http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Middle East , Kuwait en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:05:57 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:05:57 BST I got up early this morning to go get issued another set of body armor. I was issued a set at Ft. Hood but the set I received today is designed to be dropped in the event of a fire. There is a rip cord that you can pull if you become trapped in a vehicle on fire. When you pull the cord the armor falls to the floor and you can step out of it. This new armor covers my whole trunk and sides. We http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-280465.html I had training all day today. It is mostly classified so I cannot share what I learned about. I did learn that the Army has created a task force called Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell CEXE. The acronym is pronounced SEXY. I don't know who they put in charge naming that probably a bunch of undersexed soldiers. CEXE is the CSI of IEDs Improvised Explosive Devices or Roadside Bombs. T http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-280464.html Had a slower day today. I had to attend a class on an Army computer system today. It was a 4 hour block but the computers were not working well so we spent most of the class attempting to log on to the system. It was really a waste of the afternoon. Mark and I worked out for a couple of hours today. I feel really good now that I have had time to work out. When I came back to the tent I spent http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-279712.html Laundry day. I took my clothes to the laundry trailer today. The laundry is run by the Indians too. They first weigh your laundry in kilograms then ask you to dump it out. They thouroughly check your pockets for cash and ammunition then inventory it. They list the size and type of every item and write it up as if you were at a real dry cleaner. It will be ready in three days better than t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-279390.html We went postal today. I bought some trinkets for the girls and mailed them today. We have a little post office here on the FOB Forward Operating Base. It seems that no matter where you go postal employees are still turse and unhelpful. You would think that for 100000 dollars a year they could muster a smile. I worked out until late with Mark. We have been working out to pass the time as http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-278566.html Little to do today. Mark and I walked to the front gate of post to take pictures of the Camp sign. It is about a mile and a half to the sign from our tent. The sun was not too high as we began our trek. When we arived some of the workers were polishing the brass letters. The took pictures of us standing be the sign. We gawked for a while and began to hike back y then the sun was higher and http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277951.html Today we woke up at 130 AM to go to the firing range. We had to test fire our weapons to ensure that they work. We drove about an hour into the middle of the desert to get away from any civilization. I say bedowins with 2 herds of sheep. I also saw my first camels. There were two of them several hundred yards off in the distance. I fired my weapon as did 400 of my closest friends. It sound http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277950.html Today we had our first classes. We learned about Force Protection and IEDs. Our first trainer was from the Navy. He was a knowledgeable guy but a little rough around the edges. The second trainer was a British Engineer. What a riot. He taught us about fratracide. He showed us a video clip that had a guy getting his in the testicles with a golf ball. He said No matter what culture you are http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277949.html The weather has cleared. It is not clear and sunny but hazy and hot. The dust is still thick in the air but it does not blow too hard so that you do not need goggles. Another day of aclimization. My buddies and I spent the day getting ready for tomorrow's training. We are exploring the camp and figuring out the best places for Internet and phone use.There was a concert tonight. The Air Force http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277948.html The weather is terrible. There is a light sandstorm the wind is voracious and the sand is in everything. My uniform is buttoned up all the way. I have a boonie cap sun glasses and bandana tied over my face. Picture a soldier robbing a bank.There is pallets of bottled water in front of every tent. I think that the water has sand in it all I taste is grit and dirt. Maybe it will whiten my t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277283.html Arrived in Kuwait today. It is wierd I lost May 14th. I do not know where it went. It is 7 hours ahead of East Coast. We arrived and had yet another briefing. I learned that we had a suprise benefit.Since a war zone is tax free and you only have to be in the war zone for one day to recieve the tax free benefit we begin today. Pay is 115 and 1630. We arrived on the 15th so tax free from http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277282.html Today we left Ft. Hood on our great eastward journey. We left for the airfield about 1700. When we got to the airfield we had a briefing on Anti Terrorism which seemed odd as everyone on the plane had a rifle or pistol and a knife.After the briefing we had dinner a sandwich and chips. The USO Salvation Army adn some churches had many offerings. The USO had snacks drinks and gum. The Salv http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Jahra/blog-277280.html End of one lifeSudden long weekendOn wednesday I had a normal morning. I woke up at 6.50 being tired as usual and I was swearing my miserable life and worst job on earth. I had my breakfast packed my laptop and put on my company's cap. I was ready to face the day's