KUWAIT CITY

At the Grand Mosque 

Today we went on an MWR trip into Kuwait City. Our first stop was the Grand Mosque, the 7th largest Mosque in the World.  First all the females in our group had to don the traditional black veiled dresses ... I know Adam will be disappointed they didn't sell any of these in the gift shop, sorry hon looks like I have to keep shopping at J.Crew.  

The main prayer room can hold up to 10,000 people at one time.  During Ramadan, the mosque utilizes all of it's extra spaces including courtyards, the parking garage and a nearby football stadium to accommodate up to 170,000 people.

Ceiling

Some writings from the Koran

The Dome

Beautiful tiling and Chandeliers

Hand Carved 

A hand Carved section of the ceiling in the Amir's special room. 

Fountain outside of the Mosque 

At the top of the Kuwait Towers, Right before we ate the BEST LUNCH EVER!!!!!
( Okay probably not EVER but the best lunch we've had in KUWAIT)  

Dining In

Boot JO and Bull Ensign

EMF-K (expeditionary medical facility - Kuwait) got together for a night of good food, funny jokes, and roasting each other with various toasts and of course the obligatory uniform changes!

I let Rausa borrow my transitional object for a prop ... 

Original Camp Virginia Ladies!! 

Loves beer just as much as the real bella =) 

Finally, edible food.  

Me and Danika 

Me and the DNS (Director for Nursing Services) 

Rausa and I won a CAMEL Award for our brave and valiant attempt to travel with the Army Infantry Battalion into Iraq. 

Dorothy & Toto

Pretty Similar

December

December went by quickly here in the desert.  We started the month off with some helicopter and medevac training that I coordinated with NAAD (Naval Air Ambulance Detachment) out of Camp Beurhing.  

The Crew Chief giving the group some instructions .. 

Me with the Helo landing behind. 

View of Kuwait from the helicopter.  

In Flight 

 

We also had to represent in advance of the Army Navy game .. Two of my Navy friends (Jerry & Russ) and I snuck into the Command Cell to raise this flag!!!! Sadly the Army Sergeant on duty caught us so the flag only flew for a few minutes.  

 

Julie & Olivia sent a gingerbread kit which
added holiday cheer to the clinic!

It's a little bare looking but I added tinsel that Aunt Susan sent,
candy canes from mom and two ornaments that Adam's mom sent!  

The CO, XO and CMC made their holiday rounds and handed out stockings that various churches had donated from the states.  We actually have received a ridiculous amount of goodies in the mail.  Danika and I are desperately trying to give away all the cookies, candy & fudge before we start looking like Santa Clause ourselves.  

Care package from Mom!!!! 

Me and Captain Iverson,  CO of EMFK

Getting our stockings from the CO

The TMC crew with Master Chief aka Santa posing in front

However, my favorite part of December involved none of the above events.  It was a true miracle that Danika and I were fortunate enough to witness one evening as were driving back from Camp Beurhing to our home, Camp Virginia.   We passed what appeared to be a very tired mom and possibly a baby camel in the desert!  We did a U-turn to verify if that was really what we saw and sure enough the baby camel had JUST been born.  For those of you that are squeamish, I won't go into the details of how we knew the birth had just happened but I'll say it was VERY obvious.  

Me with Mom & Newborn baby camel =) 

The mom realized how close I was to her baby and started to get up .... 

So cute!!!!!!! 

Awesome desert picture!  A true Christmas miracle!! 

Thanksgiving Week

This is the week we all reflect on things we are grateful for.  I have so much to give thanks for in my life.  On top of a wonderful husband, family & friends I am also grateful to be safe, healthy and have supportive friends and co-workers out here in Kuwait.  I am not in danger and I am able to provide medical care and support to those soldiers, sailors and marines that are going in or coming out of theatre (Iraq & Afghanistan).   Surprisingly Camp Virginia did not have a turkey trot (although we have races for every other obscure event) so the girls and I created our own Turkey Trot.  Danika and Becky ran 8 miles and I continued on for 2 more to run 10 miles. At first Danika was a little upset at us for dragging her along but in the end she was glad we did it =)

After our run!!! 

Then the three of us served chow for over an hour to all the troops in the DFAC.  The third country nationals who work at the chow hall went overboard with decorations.  Although most of the decorations were a little obscure (mermaid, statue of liberty, donkey) the effort they took to carve and design these things was very admirable.

Turkey and little chicks made out of butter

Becky with the donkey ... ????!!! 

Danika and I with some turkeys ...

Mermaid out of butter .... 

Serving food ... 

Once we got our hats to stay on our heads we were on a roll ... 

Overall it was a fun and relaxing day off from work.  So thankful to have these girls to spend the holidays with out here in Kuwait.