Be careful and stay safe Ruppy! Some of those aftershocks can be worse than the earthquake!
Iluvthearmy
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Be careful and stay safe Ruppy! Some of those aftershocks can be worse than the earthquake!
I always wanted to feel an earthquake, but still I hope you guys and your property are all ok!
To elaborate a bit on the state of this place. First the land, this place is miserable. It's dusty and completely remote. There is water underground but they lack the capability to bring it up so we do it for them. if you look out across the city, the social hierarchy is immediately visible. There will be several blocks of shacks with cloth roofing, with one large building towering over each burrow (usually a mosque or large business). The people live in a state of perpetual depression, they look sound and act miserable all the time. They treat each other like trash, we already had an instance where several boys would defile a donkey in front of our cameras (to shame us
) daily. these same boys brought a young girl 6-7 years old and beat her, and attempted the same but a man came from the river and beat the boys and tried to take her. We officially cannot leave our post but obviously this wasn't allowed to happen. But he did manage to beat the girls mother before our NCO got there. This kind of thing is seen almost daily on our perimeter cameras. I know you've all heard of the way women are treated in some Islamic sects, well this area is really true to Sharia. I've spoken to some traders and such that hate the way things keep going and want the choice to not be so repressed, but this country will never change. To their credit, this country has been at war for as long as history has been recorded and most tribes don't even accept the idea of a country under a government. They think the tribal lands are completely separate. But they stay and fight to keep it. Not to sound arrogant or disrespectful, but this country feels like it never wanted to leave the caves,campfires and tribal wars.
Iraq was a much more modern country, I worked more closely with interpreters and Iraqi armor and airforce and was able to learn a lot more about them than I ever will the Afghans. The guy I worked with the most Fajhime was a soccer (football coach at their version of a YMCA) who fought beside us because foreign fighters set fire to his neighborhood. These were respectful and genuinely nice people. Took chai tea breaks on the regular, learned enough of each others language to interact (think British gentleman that speak Arabic). I actually enjoyed a lot of my time in Iraq because it actually seemed like we were on the same team as those soldiers. No joke, I would visit Iraq in 20 years if I was given the chance, but would avoid Afghanistan like the plague.
To elaborate a bit on the state of this place. First the land, this place is miserable. It's dusty and completely remote. There is water underground but they lack the capability to bring it up so we do it for them. if you look out across the city, the social hierarchy is immediately visible. There will be several blocks of shacks with cloth roofing, with one large building towering over each burrow (usually a mosque or large business). The people live in a state of perpetual depression, they look sound and act miserable all the time. They treat each other like trash, we already had an instance where several boys would defile a donkey in front of our cameras (to shame us
) daily. these same boys brought a young girl 6-7 years old and beat her, and attempted the same but a man came from the river and beat the boys and tried to take her. We officially cannot leave our post but obviously this wasn't allowed to happen. But he did manage to beat the girls mother before our NCO got there. This kind of thing is seen almost daily on our perimeter cameras. I know you've all heard of the way women are treated in some Islamic sects, well this area is really true to Sharia. I've spoken to some traders and such that hate the way things keep going and want the choice to not be so repressed, but this country will never change. To their credit, this country has been at war for as long as history has been recorded and most tribes don't even accept the idea of a country under a government. They think the tribal lands are completely separate. But they stay and fight to keep it. Not to sound arrogant or disrespectful, but this country feels like it never wanted to leave the caves,campfires and tribal wars.Iraq was a much more modern country, I worked more closely with interpreters and Iraqi armor and airforce and was able to learn a lot more about them than I ever will the Afghans. The guy I worked with the most Fajhime was a soccer (football coach at their version of a YMCA) who fought beside us because foreign fighters set fire to his neighborhood. These were respectful and genuinely nice people. Took chai tea breaks on the regular, learned enough of each others language to interact (think British gentleman that speak Arabic). I actually enjoyed a lot of my time in Iraq because it actually seemed like we were on the same team as those soldiers. No joke, I would visit Iraq in 20 years if I was given the chance, but would avoid Afghanistan like the plague.
The guy I dated so many years ago brought back so many interesting tales of Iraq and seemed to have met several people who he counted as friends. I did not know afghanistan was so much different.
