Hotel Kabul!

“Last thing I remember, I was running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before. “Relax,” said the night man, “We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!”….WELCOME TO THE HOTEL KABUL!

The other day one of my girlfriends asked about my room. I thought, well others maybe curious too, so I decided to make that my topic for this week. Relative to other places in Afghanistan we have it pretty good. Our accommodations are nice, again relative to where we are. I share a room with another officer. There is enough space for each of us to have a bed, two lockers, a night stand, and a desk. That is it. Most of the equipment I was issued is under my bed. I keep my shoes and a bag of my civilian clothes under there as well. I only have a few shirts and two pairs of jeans that I haven’t even looked at since mid-June. My uniforms hang in my tall locker along with my body armor and my M4. In the other locker I have my workout clothes, lounging clothes (PJ’s), toiletries, and a few snacks.

I am in a NATO billet (job) so we get free internet in our rooms, up to a certain amount each week. Although I have no idea what the limit is. I haven’t ever run out. I only use the internet to call home in the evenings. For TV I download what I want to watch to my phone via the Amazon Prime App while I’m in the gym (there is free WiFi in there). Although I watch little to no TV in my room. When I get back in the evenings I call home, take a quick rinse off shower, and read for about 30 minutes before I fall asleep. I mostly watch TV while I’m biking or for a few minutes here and there while I’m getting ready.

The best part of my room is my bed. Sleep is important and I want to make sure I’m as comfortable as possible. Before I even arrived here I ordered a memory foam mattress cover to have waiting for me when I got here. The person who slept there before me also left a foam mattress cover, so I kept that one as well and I have a double layer of comfort. I wanted to replicate what I really enjoy at home in my room. When I was in the Navy and living on a ship I had a bright pink queen sized mink blanket I purchased in Korea. Since I was limited on space I didn’t pack that amazing blanket, but I did order a similar one from Amazon. Although I still have the Korean blanket and it’s used often by anyone who wants to cuddle up in my basement at home. To complete my college dorm room motif I have two sets of very comfortable sheets, one set is purple the other is bright green. At home every night before I go to sleep I read my book laying on a heating pad, so of course I have a heating pad I use while reading. Then to finish the necessities for sleep I have a small fan, I went with purple again to keep the college dorm feel. I also have a defuser that I put essentials oils in a to enjoy while I’m reading and getting ready for bed.  So to sum up my sleeping arrangements, think college dorm. There is a room with 7 individual showers and another room for a bathroom. There is a local Afghan woman who cleans that area for us.

From when we knew I was leaving until I left Timyra slept with a bear and gave it lots of hugs and kisses. They sent me the bear in the first package I received from home. I sleep with that bear every night and it protects my room while I’m gone. The bear is missing an eye, and I remember when his eye came off, Timyra was so upset. I told her I still love the bear and it is the best cuddle buddy while I’m gone.

Today was a particularly tough day for so many reasons I can’t even begin to get into any of them and certainly not all of them. What I do know is that I have a little piece of home in my room waiting for me every night. I call home and see everyone’s face. Then I rinse off, at least the water is nice and warm and then I cuddle into my bed. What I’m learning is that this place can’t take what is really important from me away. I maybe far away and it maybe a really long time (or what feels like a long time) before I get to see them again. But in the mean time I have a bear, a pink mink blanket, a heating pad, a small purple fan, and a really great group of people praying for me every day and with that I’ll make it!

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL KABUL!….“Last thing I remember, I was running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before. “Relax,” said the night man, “We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, but I know sooner than I know it they will let me leave!”