On my Way

It’s 1:30am local Dubai time. My body is rested, but my mind is still wandering it’s way out of a thick fog of jet-lagged sleep deprivation, mental stress, and Ambien induced effects. I do my best to reserve the use of sleep medication (Ambien) to a minimal. In this case, it’s use allows me to arrive at my new work assignment alert and rested, and not a total zombie. Unfortunately when it comes to jet-lag, even sleep aids have a limit to their effectiveness. I tried to use the sleeping aids to stretch the jet-lag out somewhere near my new sleep cycle, but there is still a 4 hour “gap”. This is why I am up bright eyed and bushytailed at 1:30am. I suppose it will just have to be a long day.

I left Dallas around 5:00pm. This afternoon flight turned out to be a good thing, as it gave me some time with my family before I left. It was hard on me to leave. I still feel surreal about it. I woke up a few times last night expecting my alarm to go off, and my “Dallas morning auto-pilot routine” to kick in. Then I would realize I was 7000 miles from that. Reality then sinks in and I am hot with the heavy realization of how different my life now is.

I had a one hour layover in Washington D.C.. At my departure gate were numerous security contractors. There is a somewhat stereotypical look and posture to these guys. Almost all were carrying desert tan or coyote brown military style ruck sacks, wearing desert boots and kaki cargo pants, and had a dismal but serious expression on their faces. I can relate to the dismal look on their face, I was wearing it too.

After boarding the 777 jet headed for Dubai, I immediately introduced myself to the gentleman I would be sitting next to for the next 13 hours. He was friendly, and (like me) also had a final destination of Kandahar. He was more than happy to give me a run-down of the airbase, and what to expect.

The flight went smoothly. After processing through passport control, and collecting my baggage, a hotel car collected me and brought me to my room. I was impressed with the accommodations as it is a 5 star resort. Unfortunately, I’ll only be staying here for one night.