Basra

We made it to Basra. It is southern Iraq, close to the Kuwaiti border. It is a lot more like a desert than Baghdad so it is hotter. Were being told to expect about 10 degrees hotter here than in Baghdad. Were living in tents, 5 big tents running parallel with a hallway running between them connecting them all. That is where the females live. Each half of a tent is an 8 man room with bunk beds and wall lockers.Def. not as nice as Camp Liberty but is also not as bad as we expected. The female latrine is part of that group of tents. The males live about 50- 100 feet away in the same type of structure which kinda stinks. It will make it a lot harder to get in touch with each other when something comes up. The chow hall is like 15-20 minutes away, not sure about the PX yet, headed over there shortly. We have an inbrief this afternoon from the Command Sergeant Major to learn more about all the rules here and such. There is no internet inside the tents, there is a tent fairly close by with 20 computers that we can use though. We don't even know where the trucks will be or where the command will be when we start running missions yet.
The thing about it is.... I'm not actually going to be living here. Found out last night when we got off the bus that 3rd platoon is going to be moving out to a smaller site inside the city. We don't know too much right now but we will moving sometime soon. I'm excited, we might actually have more luxuries at that place since it will be smaller and a more central location. The CO also said we will be living in buildings again instead of these tents so I think we're getting the best end of the deal.
Be prepared for me to start using this as my major means of communication. Until we move it will be easier for me to just come update this in the mornings instead of when it's super busy when yall are all awake.
On the flight over here the crew let some of us go sit in the cockpit while they were flying. It was pretty cool watching them and seeing all the different controls and sensors and such they have in there. Got some pictures but since I'm not on my computer it will be a bit before you see them.
I'm off, let you know more as I know more but I am safe, hot but safe. Love you all