Laundry

Of course, we have to do all of our own laundry. We have an old laundry building that has 15 washers and 15 dryers. The cool thing about it is that they aren't coin operated. We get to use them for free!!! There is also another new laundry room that is attached to a computer lab. It has 15 washers and 15 dryers and they are all front loaders, nice! You would think that having that many machines you wouldn't have to wait. But sometimes you do...

Chow Hall

This is where all of our meals are served. It is like a huge cafeteria. You walk in and there are 4 areas you can go to. The grill area that has burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken sandwiches, fries, and onion rings (basically all the stuff that is bad for you). The salad bar area that has soups, chili, and all kinds of salad toppings. The sandwich area that has bread, egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, meats, cheeses, and chips. And then there is the hot food area that always has 4 entrees and about 8 veggies. Wednesday nights is steak night with a potato bar!!! They have a cereal area, fruits, and a dessert area to die for. All kinds of pies, cakes, and cookies. It is so hard to resist! I usually only eat chocolate pie one night on the weekends, but sometimes I just walk by that area to see (and smell) what I'm missing. And of course, there is all kinds of drinks. All coke products, blue and red powerade, all types of milk (even chocolate), apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, lemonade, and a machine that spits out hot chocolate, coffee, latte, mocha... Well, you get the picture. Breakfast is also great, but through the week I can't eat before PT and on weekends I never get up early enough. Chow hall is open from 6-8AM, 11-1PM, and 5-7PM and it is all free to us!!!

Our rooms

We stay in buildings that look like a motel. Ours is 3 stories high and there is one that is 4 stories high. I share a room with another girl and we share a bathroom with another room. There are actually some rooms that have 4 guys in them that share a bathroom with another room. Luckily, I didn't get the short end of that stick. When you walk into the room, there is about two feet between the wall and the bunk bed. To the left, there is a chest of 4 drawers with a small TV on top. I am so thankful that we have extended cable (so I still get my TruTV and A&E fix)!!! Directly beside that is a small desk. We have just enough room to walk around the bed and then there is our vanity area and closet. The space is only big enough for an ironing board to be fully extended (get the idea). Yes, we are on top of each other! This has been hard for me, to say the least... It is one thing to have a roommate, it is quite another to live asshole to elbow with someone else. Oh well, it's free. We have a "wall unit" AC and heater (like a motel). You open a door to go to the shower or toilet that is joined with another room. You have to strategically plan shower time and hope that you don't have an "emergency" while someone else is in there. As of yet, this hasn't happened (but I've come close). We have a housekeeper that comes everyday to clean up, make our beds, exchange our towels, and empty our garbage. That is pretty nice!

The Complex

This place is called FLETC, which stands for Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. They train Border Patrol, Customs, Air Marshalls, and other people here. I spoke with one lady who was here for firearms training for her job in Florida. So training wise, it is quite a mix. It is pretty much like a college campus. You walk to everything. There are various building sprinkled around that are used as classrooms. They even have some modular buildings that we use as classrooms. The bad thing about those is that they don't have bathrooms in them. Then there are the chow hall, PT building, laundry building, pub, small shop, computer lab, recreational room (I've never been in it), and a computer lab/laundry room (it is new and VERY NICE). I stumbled across it by accident one day. We have buses that take us to Walmart, Kmart, and to town at night and on the weekends. They also have buses that go to Roswell on the weekends. We (Artesia) are about 40 miles from Roswell. They also have different trips and things that are planned that you can sign up for (like trips to Carlsbad Canyon or to see Christmas lights around town). I haven't done that yet either. There is also a golf course down the street, a movie theater in town, and bowling somewhere.

First Weekend

I am spent! I don't do much of anything. Just try to get caught up on some studying. Saturday night, me and some guys watch part of "The Italian Job" in our classroom (security kicks us out at 10PM). After that, Langley and I go over to the Coyote Pub and split a VERY large pitcher of beer. This is a bar located on campus that serves beer and liquor. Sunday I did laundry.

Official 4th day - Friday 11/21

Thank God it's Friday!!! In PT today, we had to do a circuit course that was set up in the gym. Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, then we had to run suicides and sprints. I felt as though I was gonna die (seriously!). The circuit course consisted of high stepping over obstacles, jumping up on high steps, dummy drags, pull ups, weighted ball toss, running around cones, and various other things. Quick change and off to the classroom. Today we got our gun belt with our fake red gun, fake radio, OC holder, magazine holder, handcuff holder, and glove pouch. Our uniform is complete!!! First week down...

Official 3rd day - Thursday 11/20

PT first thing at 7:30AM for 2 hours (everyday). Today we were evaluated. We were timed on push ups, sit ups, and a 1 1/2 mile run. We ran outside in only t shirts and shorts and it was below freezing! I was a slow ass popsicle!!! If we didn't do as well as we did on our fitness test that we had to take before we got here (and of course I didn't), then we had to fill out a form as to why. And what purpose does that serve??? Who really cares??? Just get our asses into shape!!! Yes, PT will be my downfall. I am the worst runner. I can't seem to get the right form. And the altitude here doesn't help your breathing any... After PT, no time to shower and barely time to change. We form up outside and march to our classroom. Class work for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, we get issued our rough duty uniforms, hats, boots, and backpack. Our uniforms are green and much like camo material. Tonight I will study, shine my boots, and iron my uniform. Another late one...