From Dan Williams

Figured it was about time for another update. If this is the first update that you’ve received sorry, I had misplaced a list of folks that I just added to my list.

I’ve have finally reached my final destination and the majority of the rest of my unit has arrived. It now actually feels like the deployment is getting started. Things aren’t as bad and down here as I was expecting from the stories. Though I was spoiled after spending six weeks up in Baghdad.

We are currently living in Containerized Housing Units (CHUs), think of it as a big trailer park. Each trailer is divided into three rooms with their own entrance, window, and air conditioner. Each room is supposed to be shared by two people but we are slightly over strength here so we have three people per room. It doesn’t bother me much, but I’m one of the guys with a real bed!

Work right now for us is in a big warehouse style building. Everything is new and we are still trying to get situated. Rumor is we will be moving to the connected building shortly so hopefully we will get that over with soon so we can get settled and everything. I'm also transitioning to night shifts so today and tomorrow are going to be filled with lots of Mountain Dew. I'm usually not too picky about my work schedule but I think I'll enjoy working nights. Its still a 12 hour shift but there should be less brass (officers) around.

Outside of work and our CHUs, things are still fairly bare. There is a PX but the shelves are empty most of the time. There is no coffee shop, but we have two Subways, a couple of internet café trailers, and a few local shops.

The British also have a restaurant set up, which supposedly we are going to keep open; they have burgers, milkshakes, etc. It looks like a northern Wisconsin bar, kind of cool. There is an Auntie Anne’s pretzel place but I haven’t found it yet, then again I haven’t been looking for it. Slowly but surely the base is being Americanized. Everyday more T-walls go up and things are getting built.

The weather here has been nice, however it’s getting warmer. The high temp has been right around 100 degrees for the last couple of days, and it looks like we are going to hit 109 on Tuesday. Fun times! A lot of dust/sand in the air and when it rains it is muddy rain that smells like mold, its kind of disgusting.

It appears packages are taking about a week from the states. For those that haven’t mailed things overseas before, the post office offers a discounted flat rate priority mail box for APOs. I don’t remember how much it costs to mail, but it is usually the best deal since the weight doesn't matter. Please package things well as the boxes get tossed around quite a bit, bag any liquid bottles, and you’ll have to fill out a customs form (it’s fairly easy).

I’ve been asked by quite a few people for things that they could send that I would enjoy. Basically anything I get will get shared with folks I work with or hang out with, here are some things that go over well: Individual packaged snacks, candy (no chocolate – it melts too fast), drink packets for water bottles, those foiled packed tuna packages, crackers, seasonal candy and decorations, current magazines, girl scout cookies, microwave popcorn, normally I would say no hygiene products but the PX sucks here so they would probably be appreciated by some.

For right now the best way to communicate with me is via email. I might be on FaceBook every once in a while, but I know I won’t be online to chat via AIM or anything. I also plan on responding to any letters so feel free to try and keep me busy!

No links to any pictures this time around, as I've only taken a couple and still have to figure out the best way to get them online. Thumb drives are banned right now. I'll try to have pictures next update, which should be about a month, unless something exciting happens. If you are curious about anything, ask, and I will try to answer it.

Keep it Real and thanks for the support!

Dan