Sigh... Just another day in this sunny paradise. I almost lost count what what day is today. It has been over 2 weeks on the sea now. We are heading to Hawaii, only a couple more days. I don't know exactly the day because my rank doesn't have any "top brass" saying on it.
Today, I notice something for the first time in the mess dinin room. It took me awhile. Remembering back to high school, where everyone seats in their own group. It is exactly same here. I wonder why? Nobody sits at random place, its like we all have our reserved seats.it's like if you're in explosive ordance, you sit with ur own "people", you don't cross your line and sit with fly deck. It's like a high school.
Talking of that, there are so many rumors and gossips around here. Everyday, you heard something, either about a relationship on the ship(which is prohibit) or someone trashin someone. Its like so many rumors, so little time to spread. Oh man, how I hate that.so far, I do not like my experience in this city on the sea. Wish I could be back to the destroyer.
But its ok, life is perfect as always.I have learned something though: looking forward to Haiwaii actually making my day less crazy as it is. Can't wait till we get our liberty ( a pass to get of post) on Hawaii.
That's it for today. Next time diary.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
just another day in paradise...
A week has passed by again. My times to keep this diary up to date.
It feels awesome to finally talk to my baby on the phone. Can't describe my feeling when I heard her voices.
I also got to call my parents, reassuring them that I'm doing good her.
After almost 2 weeks, finally, we started to do what we come aboard for. The aircraft squadrons started to land in. And that is my job. It's not fancy, but it's something. I guide and land those 60 millions dollar aircraft through a cable hook, so that they don't overrun into the sea. Simple enough.
My team is great. Their motto is: "Work hard, play harder" and I love it. Everyone is friendly and really nice to me. I have been to team where nobody care for nobody around them. It's different here. I'm really glad because after all, this is my first carrier deployment. So I do tend to make mistake without knowing it. This help me to ease the settling process.
Opps, siren called man overboard. Guess I will have to finish this later.
........
That wasn't a drill. It's almost midnight when the siren sounded. It was pitch black in the pacific ocean. Then there was a glowing stick on the sea. That triggered the "man overboard" called, means somebody falls into the sea. When something like that happens, everyone takes it seriously as it might be one of our shipmates, and time is everything. I had to run to our team's designated place, join the roll call. After that is just stooding still, waiting for the top brasses to clear. It sucks and it wasted alot of time. It takes more than 5 hours to clear call. Now I only have 5 hours left to rest before a new day and my shift started.
Oh well, just another day in paradise ....
It feels awesome to finally talk to my baby on the phone. Can't describe my feeling when I heard her voices.
I also got to call my parents, reassuring them that I'm doing good her.
After almost 2 weeks, finally, we started to do what we come aboard for. The aircraft squadrons started to land in. And that is my job. It's not fancy, but it's something. I guide and land those 60 millions dollar aircraft through a cable hook, so that they don't overrun into the sea. Simple enough.
My team is great. Their motto is: "Work hard, play harder" and I love it. Everyone is friendly and really nice to me. I have been to team where nobody care for nobody around them. It's different here. I'm really glad because after all, this is my first carrier deployment. So I do tend to make mistake without knowing it. This help me to ease the settling process.
Opps, siren called man overboard. Guess I will have to finish this later.
........
That wasn't a drill. It's almost midnight when the siren sounded. It was pitch black in the pacific ocean. Then there was a glowing stick on the sea. That triggered the "man overboard" called, means somebody falls into the sea. When something like that happens, everyone takes it seriously as it might be one of our shipmates, and time is everything. I had to run to our team's designated place, join the roll call. After that is just stooding still, waiting for the top brasses to clear. It sucks and it wasted alot of time. It takes more than 5 hours to clear call. Now I only have 5 hours left to rest before a new day and my shift started.
Oh well, just another day in paradise ....
missing home ....
finally, I get my chance to write again. It's hard to settle to in to a new place, especially when I only have a few days. This is a really big ship. Everytime I step out of my "corner", I find something, some places new. It's really amazing, but frustrating at the same time. I was so happy to recieve my first mail call the other day, like a kid in a candy store. Thanks hun. "Once you're far away from home, you will appreciate everything little thing you have." I truly believe in that saying.
