Déjà vu is funny.  Some smart brainy people claim that it doesn’t exist.  They say that it’s actually just the brain observing, thinking, and processing things faster than reality allows.  They say that it seems you’ve already experienced it because your brain knows what is and will happen before it happens milliseconds later.  I disagree.  I’ve been through enough experiences that I’ve either 1) dreamed about, or 2) already experienced before that I think déjà vu is a real experience, reflecting on a larger theme that God is working in us.

I bring up déjà vu because it happened to me recently here at Ft. Polk, Louisiana.  I was riding on a bus to the dental clinic, and I looked out the window and was wholly aware of already experiencing that moment (or something like it before).  Many times in my life, I’ve experienced something that I’d dreamed about before.  And the dreams are never recent; they’re usually from years ago.  It’s very unique.

We arrived here last weekend.  Ft. Polk reminds me a bit of Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri in the fact that they’re both surrounded by a plethora of trees.  However, considering the fact that Colorado got pounded again by snow the other day, I’m okay being down here with highs in the mid-70s.  The humidity definitely affects the feel of the temperature, but I’ll take this weather over Louisiana in the summertime any day.

We’ve been in-processing so far, which basically consists of lots of briefs, tons of paperwork, and clearing different stations, such as medical, dental, finance, legal, etc.  We haven’t really had problems yet.  However, I was surprised with a barrel of fun at medical when I was informed that I’d be receiving my smallpox vaccine.  You see, I had chickenpox twice as a child, so I ignorantly assumed that I’d built immunity to it all.  I hadn’t heard anything about getting this vaccine back in Colorado, so I didn’t expect anything here.  But I was wrong.  How to describe this vaccine:  it’s not a typical shot.  The process begins by receiving a cleaning packet and filling out additional paperwork.  You’re then informed about how long bandages need to stay on, how to clean the surrounding skin, and the proper disposal of all of the associated materials.  Then the nurse cleans the spot and begins the vaccination.  Essentially, they have a thick hollow needle that they stab you with about fifteen times in a small circle on the arm.  The shot doesn’t go into the muscle; it’s just for the skin.  It’s then bandaged and left alone for three days.  Next week, we return to medical for an inspection, and hopefully we’ll be cleared then.

All things considered, I cannot complain much.  The worst part is the fact that we don’t have internet in the barracks and we have to walk up to the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) building to use internet or watch TV.  But I brought a couple of books with me and have spent a lot of time hanging out with my team members, so it’s been good thus far.  However, once we finish in-processing, we’ll be busy enough that our free time will mostly be spent sleeping.

Until then,
- Jerrod