My time in Isreal was definately a different story. I was supposed to do Isreal and Egypt, but something happened while we were there to make our passage from Isreal to Egypt unsafe, so we ended up extending our stay our entire 3 week away to just Isreal. They to have been at war since before the beginning of time, hence the sudden cancelation of our egypt part of the trip. Luckily there were no bombings close to us at any time, but the military presene in the country never goes unoticed. What I found "spirtual" about my time there was not a religious experience, but the feeling that you were standing at any given time in a spot that dated back to the beginning of our recorded history. Of course because they have managed to turn a desert into a forest, it is not dry there and the landscape is often breath taking. I have never in my life been somewhere that represents so many different cultures (and growing up an hour outside of NYC that is saying something) and all the people we met during our stay were friendly and added something to our visit.
I have always regretted not making it to Egypt and hope that the state of that area changes one day so I can do so.
I am sorry that your experience is so much different then my own. It would have been nice if you could have at least brought back a positive experience of had being submerged into a new and different culture!
Sorry if my question brought you or anyone else down, but being a political science major and a history minor in college, I have always been interested in other places and cultures and always had a particular interest in the middle east!
My time in Isreal was definately a different story. I was supposed to do Isreal and Egypt, but something happened while we were there to make our passage from Isreal to Egypt unsafe, so we ended up extending our stay our entire 3 week away to just Isreal. They to have been at war since before the beginning of time, hence the sudden cancelation of our egypt part of the trip. Luckily there were no bombings close to us at any time, but the military presene in the country never goes unoticed. What I found "spirtual" about my time there was not a religious experience, but the feeling that you were standing at any given time in a spot that dated back to the beginning of our recorded history. Of course because they have managed to turn a desert into a forest, it is not dry there and the landscape is often breath taking. I have never in my life been somewhere that represents so many different cultures (and growing up an hour outside of NYC that is saying something) and all the people we met during our stay were friendly and added something to our visit.
I have always regretted not making it to Egypt and hope that the state of that area changes one day so I can do so.
I am sorry that your experience is so much different then my own. It would have been nice if you could have at least brought back a positive experience of had being submerged into a new and different culture!
Sorry if my question brought you or anyone else down, but being a political science major and a history minor in college, I have always been interested in other places and cultures and always had a particular interest in the middle east!
Well the interesting thing of historical note, this area was once one of the cities of Alexandria. Gotta remember also, these people invented projectile warfare (the Huns) so they are such a warlike culture that I just can't relate enough to bring anything positive out of it for myself.
Army I'm sorry it's so depressing there for you. That's where the training comes to play though. Them people have no concept of peace. It's as foreign to them as can be. It makes you wonder though and thankful for the blessings the good Lord gives to us. Remain safe.
Man thats got to be HARD to watch and not be able to do a thing about 
I would probably be sent home with a dishonarable because I am not sure that I could just not intervene I am not going to get political here but we need to get the heck out and bring our guys home already! That is all that I will say.
On a happy note I think you should get your first package maybe tomorrow? (fingers crossed) and the next two maybe the next day? ( double fingers crossed) I am feeling a bit better but still running a fever and just not quite up to par. All eyes are on Irene right now. If it sets it sights on Charleston SC my son and grandson will be headed my way this weekend and quite possibly sons room mate and 2 boys. So I am doing my best to get back to at least 1/2 way feeling normal to prepare.
I am headed back to bed now but will check in here later
I would probably be sent home with a dishonarable because I am not sure that I could just not intervene I am not going to get political here but we need to get the heck out and bring our guys home already! That is all that I will say.On a happy note
I think you should get your first package maybe tomorrow? (fingers crossed) and the next two maybe the next day? ( double fingers crossed) I am feeling a bit better but still running a fever and just not quite up to par. All eyes are on Irene right now. If it sets it sights on Charleston SC my son and grandson will be headed my way this weekend and quite possibly sons room mate and 2 boys. So I am doing my best to get back to at least 1/2 way feeling normal to prepare.I am headed back to bed now but will check in here later
A large package of PV hardware... well that will lift anyones spirits!
Sorry you are still not feeling well. Hope you are getting rest and drinking plenty of liquids! Homemade chicken soup cures anything, which I could bring you a bowl.
