

I've been good. I haven't even tried to touch or catch any of the creatures I've seen, no matter how tempting.

On the way back to the Comfort we got hit by one of those fast moving rainstorms that pop up once a day in the afternoons. I was soaked in a matter of seconds since I was sitting in the uncovered part. Dave, the captain, said I could stand up next to him so I enjoyed the rest of the trip with an amazing, but a little blurry, view of the cliffs and stormy green seas. The temp of the water? 82 degrees. I really wish I would have fallen overboard.

COMREL and shipmates

Angie, me, Sloane and Rachel. We have a lot of fun together when we're not working in our various places around the ship {when we're working we're still having fun, don't read that the wrong way}. If I'm ever in need of a friend I can make a sweep of the ship and find at least one of them hanging around the places we like to spend our downtime. Fantail, sun deck, bow, flight deck, and our new favorite: aft tower {or Masada as my mom nicknamed it last night}.

The first COMREL {community relations project} in Dom Rep was a fun day for me. The volunteers from the ship included a group from the laundry/ship store/vending machine crew. We met up with a group from the US Embassy as well as a few people from the Peace Corps.

We were bused to a park about a half hour away from the BLZ {boat loading zone} where we planted trees {my favorite part cuz I love playing in the dirt}, painted a playground, cleaned up the river banks and picked up trash. It is a beautiful park that takes maybe five minutes to drive by and has paths along the river and all kinds of plants and trees I've never seen before.

We had a BBQ and listened to the Air Force Rock Band rock out when we were all done cleaning up. The band is really good and the crowd went nuts when they played some popular Spanish songs. Imagine two pavilions set up on top of a hill overlooking countryside. The band was under one rockin out, and the crazy crowd under the other one. It started pouring at one point and everyone just kept dancing and singing along.

I have lost count of the times during a day where I look around and smile and think, 'This is my life.'

Temple trip in Dominican Republic

We got super lucky and had an over night liberty in Dominican Republic. This wasn't supposed to happen, but I'll be forever grateful it did. I didn't realize how much I needed to get off the ship until I was in the taxi bus on the way to the Temple grounds.

The buses really set the mood for the place by blasting awesome Latin music and swerving in and out of the hectic traffic.

Food. One day my metabolism is going to slow down and I'm going to be in trouble. I ate all that food, plus some of Angie's.

This could have been one of the most embarrassing moments for me, had I been more aware of what was going on.

These are all things I noticed and registered a little too late: The band that was sitting in the shade when we first walked into the courtyard were now lined up ready to go, people were gathering around the stone archway leading from the street into the courtyard, news type cameras were all pointed towards the opening, everyone was looking in the same direction...

My focus to make me oblivious: I couldn't see my friends anymore and caught a glimpse of one of them crossing the street on the other side of the stone entrance. We have told repeatedly not to be alone. I wasn't going to be the first to mysteriously disappear. {I never felt in danger, just trying to obey the rules}

I made my way through the crowd and into the cool shade of the wall and started to notice the above mentioned clues that something was going down.

I knew I was playing the part of the ignorant tourist when I noticed I was one of four people in the dark passage way. The two guards we had passed coming in, and a very tall man wearing what I can only assume to be the uniform of a very important military man. Clues: Shiny devices on his lapels, a gang of ribbons and badges on his chest, a very straight posture and super shiny shoes..

He met my eye and I smiled and held my head high. I knew then that I'd ruined his 'grand entrance' by being the backside of some white girl in the photo op so I might as well be friendly right?

The street market where we hung around for an hour or so shopping, soaking in the chill vibe of the Caribbean, and of course I was snapping shots of the architecture and anything colorful.

This place is a designer's dream. The vibrant layered colors on old crumbling stucco, the murals, the pairing of old with new. I have a new source of inspiration to add to my other favorite places: desert and asian. What a combo right?

I am so proud to call the Comfort home for 3 more months. Getting off and doing my own thing for a bit reminded me how grateful I am to have this chance to be here.

We {Rachel, Sloane, Angie and myself - I have a photo, but of course it won't load} laid around on the spongy grass and chatted when we first arrived at the Temple grounds. Great view and it even rained just enough to break up the sweltering humidity with full on humidity} We were able to stay at the MTC {$3 a night} and we all had really neat experiences while there meeting the people and enjoying the peace inside the temple.