Monday, August 23, 2010
Laura Callaway
So far I have visited Kwaj's various beaches about 5 times. As much as I'd love to go every day, sometimes that just doesn't work out. I've determined that Corals Sands Beach is my favorite when I do have a chance to go, mostly because I'm usually the only one on it. Camp Hamilton Beach is nice enough, except the fine sand turns rocky right at the water's edge. Also, it's downwind of the power plant. Nothing says "relaxing" quite like the smell of exhaust fumes. Emon Beach is the most popular beach by far. There's a lifeguard (I think), sand volleyball, and a playground. It's also right across from the high school, which is yet another reason I'll stick to Coral Sands.
Watersports are big here, as you probably could have guessed. Most notably: SCUBA diving. I even bought some gear! This is pretty big time for me. I've never owned my own gear (not much reason to in Kansas), but after hearing numerous horror
stories about rented equipment malfunctions, I felt the purchase necessary. All I have left to get is a regulator and a snorkel and I'm good to go! There are a plethora of dive masters out here, and at least two work at the school. So I'll have no trouble getting in my 5 required dives for my advanced diver's license. Can't wait! I'll probably get an underwater camera soon(ish), but until then, you can find the link to the Kwajalein SCUBA Club on the "Honolulu" sign post. There are tons of underwater pictures to view from there!
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
Laura Callaway
Hello, everyone! I finally made it! Actually, I got here about 4 days ago. I won't even go into my Internet woes, but believe you me, they are many. Just know that from creation to post, it will probably take me a few days to get every installment up.
My first day was a whirlwind of IT, HR, BQ (Bachelor Quarters) arrangements, and other such two-letter acronyms. I've also been learning a multitude of three-letter acronyms, which I've been told is popular with the military folk. They are:
PDR (Pacific Dining Room - as in "I'll meet you at the PDR at noon.")
ARC (Adult Rec Center - as in "The ARC closes at midnight.")
PCS (Permanent Change of Station - as in "I'm PCS-ing next week, so I need to sell my stuff soon."
There are more, but I'm drawing a blank, much like the stares I give when these are spoken to me. It's quite the alphabet soup vernacular over here.
I am having a hell of a time getting my bearings. I'm directionally challenged anyway, so this has proven to be my biggest obstacle. Luckily this island is small, so if I'm ever lost, it's only temporary. There are two sides of this island - the lagoon side and the ocean side (it's all "ocean side" to me!). Pacific Dr. runs along the lagoon, the Ocean Rd. runs along the ocean, and Lagoon Rd. runs right down the middle. Confusing! Instead of looking to the ocean (or lagoon) for my reference points, I'm instead looking toward something with which I'm familiar: water towers. There are two main ones here - a rusty one, and a less rusty one. In between the two are all the major shops and the cafeteria (or PDR). If you were to pass me on the road, you wouldn't see me looking down to avoid coconuts or out across the ocean (or lagoon). I'm always looking up!
Despite constantly being lost and cursing at my computer, I'm having an amazing time here. It's so comfortably warm, everything is so much more relaxed, and just today I had a woman about my age introduce herself out of the blue and invite me to a dinner at her house with her girlfriends! Everyone's been incredibly nice and helpful; I really couldn't have asked for a better welcome.
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So far I have visited Kwaj's various beaches about 5 times. As much as I'd love to go every day, sometimes that just doesn't work out. I've determined that Corals Sands Beach is my favorite when I do have a chance to go, mostly because I'm usually the only one on it. Camp Hamilton Beach is nice enough, except the fine sand turns rocky right at the water's edge. Also, it's downwind of the power plant. Nothing says "relaxing" quite like the smell of exhaust fumes. Emon Beach is the most popular beach by far. There's a lifeguard (I think), sand volleyball, and a playground. It's also right across from the high school, which is yet another reason I'll stick to Coral Sands.
Watersports are big here, as you probably could have guessed. Most notably: SCUBA diving. I even bought some gear! This is pretty big time for me. I've never owned my own gear (not much reason to in Kansas), but after hearing numerous horror 
stories about rented equipment malfunctions, I felt the purchase necessary. All I have left to get is a regulator and a snorkel and I'm good to go! There are a plethora of dive masters out here, and at least two work at the school. So I'll have no trouble getting in my 5 required dives for my advanced diver's license. Can't wait! I'll probably get an underwater camera soon(ish), but until then, you can find the link to the Kwajalein SCUBA Club on the "Honolulu" sign post. There are tons of underwater pictures to view from there!
