Bluemle departs
Bluemle left the FOB today and headed for KAF. I've only known her for about a week but I really enjoyed having her around. It was so great to talk to another physical therapist and I know that is something I will miss in the coming months...perhaps the next 2-3 years of my career. I had planned to help her take her bags out to the LZ for the chopper to pick her up, but just as the time neared for her to leave a patient walked in. I haven't seen many patients over the past 6 months. To be more specific, between the start of July and me landing on the ground here at the FOB last week, I've had 3 weeks of patient care. During my evaluation with the first patient, I got a phone call from the aid station about a shoulder patient who would be walking over to see me. I finished just in time to start the shoulder evaluation, when another patient came in for her Achille's...and another patient for his neck. Now I was finally working!
I just found it ironic because in my first week here at the FOB, I haven't seen many patients...maybe 4 new evals total. Then as soon as Bluemle leaves the clinic, I get a steady flow.
Now a little about the FOB gym where I work out. The FOB gym is split in between 2 buildings...one is more a cardio room with treadmills, recumbent/upright bikes, stairclimbers, ellipticals, a few medicine balls, dumbbells, and a small mat area...while the other houses your more standard weight room equipment. I've heard that all the concrete buildings here were built when the Russians were occupying Afghanistan. I wouldn't be totally surprised because they look pretty old and there's really nothing to them, but I can't 100% confirm their origins. But to give you an idea, pretty much all the buildings here are the same sized rectangle with 2 doors on opposite ends and 6 or so narrow windows all along the sides. There's absolutely nothing exciting about them - and I'm guessing it was us, the Americans, that put in the electricity and plumbing into some of them. Way to go America!
Having done crossfit for a few months now, it is different working out in a "gym" that doesn't have free floor space for power-lifts. I did find one area in front of a bench press that I can do things like cleans/snatches, but it's tricky and I have to use seriously ninja skills in order to be safe. There's only 1 rickety pull up bar to be found and pretty much no free wall space. But despite the imperfections, if you want to get a workout - everything you need is there. In crossfit, people often call their gyms a "box." In Afghanistan, the gyms are often actual boxes.
I guess now that Bluemle is heading home to complete her final paperwork, I am officially the 2nd brigade, 4th infantry division physical therapist. Lots to think about and start planning - - - - - but not tonight!
P.S. It's well past 9pm and I can hear a powered-saw outside. Really? Is it SO important that it can't wait until morning?
I just found it ironic because in my first week here at the FOB, I haven't seen many patients...maybe 4 new evals total. Then as soon as Bluemle leaves the clinic, I get a steady flow.
Now a little about the FOB gym where I work out. The FOB gym is split in between 2 buildings...one is more a cardio room with treadmills, recumbent/upright bikes, stairclimbers, ellipticals, a few medicine balls, dumbbells, and a small mat area...while the other houses your more standard weight room equipment. I've heard that all the concrete buildings here were built when the Russians were occupying Afghanistan. I wouldn't be totally surprised because they look pretty old and there's really nothing to them, but I can't 100% confirm their origins. But to give you an idea, pretty much all the buildings here are the same sized rectangle with 2 doors on opposite ends and 6 or so narrow windows all along the sides. There's absolutely nothing exciting about them - and I'm guessing it was us, the Americans, that put in the electricity and plumbing into some of them. Way to go America!
Having done crossfit for a few months now, it is different working out in a "gym" that doesn't have free floor space for power-lifts. I did find one area in front of a bench press that I can do things like cleans/snatches, but it's tricky and I have to use seriously ninja skills in order to be safe. There's only 1 rickety pull up bar to be found and pretty much no free wall space. But despite the imperfections, if you want to get a workout - everything you need is there. In crossfit, people often call their gyms a "box." In Afghanistan, the gyms are often actual boxes.
I guess now that Bluemle is heading home to complete her final paperwork, I am officially the 2nd brigade, 4th infantry division physical therapist. Lots to think about and start planning - - - - - but not tonight!
P.S. It's well past 9pm and I can hear a powered-saw outside. Really? Is it SO important that it can't wait until morning?
Gonna be following this....let me know if you need anything.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it, Sam!!
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