It's official!

On Friday I received an official offer for my next post.  I'm going to Wellington, New Zealand!!!! WOW, can I just say, Wow!  I'm SO excited!  I've NEVER been to this part of the world and for the next 3 years, I get to explore New Zealand and Australia.  Plus go to perhaps Thailand and other locations.  I didn't think that I'd get this posting.  There were quite a few other bidders on it, but the fact that I volunteered for Iraq, plus a good "corridor reputation" meant that I was the lucky one chosen!  I am supposed to report to post in August 2012, which means that I will probably be in Iraq until the middle of July.  But that's ok!  Knowing where I'm going next is a relief.  There won't be any training, just home leave before departing for post.  Everything happens for a reason, and I'm looking forward to my next adventures in the South Pacific! :D

Me and my Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

This was the PPE that I used since I came to Iraq.  I had to get new when I came back from my regional rest break.  Glad I never really needed it's protective powers! :)

Halloween in the IZ

On Halloween night, a few of us girls walked over to Union 3 to see the underground part of one of the palaces.  We were told it was a torture chamber/holding cells.  I'm not sure if this was told to us to make us scared or what.  But it was pretty clear to me after a short bit that it was definitely a bomb shelter.  They may have kept prisoners there as well, but if necessary, they'd be able to survive a nuclear attack. 

The reason I realized this is because it's very similar to the Soviet bunker I visited while in Latvia!  So now I've been in a Soviet and an Iraqi bunker...wonder what kind of bunker I'll get to visit next! :)