Kick'in Off the 2009 New Year!

Train Play

Nayeli playing with train.

Victoria Taking Her First Steps

Victoria taking her first steps.

Busy December

Reunited with family after long deployment

Vicky

I was able to make it back right on-time for Thanksgiving. I took some pictures of the girls. So much have changed!

Victoria Kiss
Oh oh
Red RAV4

I traded in my old Nissan Sentra for this Toyota RAV4. It gets the same gas mileage as my Sentra, yet it has 3rd row seating for a total of 7 passengers. The 3rd row and 2nd row folds down to make a flatbed. It's also a 4WD.

Compared to Soco's Ford Escape Hybrid, the Toyota RAV4 rides lower. I take it that because of its decrease in height, it gives it much better fuel economy compared to non-hybrids of its class. The RAV4 is roomier and it has a genious Japanese-like interior configuration of being able to transform to different seating configurations and hidden storage compartments. I found it interesting that with the 3rd row seating, there is still a small space for luggage in the rear, because when the seats are folded out, it creates additional space underneath and behind the seats, however I do not recommend putting tall or people weighing over 150 pounds back there.

We NEED Fly-Swatters!

There are a million flies and mosquito's here in Africa. It is so freak'in annoying. They find their way through every crevice and they love to land on human skin. Everytime I try to go to sleep, a stupid fly lands on my face. I can't wait to leave this place. And you know what? The base shop (Navy Exchange) is totally out of fly-swatters. I've never seen so many flies. There are fly traps set up by the chow hall and it has a layer of dead flies 3 inches thick! Holy crap.

A Day without a Djiboutian

A few days ago, I woke up and got out of my rack. The bathrooms were unusually dirty... hmm.. Oh well. Later, I walked to get some breakfast. The dirt road was completely empty from the usual hustle of laborers driving to and from work. I went to the laundry services hut and there was a burdonsome line backed out the door of people waiting to pickup or dropoff their laundry. Wow. So this is what a day without a Djiboutian is like.

They came back yesterday and services went back to normal again. Was this a dream?

Visiting Dr. Aba for the last time

Dr. Aba, his wife, me, Lisandro, and Dr. Marks eating at "Mukbasa 7 Freres" or "7 Brothers Fish"

They took us to "Mukbasa 7 Freres" when we suggested that we want to eat what Djiboutians eat. It was a nice place which felt like thousands of miles away from any American or French person.

Mukbasa (wood grilled fish), coka, Dates, Pan with bananas and chocolate

This dish is supposed to be cooked Yemenese Style. Wood grilled fish, dates and banana and chocolate wrapped in a tortilla-like "Pan" doused in African bee honey.
This is the best food outside of Camp Lemonier I would say. Much better than the overpriced, "Planete Hollywood".

This is where they cook the fish

We were escorted to the back of the kitchen for a little tour. This little wood fire pit is where they cook the fish on a wooden stick. It was very good. I was very thankful that I ate before seeing the appearance of the kitchen, because it isn't exactly "health inspector" passable. But I want the whole Djiboutian experience even if it gives me diarrhea.

At the 7th Adventist Dental Clinic We gave them a whole bunch of casting material for making false teeth and dental supplies. They were very happy.

November Day in Djibouti Africa

A corner in Djibouti after the rains

Cows eating garbage I think it was kinda neat to see cows with long horns eating trash.
After the rains in Djibouti
When it rains in Djibouti, it floods. There are no flood drains here.

2008 Make Believe Parade

This year, Nayeli was a Peacock and Anaka was a Leopard!

After the Presidental Election, things are still normal.

Barack Obama on the cover of Stars and Stripes

I saw this newspaper of the Stars and Stripes being sold on E-bay for $80.

Zoll M Series Defibrillator I was told not to ever disassemble this machine. I found out why when I tried to put it back together. It took me about an hour of frustration.


Normocap Gas Analyzer This unit was sent to me to service from the Peltier Hospital. Everything is in French so it was difficult getting everything translated through Google.

School Pictures

Anaka at 9 months
Anaka at 9 Months
Nayeli at 2 years
Nayeli at 2 years

Peltier Hospital in Djibouti

Peltier

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to visit Djibouti's hospital, Peltier on a mission to assist with and repair medical equipment.

Operating Room with U.S. donated patient table

The United States donated two OR tables and one laproscopy tower. I was responsible for ensuring that these items worked.

Old Anesthesia Machine
Central Sterile Receiving at Peltier
U.S. donated this Laparoscope Tower



Halothane Vaporizer

Fire Fighter Agility Test

Pics of Me doing Fire Fighter Agility Test
This test was lots of fun. We had to complete the course in 6 minutes or less. This involved putting on the fire suit, dragging a fire hose, hitting a tire with a sledge hammer, carrying two heavy baskets and dragging a 200 pound dummy. It was very challenging.
Awaiting Test

CREED

Guitarist for Scott Tapp
CREED
Scott Tapp, the voice of Creed, came to put on a show in Djibouti. It was really awesome. He sang some new songs and some familiar songs. The crowd went really wild with the songs we could actually sing along with. I thought it was funny to see that he threw his sweaty towels at the crowd, and they loved it. He ended the night with "My Sacrifice".

Djiboutian Child

As soon as we get out of the van, curious children huddle around us.


Students from HOA school of English

These guys like to speak English.

Exion at Baby Orphanage in Djibouti

My babies away from home.
---------------------------------------------

This song has been stuck in my head for almost 4 months now... So I figure I can get it stuck in your head too.

Lyrics to Toto's
AFRICA


I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
Shes coming in 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, hurry boy, its waiting there for you

Chorus:
Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do whats right
Sure as kilimanjaro rises like olympus above the serengeti
I seek to cure whats deep inside, frightened of this thing that Ive become

Chorus

(instrumental break)

Hurry boy, shes waiting there for you

Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had