In the Navy...

You sort your trash... (or "rubbish" as our resident Brit calls it)

• This took some getting used to and it goes something like this: when finished a meal you have to separate out your left over food from the plastic, paper and possibly metal on your plate. You then have to go and dispose of each into the proper receptacle. The paper gets burned, the plastic gets carted around until we're in port and it can be disposed of and the food gets ground up and chucked over board- free food for the fishies. The whole sorting thing is not such a big deal it's just really annoying if you get stuck behind someone new who hasn't figured out that it goes faster if you sort at the table BEFORE you're standing in front of the cans with 50 irritated people behind you.

You get used to...

• Seeing guys wander around your place of work with automatic weapons. Made me stop and do a double take the first time, now it's just a normal thing. At least they don't bring them to the dinner table.
• Always wearing shoes. It's out of the work shoes and into the flip flops that double for shower shoes because in communal living you just don't put your bare feet on the floor (let alone the shower floor)- cannot wait to be bare foot on carpet.
• Showers. There is no such thing as a bath tub here (not even a baby one- we had to McGuyver something out of a toy bucket). One of the first things on my list when I get home- possibly before I unpack, will be to take a long, hot, bath.
• Polite guys. For the first week or so I got a tiny bit weirded out by the constant, door opening, "yes ma'am"ing etc. Then I got so I liked it, I really think that guys back home should have to join then Navy just to relearn some of these things that should be the basics.
• Wearing the same clothes...all the time...every day. The military are in their uniform and I am in mine. It consists of khaki or scrub pants and a blue t-shirt (sometimes a blue polo for variation). At first it was liberating to not have to think about clothes every morning and while that is still true I may never be able to look at this color of blue the same way ever again.

You never get used to...

• The noise. Seriously since getting on board this ship back in May I have not had a single quiet moment. There's always an engine or boiler running, the A/C is on, the ocean is outside, it's raining, the kids are crying, the helicopter is taking off from the roof over the dining hall, there are a thousand other people eating in the same room and to speak to the person across the table one must shout. I work nights and when I'm trying to sleep during the day there are constant overhead announcements of the comings and goings of the higher ups, announcing the start of flight quarters, the end of flight quarters, followed by the ever popular helo refueling announcement. Ooh and did I mention the bell?! Anytime that 2 of the higher ups (I won't mention which ones) come on or off the ship they ring a bell, a very loud and slightly irritating, baby waking bell. It's so annoying that someone actually stole it (no idea who- the perp has yet to be caught and if he/she ever is they're in BIG trouble) and for half a day the bell was blissfully gone, however it turns out they have a spare. Ear plugs don't help- tried that. Anyway all this means is one of the first things I'm going to do when I get home is find somewhere quiet and relish in it! (probably while in the bath)

Navy life ;)

Amy J.