Transitions--leaving Guantanamo

Adios Guantanamo...nunca te olvidare!

The time to leave GTMO came so quick I don't even remember my last week on island...sort of.  We left July 21st and I'm still trying to gather my thoughts and feelings leading up to the ferry's last whistle.
Leaving that island is not as easy as moving from another base within the states.  In the states you get packed out and then you leave.  There's no lingering, no waiting, nothing... if anything you might spend a few days in a hotel waiting to leave one city for another.  If you forget to pack something, no big deal, throw it in the car and keep going, if you're over seas and forget to pack something you can mail it to yourself or just get rid of it.  If it doesn't fit in the luggage it's not coming with you.

Anyway, the last week required us to check out, attend hail and farewell, pay out bills, be entertained by friends,turn in work time sheets, go to lunch with friends, turn off the cable/phone, have wine at the Marina with friends, pick up school records, go out one more time with friends, medical records, fit in one more dive, check luggage and pets early, get boarding passes the day before, get pet health and travel records, go for a walk with friends, and finally leave... Whew!!! Exhausting right?

Leaving GTMO... this is how it went for me.

After a long walk on the Ridge Line with my friend Ashley and her mom Beth I went home, showered, changed, got the kids ready, finished cleaning up and packed up the leftover foods and anything that was not trash. My neighbor Mayin took that box home.... then the Ferry farewell; probably the hardest farewell ever experienced because everyone you care about or who cares about you is there to see you off and to jump in the water for you and that feels great. You feel loved beyond words.

 

It was a busy, emotionally exhausting, physically exhausting week, but so many memories were made in just one week.

This blog has been read by more people than I realized.  Towards the end of our tour I met many people who were reading the blog just to become familiar with Guantanamo and a few who started reading over a year ago and later made the decision to take that GTMO job because of what they read.  I am so glad that my photos and stories were helpful to so many.  I plan to leave it open as a source of reference for new families, but I know that a new GTMO family is moving to the island and I am so excited that she is ready and able to take "the torch" and continue educating, sharing, entertaining, with her blog about life in GTMO.

I know many people will think I'm making more out of this then there is, but know this, Life in Guantanamo Bay is not AT ALL like life anywhere else.  Life on the only gated community on communist soil, knowing that you have the Castro Family on the other side of the fence and some other residents living on the other side of some other fence, it's a bit daunting. But in everyday life you don't come across anyone from the other side of either fence. You're too busy running the kids to a game, the pool, the beach, the next dive, a party, wine nights, girls night at the pool or guys Poker night, running to the NEX, the movies, or running just because it's an MWR scheduled event.  You are busy... bring a calendar because you'll need it from day one.

Life in GTMO is different. Only those who have been there can truly get it and I'm glad I am one of the few.  I know live in the great state of Virginia where nothing is 5 minutes away, hubby can't come home for lunch, and I actually have to plan my day to include travel time. 

Take a few minutes to read from the beginning of this blog and then go and read Joy's blog GTMO Adventure as well, as she moves through the moving process and adjustment period.  I can still answer questions if you have them, please leave me a message, I will get back to you!

GTMO you gave me many long lasting friends who are more like family. Thank You to MWR for allowing me to torture military and civilians with my six AM boot camp workouts for the last two years; thank you to all the people who came if for no other reason than to support me and be in my class at such early hour; Thank YOU to IOM for giving me a job so flexible that allowed me to participate in my families activities but also gave me the opportunity to help with Migration and resettlement of people in need.  Thank YOU to all my friends... you are my GTMO family and I will never forget you!!

Adios!!

What happens in GTMO.....

What goes on here in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? 

Well, we have fun, that's what.  

Believe it or not, I have been to more concerts and have met more entertainers since living in GTMO than I have my entire life.  Well, I was sort of sheltered growing up so the numbers aren't necessarily high.  

ANY--WAY.... what I'm saying is that our MWR department, that's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation continues to impress me with their selection of entertainers and events for the entire family.

We have 2 outdoor movie theaters here and yes, we do get current movies.  They don't always arrive when they first come out but it's OK because we do not pay to see the movies or the live entertainment.  It's one of those benefits we appreciate.  Don't get me wrong, the events aren't free, just free to the community.

This coming weekend we will be wowed by rhythm EXTREME.  I've been looking forward to seeing this show.  I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Styled after the worldwide theatrical success "Stomp," Rhythm Extreme takes the popular appeal of percussion performances one step further to create a truly innovative theatrical event.


Just a few weeks ago "Something Distant" was here, again, ushering the runners of the Rock and Roll half marathon to the finish line.  Then we had a Polynesian event with amazing dancers and good food.  I have seen comedians like Chelsea Handler, acrobats such as those in Cirque Odyssey, and so many others.

Every week, just about, there's some type of entertainment going on here and when all else fails we have the movies or girl's night at the Marina, can't beat that!


Coming to GTMO? Want to know more about our MWR sponsored activities? Click here and keep up with us.

GTMO Updates- staying connected

Over the past year I have met several families via this blog.  Most get here because, like me, they want to know more about this place and usually hit a brick wall on the internet.  Most of what you find pertains to the detainees, the camps, and some negative reports from reporters who judge the base solely on one 3 day visit.  All I can say is don't believe everything you read and understand that what I "report" here is simply my point of view and experiences.  Other's may have a completely different of life on the Naval Station Guantanamo.

That said, I have seen a few more people creating blogs about life here and many of the organizations on the installation have created FaceBook pages to help us stay abreast of events and activities.  I will post those links here and hopefully reading about what goes on in GTMO and the opinions of others, those of you transitioning or even thinking about it will become a little more educated.

http://www.facebook.com/NSGuantanamoBay

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FFSC-Guantanamo-Bay/210835152287802

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MWR-GTMO/317983567409

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MWR-GTMO-Sports-Fitness-Liberty-Center/103183395681

When we were moving to GTMO there was nothing out there.  I found one FB page which lead me to a couple of people who were stationed here and they answered many of my million questions.  I am thankful to have had them in my life, even if only for a short while after I moved here.

Anyway, these links will provide information about sporting events, activities, recreation, entertainment and some news and noteworthy events around the base.

As for me and my updates for this week.  Hubby and I just finished our Advanced PADI Dive certification and it was great.  The water was just right, the visibility was mostly OK, could have been better but I'm not complaining.  We reached depths of up to 100 feet and saw the prettiest fish, a couple of sea turtles, a few lobsters and even managed to eliminate a few Lion Fish in an effort to save the reef.  This invasive, non-native species is spreading through the Caribbean. They have no natural enemies here. They are said to be able to eat four times their weight each day. Native reef species don't recognize them as predators so they will swim right up to the lion fish and are quickly eaten. For this reason, many divers here will go prepared to hunt and kill the Lion Fish.  But no worries, they can be eaten and they do taste pretty good.


Looking forward to some time off island with family and friends. Here are some photos from under the sea... Enjoy!