just wanted to know Hey, I just wanted to tell you that sometime in the ever nearer future I am deploying to Kandahar and your blog and the picture have me very excited to go be part of the medical staff there. Also I left my email and was hoping you could find the time to tell me a little more about the amenities there. Thanks so much!
Thanks - relief Hi there - congrats on such a great and realistic blog. My boyfriend (Kenyan) has just gone out there in a civilian role and I was so worried about him. But it seems that life is not all bad and he will get some chances to relax at the cafes. One thing I wasn't clear on - is it possible for him to phone and text on his own mobile phone? Or are all these things monitored? And is it easy to post letters/parcels there? Is there anything you would recommend to send that is just not available there... Thank you very much
Echoing the thanks for the insight into KAF life My son recently deployed (USAF) to KAF. I try to picture what it is like; your photos and descriptions help immensely. Thanks so much!
Well for one thing...The Canadian military are only deployed for 6 months with 3 weeks vacay in between whereas The US army are there for a whole year with only 2 weeks vacay. The gym I was in, is Canadian.
And yes Tim Hortons is a Donut/coffee shop :)...its waaayyy cheaper then green beans. And why you couldn't find it, is because it has moved to the Canadian side by the market
guys from Canada not interested? Why is it that Canadian guys aren't (as) interested in women? Strange. Could it be Canada allows openly gay men to join the military service? Interesting observation regardless, from your unique perspective. Was the gym you visited a Canadian gym or a US gym?
Anyway, I had heard of Tim Horton's the few times I rolled through KAF, but couldn't find it with the limited free time I had. I also heard I wasn't missing much. I guess it's like a doughnut shop, eh?
i miss kaf hi thank you for the picture i work there before for almost to years and now am in my own country i miss those place i hope i could comeback soon its a good place even its a war zone .u can enjoy everything thank u and god bless u all keep up the good work
Yep its wireless...and you have to pay for it. From what I've heard its pretty good but not that fast. And yes the Canadian gym is one of the best gym in KAF and its pretty crowded...esp at night, however there are reserved time only for the Canadians.
Questions Hi Ngoggy,
I am currently trying ot decide whether to take a 6 month contract position at KAF as a civilian contractor with SNC Lavalin. I had some questions that I hoped you could help me with.
How is the internet connection? I have heard it is frequently cutting in and out. And is it wireless? (I want to bring my own computer/ipod to use Skype with).
What is a Chu?
I know you mentioned you stayed away from the gyms, but I heard they were always overcrowded, true?
Taxes? Were you taxed on foreign earnings when you came back? I am interviewing for an ISAF job thursday but the pay does not look like much more than I am already getting and it might be a little less. They also want a 12 month commitment while you only had 6 by the looks of things. Are the NATO ISAF jobs considered second rate compared to other contractors ?
I Don't even know if they cell Iphones over there. I suggest you buy a cheapo phone at 50$ and get a phone card 10$...it will last you quite awhile...the rates are pretty good.
Cell phones/iPads? This may be a stupid question but would you get an iPhone over there or risk using yours from Canada and the retarded data rates? \Which would be cheaper or even possible?
Not too bad Nice blog! I've been here 4 months and it's not too bad here. I'm still looking for the 2 beers a month though :( Oh and you got to love the poo poo pond :) Haha.
Thanks Thank you very much for your blog on Kandahar. I will be spending a few months there and I had no idea what to expect. Now I think I have a really good idea of what Kandahar is like. Thanks again
American Men No worries about the American men chasing you when you leave. It is the 3-8-3 rule. When you are home your a 3, but during a long deployment you are an 8 (men's grading scale declines when deployed), then you go back to reality and redeploy, you are a 3 again!!
Thanks for the great laugh!!
Mr. Contractor
What to expect:
Ngoggy has it right. Dust and more dust. Bring a gator neck!
We get rocketed at least weekly, during the slow season, and lots more if the Talibannanas get uppity. Usually the American MLRS rips them apart, but there are always more of those crazies were the last bunch came from. Having said that, they rarely do any damage, but it does happen once in a while.
If you are coming out here for the first time, it's important that you get with someone that can help you pack appropriately, or at least help you ask the right questions. Nothing worse than getting here unprepared!
Best regards,
Albert Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Range Reviews: Tactical
thanks It was a pleasure to reac your blog, our son goes out shortly to work in a civilain capacity and we had no idea what to expect. Having read your blog and looked at your pics .. it almost seems normal and some ( although not all ) of or worries have been put to rest
If you dont mind a question ..... how safe is it on the base, are there many attacks..??
Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky - forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world.
The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it.
I think traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance, plans never go the way you planned it, you have all the time in the world.
Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.
This w... full info
Sarah
non-member comment
just wanted to know
Hey, I just wanted to tell you that sometime in the ever nearer future I am deploying to Kandahar and your blog and the picture have me very excited to go be part of the medical staff there. Also I left my email and was hoping you could find the time to tell me a little more about the amenities there. Thanks so much!