A New Kind of Adventure

"If something happens, just run as fast as you can."

Um. Did I just hear that correctly with earplugs blocking out only some of the loud hum of the C130 I was strapped up in the cargo bay of? A quick look at my coworker, dressed in just as many layers as me, confirmed that I had. What did we get ourselves into?

Not quite the same experience I had on Turkish Airways just a few weeks ago, but I found it somewhat reassuring that I could see my bag stacked on a pallet 10 feet away so I knew it was on board. Shoot the fact that the bathroom was a curtain and a bucket didn't even phase me because I was finally on my way to Rota!

The flight experience was sure something I'll never forget. Think old war footage with soldiers in the planes and that was pretty much us. Well, not quite between having to rely on my pilot coworkers to maneuver my seat-belt and keep telling me what was next, I have never felt like such a rookie flyer. Of course I didn't look like a homeless person standing in a small huddle with a beanie tight over my head, hands jammed into my jacket pockets  like some of the guys did. Some of us seriously wondered if they were going to light our luggage on fire to keep warm. (Yeah, it was really cold!)

The flight home was better for me because I know people and made my way up to the cockpit. Yes- it was awesome! How many times in one's life do you get to see the view from the sky out of the front window? And? There was heat up there so as I defrosted and chatted with the guys I just had to keep reminding myself that I was several thousand feet about the ground and not to panic and grab any of the hundreds of switches lining the ceiling and panels. The best part? I was actually still up there as we made our approach into Naples and landed. So many things need to take place to land and for once I got to see behind the scenes. I <3 my pilots.

So no, I didn't just fly up and back to Rota to log time riding as cargo. I headed up with several coworkers to go meet with the crew aboard the USNS SPEARHEAD, MSC's first of 10 Joint High Speed Vessels. She's not your average boat in capabilities or appearance...but she's really impressive. For you non Navy types, here's Katie's summary of JHSV- it's a really fast moving platform that can be outfitted with different modules depending on the mission. Best part? It doesn't cost nearly as much as ones built in the past! Inside, it really reminded me of the ferry we took to Sicily- complete with open cargo bay and lots of seats for the passengers. (If you want to read more, you should probably Google it and you'll find one of the publications that our PAO team has put out there.)

I spent the better part of a day touring the ship...hanging out on the bridge, climbing ladders down in the belly of the ship to see the engines, generators, and shafts. Our tour guide? The ship's Master, another fabulous CIVMAR that I've been able to meet with my gig here at MSC. I love it when they take time, my boss as well, to explain to me exactly how things work because should there be an issue and that funding document crosses my desk I a) know who I'm helping out, and b) know more or less what that #4 generator or shaft seal is.

Despite not securing a good spot to stow away, I was able to pick up a coin to commemorate this trip and maybe one day if there are more than 10 of these floating around the ocean to tell my kids I stepped foot on the first one after she made her first trek across the Atlantic to Rota where it was our office who supported her during her time in this part of the world.

Yes. I do hear myself. I'm not only talking about ships, but I'm excited about them. I'll be honest, some times after a ship tour, which reminds me about my time at sea, I can't help but wonder if I really belong behind a desk all day. And I think it's very clear my time as a DA Girl are behind me as I now speak Navy more fluently than Army.

All Ashore Going Ashore

Last week another one of my customers and I finally met! The USS GRASP may not be a frequent customer of ours, but she's low key so it's always fun to sign the documents when they pass over my desk. On field trip Friday, the entire SSU emerged from our "Ship Fixin' Cave" into the blindingly brilliant blue sky to head down to the Port of Naples. There we were greeted by the ship's crew as they moved fresh produce on board in preparation for their departure just a few days. The ship's master met us and took us around each deck talking a bunch of stuff I still don't fully understand, but I didn't care because my coworkers would "translate" for me while we walked to our next location.

This salvage ship was a lot different than the others I've seen to date....don't ask me how but just trust me. I mean, the (lack of) size alone was an indicator. All of the dive gear around the decks was an another indicator I guess. It seems like they have some pretty sweet missions. Best part? They've converted a ton of the berthing which now allows for female passengers. When I asked where to sign up, I was told that I'd need to find a roommate because they can't afford to let me have my own room. So, ladies- any takers?