Good luck to all in the path of the huricane (one thing I don't miss since I moved from South Florida, andrew was no fun!)
Sorry you are still not feeling well. Hope you are getting rest and drinking plenty of liquids! Homemade chicken soup cures anything, which I could bring you a bowl.
Good luck to all in the path of the huricane (one thing I don't miss since I moved from South Florida, andrew was no fun!)
Thanks but trust me my mom has a ton of homemade soup waiting for me when I make it to her house. She always feels helpless when one of us are sick (she doesn't drive) so she cooks lol She needs to get to the bank and grocery store as soon as I am up to it and I will get plenty of soup lol
I am drinking lots of low sodium broth from a can though
I am drinking lots of low sodium broth from a can though
It's not depressing 5C, but your right , it does make me more thankful for the what we have back home.
We intervened before the girl got the worst of it, but the mother did end up hospitalized.
Salem, you kind of sound like Job right now just getting every sort of screwed with by the man upstairs. I really hope everything ends up well with the hurricane. You do have your lawn chairs and natty ice for the hurricane party right?
We intervened before the girl got the worst of it, but the mother did end up hospitalized.
Salem, you kind of sound like Job right now just getting every sort of screwed with by the man upstairs. I really hope everything ends up well with the hurricane. You do have your lawn chairs and natty ice for the hurricane party right?
I am now 200 miles from the coast
I survived a major Hurricane (Hugo) in Charleston and probably the only good thing about being in the boonies is that I don't have to deal with them anymore. Just tornadoes lol BUT my son and grandson are just 10 miles off the coast so if she sets her sights on Charleston not only will my son and 3 yo grand head this way but probably his room mate and 4 + 6 year old boys in tow.
Did I ever tell you why my mom nicknamed me Mrs Murphy? lol You may be starting to get the picture. If you think about my address you will see why my mom got a really big kick out of that!
Hey AG, do you read at all? I think that if I were in your situation I would throw myself into a really good book or 2 or 10. A good book can take you away to different place and time
Hey AG, do you read at all? I think that if I were in your situation I would throw myself into a really good book or 2 or 10. A good book can take you away to different place and time
Funny I was going to ask that a few days ago and got distracted. Thought if I new what type of reading he does, I could throw a book into the next package!
My mom is an avid reader. We actually have a very hard time finding books that she has not read yet.
I could easily send him a box full of books if he likes to read but not everyone does
I could easily send him a box full of books if he likes to read but not everyone does
Nope, not everyone is a reader. And if he does read, what type of reading he does will be imortant. If its SyFy I got it! I read other things now and again as well!
how do you like the nook? We ended up going with the kindle for my daughter and my mom.
I haven't gone that way yet, as I like the feel of holding a book and turning the page corners to remember my page. We are pretty much into electronics here (3 zunes, 3 xboxes, too many computers to count and so and so on) but when it comes to reading I am still old school. And I can always take a book into the hot tub!
I haven't gone that way yet, as I like the feel of holding a book and turning the page corners to remember my page. We are pretty much into electronics here (3 zunes, 3 xboxes, too many computers to count and so and so on) but when it comes to reading I am still old school. And I can always take a book into the hot tub!
Hi AG---just reading the posts and checking in to give hugs. Wow-----I thought the description you gave of Afghanistan was very,very interesting--loved reading it, even tho it made me realize what a miserable place for you guys it is. I knew it was tribal and remote and backwards...but not the extent you are describing. Modern day Barberians! I would love to learn more, so if you ever feel like sharing again...I am sure we all would like that. It really helps to get a better image of what our guys are dealing with.
I can't even come up with any clever, witty words to leave you with. I just want you all to come back to us, NOW. Well, I am getting ready to tear up again....better go before I get this post all soggy. Lots of love coming to tent city from me.
I can't even come up with any clever, witty words to leave you with. I just want you all to come back to us, NOW. Well, I am getting ready to tear up again....better go before I get this post all soggy. Lots of love coming to tent city from me.
We like them. My gf has a Kindle to but it's collecting dust these day (she just bought a Nook color, replacing her older Nook). We like the versatility of the Nook. It allows you to use more resources for ebooks than Kindle does (like library books, epub, etc.).
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