010910: Camp Naqoura, UNIFIL HQ

I've decided to keep a journal ("diary" sounds too girly ;) during my mission here in Lebanon. As well as it being for the sake of you friends and family, it is also for my own sake as diary-blogging has proved a great and accessible way for me to remember where and what I've been - and when.

I figure its also a good way to steer clear of the entrapments of newsletters, which quickly become mundane for all parts and come to carry the stench of obligation with them. Even better you can reach me in two ways: 1) drop an easy-going and quick comment on this blog or 2) write me an e-mail or a fb-quickie.

It should be noted that these blog-entries will be quite unspecific at times due to operational safety concerns. While it is a very peaceful mission, its still a mission and safety measures have to be taken into account. Also, I expect that my writings will be focused on my personal experience of my stay and not on the operational aspect.

Facts:
I'm part of UNIFIL which in summary is a peacekeeping mission in Southern Lebanon along the northern border of Israel. UN-forces have been in this place since 1978 so the Lebanese have grown quite used to our presence by now. Our 'shift' started in the beginning of August and will last to somewhere around Jan/Feb.

More specifically, I'm part of the Danish contingency, DANLOG, which is a logistical company who drive soldiers to the airport (in Beyrouth) with all their gear and equipment, manage the fuel supply, manage the construction-supply depot and support the mess-staff. I drive one of the busses here - an 18-seater with an engine that brings to mind a hamster in one of those wheels in a cage..

Today's activities:
I started of the day early, driving the French basketball team to a tournament hosted by Ghanians/Ghanese../soldiers from Ghana. They played the South Koreans and were felled by a whimsically petty referee. The South Koreans were surprisingly tall though! All this was too the enticing rhythms of some of the Ghanese/Ghanian (help?) soldiers' drums and shakers that they played for a straight 2 hours. Dancing, singing. Fun :)

Drove the French back through some crazy back roads with surprising bumps, turns and mountains and had lunch and an hour's nap (our sergeant only told us of the assignment late last night.)
Played Tekken 6 (got whipped by a techie-nerdy guy) for a solid 1½ hours.

Practiced guitar and went for a semi-late dinner at the French camp's restaurant. Helped my driving partner, Øksnebjerg, wash and clean the bus and headed to the fitness area for a crazy session of cross-fit. Its a form of fitness based on own body-weight which focuses on circulation and not muscle size - although it helps on that too ;) Felt like my dinner was gonna revisit our land of the living a couple of times.

Enough, its 0030 hours and I need my sleep. Tomorrow I expect will be another in a long series of days of "Operation Clean Camp". Its construction work. Tearing down stuff to rebuild it, removing unnatural and unwanted rocks and generally just making our camp look nice.

Also, this fist-sized moth buzzing around is starting to freak me out..