READ THIS.

What's up?

I'm in Kandahar, Afghanistan right now for the next 6 months. I was in Kyrgyzstan for all that hullabaloo as well, but I made it to my destination safely. Anyhow, it appears I can get TNL here so that's a little comfort of home here.

Things are fine, it's hotter'n hell (and summer hasn't even hit here yet). I'll give my journey in a few steps...maybe I can update this thread periodically.

I was supposed to leave on the 7th of April, but I ended up leaving on the 4th. Okay, cool. Whatever. Saw it coming. HURRY UP AND WAIT should be on the commercials for the military.

I flew from Charleston, SC to Atl, then to El Paso. My flight got delayed several hours, so I got to TX later than I was supposed to. When I tried to drop my bags off and join everyone else at the temp terminal, I had to reload them into the cab and take them back over to the main terminal so the dogs could inspect them. Whatever. It ended up working out for the best and saving me a step...because where I was going, everyone else was going back to.

Note to self: NEVER MOVE TO EL PASO.

I finally flew out of TX later than day, and we landed in Maine for a few hours. Then I flew to Germany, then to Kyrgyzstan.

HOOOO boy. That was fun. Ha, we had to arm up because the townspeople were acting a straight fool. But it was so funny because the Marines were taking pictures of us armed up because they never thought they'd see the "Chair Force" do anything like that. They were actually impressed...funny.

Nothing happened with us, but due to the Pres getting the boot, and other stuff going on, I was grounded in Kyrgyzstan...for a WEEK. So I spent lots of time in the transient tents playing emu'ed games, talking and emailing on my laptop.

So finally we were given the go ahead to leave...we flew into another location, at which point THEY LOST MY BAGS. They lost my bags AND my weapon. I'm glad I got delayed in my new location because every time they delayed, thank GOD they found a bag....3 delays....3 bags and my weapon.

COOL. So I'm back on track.

So here I am, I arrived in Kandahar last weekend, so today is one week here. One week is down, and 5 months, 4 weeks to go!

However, I'm really enjoying it here...so far until the summer hits and then the Taliban start shooting up the place. I've got a good gig...my superiors are from all different nations and it's really quite an experience working alongside them. I thank God I got the chance to do this job because it can really change your outlook on things.

It's really funny how the military from other countries have different mindsets. You name the nation? It's got reps here.

Things are going fine so far. I've got a few of my mates from home station and I ran into 2 friends from years past...so it's been a good deployment so far.

Pardon the weird spacing on my thread...I'm just typing as I think in a scatterbrained fashion today.

Anyhow, I'll update here every now and then to let you guys know I'm doing okay. I'll put up a few pictures later.

Take care!

- C

Stay safe out there! When in doubt just reach down and find your inner Goro.

Be safe.

Any chance you're with any Navy Seabeas? My brother just recently shipped out to Kandahar as well.

Good luck out there.

Rich, I'm out here with over 27,000k people (that's not a confidential number). And just wait until after the troop surge. *PHEW*

If he's here, then I'm here with him. This is a big base with a lot of people.

Stay safe dude.

A good friend of mine is Air Force in Afghanistan, he's over there x-raying planes or some such nonsense. I'm not sure where over there though.

Have fun (?), if you get bored, maybe you can shoot a goat.

Glad it's been a good experience for you so far, try to stay cool (temp wise) and of course, stay safe.

Be safe, nigga.

That's craaaaaazy dude. To reiterate the rhetoric, stay safe man.