Getting to the International Zone

Well, before I actually got my actual game on, I had to get to the place where I will work: the International Zone which lies around twelve kilometers east of BIAP/Camp Victory. For the majority of us who arrived today, ultimate work assignments were in Camp Victory proper. Some were met by representatives of the various offices and activities they where here to work for and were shuttled off in small vehicles. For those of us going to the International Zone we were informed we had to board a shuttle to nearby Camp Stryker and arrange further transportation to the IZ. A quick review of articles in the media about getting around Iraq shows a constant theme: hurry up and wait. When our small group arrived at Camp Stryker at approximately 0830, we were informed the Rhino shuttle, a convoy armored buses wouldn’t leave until the early hours of the next day. Ironic that the last twelve or so kilometers would take nearly twenty hours to cross. With lots of time to kill, our group first acquired space in a transient tent to relax and catch up on some sleep. Later, we ventured into the camp and stopped in the food court area since we missed breakfast at the DFAC. After the early lunch I dozed in the tent for three hours to catch up on sleep.

We spent the day walking around Camp Stryker, alternately visiting the small food court area, the PX, and the transient waiting lounge/tent (nicknamed, "The Stables"). At 2000 we formally signed up for the Rhino. The lounge was full of other transients, both civilian and military, also waiting to get to the Green Zone. I played cards with two women who work for Kellog, Brown & Root (KBR), a contractor who provides major services support for the Green Zone. One was finance manager and the other was a contracted fire fighter who was returning from a vacation in Australia with her boyfriend, also a KBR firefighter but who is assigned to Baghram, Afghanistan. We only had time for a short game when, in the early morning hours of 11 NOV, the Rhino convoy arrived.