I'm still adjusting to this environment. One of the guys from my tearm, Steve Johnson, is a veteran on this ship. He has done all 3 deployments with 3 different carriers. How cool is that? He said "It's a 'town' man,with every convinience of a city, and the captain is your mayor. You wake up, you go to work. You're done, you come back to your little space. Just like home." And he's right. The ship has everything I need for a daily life basis, just except a bar(for me) and a gentlement club for those lonely guys. There are 4 barber shops on here, 4 mesh hall (where you eat), 4 gyms and 2 free-weight rooms, 3 basketball courts and many convinient stores scatter around the ship (I still haven't find all the place yet)
Yesterday was our first cleaning station day. I was surprised. For cleaning station, we turn on music, radio, TV and then just start cleaning. Split- shine, boot-shine cleaning every corner of the ship. I can see myself reflect on the floor, yet still has to shine it another hundred times. Oh well, it's the "Navy way" anyway.
I guess that's it for now. I will be back for more.
I'm still adjusting to this environment. One of the guys from my tearm, Steve Johnson, is a veteran on this ship. He has done all 3 deployments with 3 different carriers. How cool is that? He said "It's a 'town' man,with every convinience of a city, and the captain is your mayor. You wake up, you go to work. You're done, you come back to your little space. Just like home." And he's right. The ship has everything I need for a daily life basis, just except a bar(for me) and a gentlement club for those lonely guys. There are 4 barber shops on here, 4 mesh hall (where you eat), 4 gyms and 2 free-weight rooms, 3 basketball courts and many convinient stores scatter around the ship (I still haven't find all the place yet)
Yesterday was our first cleaning station day. I was surprised. For cleaning station, we turn on music, radio, TV and then just start cleaning. Split- shine, boot-shine cleaning every corner of the ship. I can see myself reflect on the floor, yet still has to shine it another hundred times. Oh well, it's the "Navy way" anyway.
I guess that's it for now. I will be back for more.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
leaving home ...
Today is not a good day. It's time to leave again. Today, I left behind my family, my own comforted place, and most important, my fiancee to answer the call of duty again. It was hard to say goodbye to her, trying to hold my tears back.
Today is the first day of my 6 months deployment to the sea. This deployment has many different meaning to me. Though it was not my first deployment with the Navy on a ship, it was first one on a aircraft carrier, a city on a sea. I heard alot about it, but still overwhelming by seeing it with my own eyes. My 2 previous deployments were with destroyer ships. The numbers of sailors on board were small, everybody knows everybody. It is a different story this time. With 5000 strong individuals aboard the carrier, it is a whole new world for me. Getting to know my way around the ship was a real challenge. Walking through the ship brings back my feeling of my first day at high school, with lots of emotion. Finally, after 2 hours of searching, I found my little space, a small bottom "bunk" in a little hall. My "bunkmates", Recuit Dan Carlston and Airman Kyle Johnson, will be working with me for the next 6 months. They are really nice guys. Dan is from the Chicago while Kyle is from New Orleans. They come from 2 different background with 2 different personalities. It will be really interested to work with them. Can't wait.
A different meaning for this deployment is also for the first time, I'm in a serious relationship. I'm now engaged. It will be hard not having you by my side everyday.
Wells, this is it for my first day with my diary. Still having alot of thing to do before I can call it a day.
Mom and dad, please take care of yourself and do not worry about me too much. I will update as much as I can.
Hunnie, I hope this diary will help you through everyday, as if I'm still by your side. E-mail me when you can because I sure will ... smile ^.^ ....
Off to meeting and work now.
bibi
Today is the first day of my 6 months deployment to the sea. This deployment has many different meaning to me. Though it was not my first deployment with the Navy on a ship, it was first one on a aircraft carrier, a city on a sea. I heard alot about it, but still overwhelming by seeing it with my own eyes. My 2 previous deployments were with destroyer ships. The numbers of sailors on board were small, everybody knows everybody. It is a different story this time. With 5000 strong individuals aboard the carrier, it is a whole new world for me. Getting to know my way around the ship was a real challenge. Walking through the ship brings back my feeling of my first day at high school, with lots of emotion. Finally, after 2 hours of searching, I found my little space, a small bottom "bunk" in a little hall. My "bunkmates", Recuit Dan Carlston and Airman Kyle Johnson, will be working with me for the next 6 months. They are really nice guys. Dan is from the Chicago while Kyle is from New Orleans. They come from 2 different background with 2 different personalities. It will be really interested to work with them. Can't wait.
A different meaning for this deployment is also for the first time, I'm in a serious relationship. I'm now engaged. It will be hard not having you by my side everyday.
Wells, this is it for my first day with my diary. Still having alot of thing to do before I can call it a day.
Mom and dad, please take care of yourself and do not worry about me too much. I will update as much as I can.
Hunnie, I hope this diary will help you through everyday, as if I'm still by your side. E-mail me when you can because I sure will ... smile ^.^ ....
Off to meeting and work now.
bibi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