As we made our way to the engine room, more introductions were made. I find it hilarious that when our port engineer introduces me, everyone always asks if I'm the Katie O. Um yes I am. I'm not sure when the PE started calling me Katie O in all of his emails but he did and now the ships we deal with know me as Katie O. Oh well, I love my name and as I continue to make a name for myself within this organization it will be fun.

After another engine room tour (not nearly as fun as the other ships) and a few more conversations we bid the crew a farewell and left them with recommendations for their shore leave. Well, that is after my picture with another customer since who knows when I would see her again.

Well, turns out that the following Tuesday I'd get permission to head back down to the pier to check the welding work done prior to credit card payment. Hey, my boss realizes that I'm swamped with work (the 100 binders around my desk and taking over my coworkers' spaces sort of give it away) and figured a little sunlight would do me good. We got a few strange looks showing up at the pier when we did, but the gangway was still on place and we got permission to board...so we did for just a few moments.

When we figured it was time to leave, the "All ashore going ashore" warning came over the PA system confirming our suspicion so we made it to shore while we still could.  And just like that my chance to head off to somewhere really fun was gone. Then again, it was still early on a Tuesday morning, I told my boss I'd be back by 11, and I was completely inappropriately dressed to go spend time at sea in my pencil skirt and wedge heels...but if I made it up the gangway there was a chance?

Yep you read that correctly. Add wedges to my list of shoes worn on working boats by Katie O. 

Meeting My #1 Customer

It's one of those weekends again. The kind  where I'll be running from event to event and come Sunday night I'll be more exhausted than I was Wednesday morning when that gym alarm goes off way too early.

But it's okay. I do after all choose to do all of these things and I mean why wouldn't I choose to take my boss up on his suggestion to go visit our other office in Gaeta on a Friday? Why wouldn't I plan on going to a dinner with local orphans to present them with Christmas gifts? Why wouldn't I plan to attend my class field trip to Naples? ...but I get ahead of myself. One day at a time.

After a rather hectic week in the office and my cancelled trip yesterday, my boss fully supported our reschedule trip to Gaeta to happen today. So this morning, a good hour after I normally leave my house I met up with my coworker and we headed up the coast to Gaeta. Gaeta several years back was the base for this area and still remains the home port of 6th Fleet's Command Ship- USS Mount Whitney.

The MW and I have really gotten to know each other over these past few months as I process, log, and closeout all funding documents for her necessary repairs. Let me tell you- she has a lot. Only recently did she return from Croatia from a dry dock. Yeah, as in they pulled her out of the water to make some major repairs. At any rate I feel like she sealed her fate as my #1 customer this week when I processed at least 2 documents for her each day and stressed over the fact that although these were emergency things I had no more money to use. Nothing like having to wait 6 hours to have the east coast to approve funds before your person signing documents in Bahrain goes home...like I said, busy week.

Today's mission was to gather information the MUSE barge, the power supply for the ship when it's in port. I tagged along as "official photographer" and to foster customer service. It was good to see some of the guys I talk with weekly (if not more) but never see. After hanging out in their office reminding that accurate estimates are key to not tie up funds in jobs (the reason for my headaches this week) I headed out to the barge with the real engineer. The Italian contractors gave us a great tour and offered us coffee. I'm still not 100% sure what all I saw but come Monday I'll get the big picture from my coworkers and start making sense of all of this.

After a fabulous seafood lunch with great company talking shop and other stuff we headed back to the port to get on the ship. The SSU engineer, knowing the week I had, suggested that I meet the chief engineer on the ship so I had a face to go with the next requests I saw. Why? Apparently he feared for my computer screens' safety this past week when I kept seeing the requests come through. Well, like most of his ideas this was a great one. As in gold star quality. The chief engineer is a great guy who agreed to take me on the 5 minute engine room tour but it quickly turned into the 45 minute tour as  he lead me around, taking the time to explain how things work. (Can I just say that I find it rather ironic that after my days on the TSGB I never though I'd be in an engine room again and yet this is the second one this year?) During our tour I got to see the galley with its new hoods and met the Captain of the ship. He personally thanked us for the support our office provides him- sweet!

