This is it -- CHU 52C in B Pod. I do have cement barriers to keep me safe. They are supposed to keep out incoming rounds, but I am more concerned about being right at the corner of an intersection with military and civilian vehicles driving by at high speed all day and night.
Here is my "bedroom" with a blue blanket I bought at the local PX. They gave me all white stuff -- which got dirty during every dust storm. Underneath the bed are my duffel bags, shoes, shower slippers (who wants toe fungus), and hiking boots (can't wear them here, so I will probably send them home). Like my carpet remnant I bought at the PX? Cost me $4.99. And what about the wall paneling? It's paper-thin and filled with holes from the nails that previous occupants left for me.
Next to my bedroom is my combination "kitchen-laundry". I have a table, mini-refrigerator, mop and broom. Inside the fridge is water, diet soda, cereal and dried cuttlefish. Sounds like a bachelor, huh? My laundry is on the floor and the camelback in hanging on the wall (the only nail I left).
In the middle of my CHU are two wall lockers which separate my bedroom from the "spare bedroom", which doubles as a storage area. As I mentioned I don't have a CHU-mate, so I use the other bed as a closet by standing it up and hang clothes and drying towels on it. That leaves room for the spare bed/sofa/storage area -- a cot that I found.
Here is the busy street that is only 10 feet from my bed. Sure, it's noisy and dangerous, but at least I have a pallet of fresh wanter right outside my door (if I get run over, at least the blood will be washed off me).
- Looking the other way, you see my CHU with the door open, and the commander’s CHU next door, and more CHUs as far as the eye can see. I guess you can say I live in a “transitional” neighborhood. Sure glad that air conditioner works….especially since it is over 100 degrees every day from now until September.
The latrine and shower facilities for Soldiers are located everywhere across FOB Prosperity. In fact, one of them is even located on the 3rd floor balcony of the Al Salam Palace. All they would need is a window and you could look out over the city while you “sit on your throne.” Mine is only across the busy intersection and behind a row of T-walls.
Here is my "bathroom" -- a combination of a shower trailer here, and a latrine trailer next door. I'll take you in the shower trailer...you don't really need to see the toilets. Nice thing is that there KBR trailers have been inspected and repaired -- no more electrocutions!
Before my shower, I go to this end of the trailer to the sinks to shave and brush my teeth. They tell us not to use the water for brushing our teeth, but I do (I just swish and spit). So far, I have not gotten any weird diseases.
Inside the shower trailer at this end are 12 stalls. Empty now, but it is pretty crowded during rush hour.
There you have it — not as nice as what we have back home, but probably a lot better than most of the people in Iraq. What else could a Soldier ask for?
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Next week I will give you unclassified tour of our new CPIC location (including people in the pictures).