Darkness, people, and plywood

I've been here at Bagram (BAF) for a week now.
I'm discovering three things that will take some getting used to for me: dark, plywood and people.
--First, darkness.  My compound works on Greenwich Mean Time (known as Zulu, the military standard), which is 4 1/2 hours behind Afghanistan time. My shift starts around 1000Z, which means it's already 2:30 in the afternoon when I go to work. By the time we leave for "lunch" it is dark, and most of my "day" is spent walking around in the darkness.
--Next, people. I am the type that would make a good hermit. Give me a quiet corner, and I'm happy. Well, there ARE no quiet corners at BAF. Even the bathrooms usually have at least one other person in them. I am having to learn to tune things out which, as my family will attest, is not easy for me. Noise of all kinds annoys me. By the time I redeploy, I will probably be able to sleep through a hurricane. For now, not so much. I hear everything, night and day.
--Third, plywood. My plywood palace, as I call my part of a B-hut, is just that, all plywood. And it's always dark in there, unless I'm walking down the "hallway" (which is actually just a space between the rooms for the door) when it is daytime and light is coming through the cracks around the door. I'm still trying to tiptoe around all the time and be as quiet as a mouse, because I'm never sure which of my three hut-mates is sleeping. I don't feel truly "alone" in there, because I know others can hear every noise I make.

Beyond the adjustments, things are going well. The Air Force office I replaced left just a few days after I reported, so we had just a few days to complete turnover. I actually started doing my job the day after I arrived, while I was still jet lagged. I've been "driving" ever since.

Just as when I started my blog when I was being mobilized, Operational Security (OPSEC) will be of the utmost importance to me. I will not share specifics about my compound, nor will I discuss what I am doing. I will share the everyday things I'm learning, and the goings on in general. I would not want to endanger anyone by careless words. Loose lips STILL sink ships (or down planes, or destroy buildings, you get the idea).

Feel free to ask questions, though. If I can answer them, I will be glad to.

If you'd like to send a package to me or anyone here, send me a comment, and I'll contact you individually.

Thanks.