Realizing that we'd put in way more than our 8 hours and it was late Friday afternoon we thanked everyone again and headed back south. Along the way we called our boss to report in. He was once again impressed that I have no fear running around engine rooms. Shoot, I was even in heeled boots today. No. Not exactly ship exploring shoes but that wasn't our original plan! Oh well, as it was also pointed out on the drive back, when I tag along for visits we get the VIP tours. The things I do for my country :)

Trieste

Is it possible to experience culture shock within different parts of the country you live in? I mean, I guess I'd experience some major shock had I been offered the job in Mississippi but I would have figured that Naples has provided enough shocks for all of Italia.

Don't get me wrong- I often find "different" just the thing I'm looking for but after spending less than 24 hours in Trieste and back in Naples (okay, MdP) I'm still trying to really process what we found after a short hour-ish flight north. Sure the signs were still in Italian, scooters and mini cars filled the streets, and the caffe bar on every corner confirmed we were still in Italy, however, the politeness of drivers as they obeyed traffic laws, the clean streets aligned by  carefully planted flowers, the clear blue sky, and just a hint of "fall" in the breeze sent my brain spinning through all the places I've been to figure out just where I really was. Austria was my conclusion...but it smelled like Lake Tahoe in the fall. Um yeah, neither locations are Trieste, but if you've been to either I guess that gives you an idea as to what Trieste is sort of like.

So what was I doing there? Official work business. Although I refer to it as my crash course in all things N7, it pretty much was a "let's let Katie go see what we actually do." Which was great! I mean, I have a passport and am ready to travel pretty much within a few hours time. Once on site, I was given the tour by both our local engineer (who traveled with me) and the port engineer in charge of this major project. I met the Captain of the ship and was "live on location" when the weekly Tuesday conference call took place. I was also there when my coworker was emailed about funding and was able to mostly put it in non finance terms to make sure there were a few less questions. We spent hours at the dock and I loved it all!

Walking up the gangway I was immediately transported back to my 2 months at sea on the Golden Bear. Well, it was a lot different since this ship was not in water. None. This ship was balancing on blocks and that's it. It was amazing and I was in awe as I was in the dry dock staring up at the huge ship above, yes ABOVE, me. My coworker was awesome as he showed me around the ship and introducing me to the crew since he visits this ship a fair amount. We were lead on an engine room tour and as we climbed ladders, dodged chains, and jumped rails I almost regretted my one time thought of joining the Navy. Of course this was one of those "only thought about it for a few days" things but being back on the ship really made me think about it again. (Don't worry, it's already left my mind...I'm happy just working for them.)

After a super long day that started in the office before catching the mid morning flight we ventured into the downtown area of Trieste to locate our hotel. Side note- I'm really beginning to believe that the GPS has issues and not me since we had major issues locating things. Granted, finding a ship isn't really the easiest thing when you're in a city with multiple ports (or so I've been told) but we made it and it didn't take us that much longer to get there. It was sort of fun asking locals for directions (yes, in Italian...my travel buddy has lived here multiple years) but even with that we ended up just voting on which way to turn at intersections. Hey- I've found my sense of adventure! And yes, we did find the ship.

Once settled in, sort of rested, and cleaned up we ventured around town in search of food but since we had over an hour to kill before dinner really started we just walked around the streets we had previously driven. Being so far north, it turns out that some of the buildings had been built when it was part of Austria (go Katie's brain). There were still plenty of Roman ruins though and churches with bells announcing the hour, half hour, and even quarter hour.

As we walked around town another "oh wow" moment struck me- there were plenty of dogs around but they were on leashes being walked by their owners or waiting patiently next to a table on a patio. They were also not quite our Naples variety of mutts but terriers, bull dogs, and other recognizable breeds. Again, picture Carmel and that was sort of the image but you got to keep in mind that for several months now I haven't seen what used to be my all so familiar sights so it just caught me a tad off guard.

The evening was filled with food and when we thought we couldn't eat any more- we found gelato. So many choices but my final pick was pera and I didn't regret it one bit. The rest of the evening was spent taking in a few more local sights of "Trieste's most important....statue, building, tower, church, lamp post" and just having fun. At some point of the night we realized just how close we were to another ship of ours and thought to call back to the office to see if we could head down there but then figured with the office move it probably wasn't the best thing. Well, turns out the boss kicked himself for not realizing how close were were tot he other ship and said if asked we would have heard "yes." Grr. Oh well! Just saving that travel money for another trip hopefully not before too long.