Matt has returned...for now

Matt decided to leave the company he was with and return home to take a contact with Blackwater instead. Just in time too. The contract he was on ended up folding and everyone there had to scramble to get a new job. Matt will be doing PSD for Blackwater in Iraq. He will be leaving for Virginia to train there for about a month and then be deployed. He is looking forward to this new challenge. It has been wonderful to have him home, and will be very difficult to say goodbye all over again. He will be out of the country for 1 year. As soon as he has an address in Iraq I will send it to you all.

Hope you all are well,
Michelle

Inside the International Zone in an area that used to be a Republican Guard training facility. 

Matt has sent photos!

Hello All! Matt was able to send some photos that he has taken while being in Country. He is still at the US embassy in Iraq. Still no word on when or if they will go do the job they were hired to do. Matt is very frustrated at the whole situation and is looking to go with another company right now. His current company has told them that they can, at any time, leave this contract to pursue another. It seems as though this contract is not what everyone thought it would be. It looks like he might be home the last week of August, and then go to training for 21 days in Virginia, and then back to work a different contract doing PSD, (personal security, basically armed guard who helps to transport people). I will keep you all posted on his situation.

Hope you all are doing well,

Michelle

Matt with a few of his coworkers. 

Matt at the pool he swims in daily at the embassay. 

Matt at his farwell for now party. 

He is still waiting!

Wanted to let you all know that Matt is fine, and is still at the embassy. He has frequent access to email, and is pretty bored, so send him one! He will reply when he is able. Not too much has changed for him. He is still in the Green Zone, not doing a whole lot. He has been going to the gym and swimming in the pool a lot. Paperwork is being finished and he is ready to go to Taji any time now. There has been a little bit of uncertainty with what is going on, and when they will actually go to work. Some people from the team have been sent home and more have arrived. He still does not have an address to be able to send mail to, when he does I will update the page with that info.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer! It sure has been hot here!

Michelle