So a small change

  There has been another lag in my updating the blog, but this time was because I have currently changed locations.  It is only temporary (until mid-September) but I'm very much enjoying it so far.

  I have been moved out to a FOB or forward operating base for a couple weeks to act as part of an FST or forward surgical team.  The name of the FOB is Spin Boldak, and is over on the Pakistan border.  It's really pretty at night as we can look out and see the twinkling lights of Pakistan just on the horizon.  We traveled here by helicopter, which didn't do much for my motion sickness, but was absolutely a great experience.

  It wasn't actually this helicopter that we flew over in.....but the dust off team (who go to the point of injury and evacuate the injured) let us play around in their helicopters one of the afternoons we were here.  It was pretty cool- although there's a huge instrument panel, and multiple ways to move the rotors!!

  So there are 11 members of the FST out here.  Two surgeons, one anesthesiologist, one ER physician, two nurses, two general corpsmen, two OR corpsmen, and one x-ray technician.  It's a very watered down team, but they still do amazing things.  We are called in for when there are trauma patients on their way.  We live nearby the aid station, and people run and grab us when need be.  Other than that, we muster at 0830 in the morning, do some training and lectures to learn, and then have the rest of the day free.  And the food here is absolutely delicious!!  We had fresh pineapple this morning at breakfast!  Needless to say, it's a very relaxed pace for the most part, and as their motto says, there's no drama.  It's a very friendly FOB in general and we've already made some friends out here.  It's very open as compared to KAF, and again, much more relaxed.

  Here's a picture of the OR here.....again, very pared down, but it works in an emergency!!  Yes, the walls are wooden, there's only one surgical light, and needless to say it's not the ideal environment to perform a surgery.  That's how it's done here!!  The trauma bay looks similar, except there are 4 beds in a larger room.

  Here's a picture of our lovely area.  All of the wooden areas were made by previous people that had come through here.  It's a very impressive place, and it gives us a place to hang out which is amazing!

  A friendly game of dominoes- we play pretty much every night!  Oh yeah, and there's a lovely dart board behind us.

  This is us last night watching a movie.  We watched Battleship- which was a pretty fantastic movie!

  Oh, and minor detail, we have a pool!!!  The team before us blew it up, and the water is kept clean enough by the water plant here on base.  The deck, once again, was built by some of the previous people.

  Here's me just hanging out one afternoon

  Lastly, here's what I was talking about with our motto.  It's painted on the other side of the wall where the dart board is hung.  It's where our farewells take place.  Personally, I think it's fantastic!

  That's about it for now!!  My roommate is currently picking up my mail at KAF and sharing the contents with our friends.  I'll post some more pictures and update y'all soon!!