6 years later, and the main "gateway" in Kuwait looks exactly the same. We traveled all day FRI/SAT in a haze of airplanes and windowless airport terminals. If not for the plane windows, I would have had no idea if it were day or night. All of our group made it, as did our bags, so minimal complaints.
My first "back in the suck" experience came quick. A 200m walk from our tent to the latrine & showers. Ugh. We've been spoiled in El Paso. I walked through the door and was punched in the face by the smell. Not necessarily horrible, in comparison, but oddly familiar. Just etched into my brain, waiting to be triggered once again. Like when people who messed with LSD in the past talk about a unexpected trip when they crack their neck or back stretching. Lines of individual showers with wooden benches in the middle of the room. A LBG wearing a blue uniform hosing the floor and showers down and using an industrial squeegee to push the residue down the drain.
All of the gross things Service Members don't need (McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, and a donut shop) are readily available. I am beginning to remember how Soldiers get fat and sick from these places. "They provide the comfort of home and keep Soldier's morale up." False. Fat, sick, lame, and gross.
The big difference is civilians. They are everywhere. Who are these people? Clad in cargo pants and polo shirts. Are they CIA doing the dirty work? Are they contractors here to drive trucks and facilitate our withdrawal? Are they a big group of weird looking, overweight, long haired, gnarly bearded, tattooed creepsters? Yup.
Hopefully we are out of here soon and on our way to the next black hole pit stop. Happy Halloween from the Middle East. Let the party begin.
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