Overall, I have experienced many things...and this trip was definitely worth the experience. I am glad to have experienced the following:
- my 1st earthquake,
- many indirect attacks: motars/rockets,
- photographing thousands of pieces of evidence,
- completing a marathon at nearly mile high altitude,
- meeting and working with people from: DOD, DOJ, CIA, etc.,
- working in a joint environment, with all branches, civilians, officers and enlisted alike...
- meeting and working with people from many different countries: Poland, Norway, Romania, Germany, Finland, Egypt, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, Turkey, etc.,
- photographing evidence, only to have piece of it (a cell phone) ring: scared as %&*#!,
- looking into the eyes of the most evil men I will likely ever encounter,
- seeing the remains of young, misdirected suicide bombers,
- photographing activities outside the wire,
- smelling death for days on end...
It was a great 8 months, and my coworkers/friends are the ones who made it bearable. Also, anyone who took the time to send a package/write/email, and ESPECIALLY those who did, and did not get upset when I didn't return the favor, THANK YOU!!