challenges. On the way to work I thought I had finally became so tired that I had slept several days and woke up on Friday morning in http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Farwaniyah/blog-276666.html Here againNew beginningIt's been a very long time since I wrote here last time. I had even forgotten the password to log in. But here I am again laptop on my lap watching Ice Hockey World Championship game Russia Switzerland. Outside temperature is around 40 C here in Kuwait and the game is broadcasted from Canada. I have desperately tried to follow a game where Finland plays but for some reas http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Farwaniyah/blog-275528.html So another exhibition in a gulf country and I was on my way to Kuwait. Totally spent five days there. If you were a kid like me in the 80's Kuwait has a different meaning for you. It was the ground where another episode of Star Wars took place and this was shown on TV's live. Good allied forces were fighting against the bad guys to save Kuwaiti people from torture killings and rapings. It was http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-267017.html NEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHOn the evening of Wednesday 13 February 2008 Lynne and I made a decision that would change our lives forever.We have decided that when we leave Kuwait we will return to the states to visit friends and family as well as take care of business prior to our next GREAT ADVENTURE.Our next great adventure will begin with a flight to Icelan http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/blog-253562.html After announcing our plans to travel the World many folks have asked us how we decided to take an adventure of this grand scale. Irsquom sure there is a simple answer to these questions but everyone knows that I have never given a simple answer to any question.Lynne and I pause for a brief moment in our planning and reflect on the primary factors that led us to this fascinating decision. For http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/blog-247587.html Oh yes Now comes time to plan it all out.Since we decided to peruse this great adventure on the 13th of February we have begun a very extensive research and planning mission to ensure we are fully able to execute when it comes time to launch into an unknown world. This is no small feat. Just to give you a little glimpse about some of the planning factors I'll take the time to break it down for http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/blog-246813.html LTD PassportJust what the heck is this all aboutWell let me explain in simple terms. Lynne and I have formed an LTD. We are not in any business venture nor are we providing any product or service.LTD simply stands for Living The Dream and the passport is the tool that allows us to do exactly thatLive The Dream.Since the begining of our life together we have found one common thing that bin http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/blog-245976.html Hey again all. Well. Just got back from a few days up North. Kuwait city is a very interesting place. We didn't visit there at all when I was coming into the region a few months ago has it been that long already so this chance to see it was jumped at. We had a port visit planned with our unit coming in for a few hours for maintainance. We flew in and headed straight for the hotel. Crowne Plaza. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-229216.html I have been hoping to run into my best friend from fourth and fifth grade. Mariam AlSabah and I were students at the American School of Paris together during the first Gulf War and kept in touch for a while after we both moved back to our respective homes which for her was Kuwait. However trying to find one specific Mariam AlSabah in Kuwait is like trying to find bronzing cream in the Mi http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-227971.html Greetings from KuwaitldquoPajeeeeerrrroooordquo Just as the man on the phone repeatedly cried out after realizing that I didnrsquot speak a lick of Arabic Pajeeeerrrooo is now a familiar quote that Emily and I cry out ourselves. It was a long and anxious wait after first speaking with Hamad on the phone that fateful night. But now we have our own Mitsubishi Pajero. By our estimate http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-218758.html Hey AllThe videos are now working on So Much to Celebrate.....Em's last entry. CheersJoel http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-216511.html Video clip links in black and blue 2 cm up from this line. First one should read Raphaello. Contact webmaster Joel if they're not working. I can barely run the video camera much less tell you why you can't watch our videos or why there was that girl in an auditorium last time. To begin a selection of questions Irsquove heard in my counseling office this week ldquoMiss Meadows I kn http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-214428.html GreetingsEid Mubarak Which of course means may you enjoy a blessed festival. Today marks the end of Ramadam. Today is Eid ulFitr. Muslims thank God for their blessings and for watching over them during their month of fasting. The day is celebrated with family and friends through giving sharing joyfully eating and dressing up in formal attire. It's kind of like Christmas So as a Ch http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-210560.html Daaaaaaaahlings ldquoOh itrsquos sooooooo haram.rdquo For those of you who remember my emails from last October I got really familiar with the word lsquoharamrsquo. Shameful forbidden whichever translation you choose I was fitting it. Well little has changed in since last year and I am still the princess of haram. But Irsquom not a real princess though many of our student http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-208707.html Holy Month of RamadanThe month of Ramadan started around 13th of September and I must say these around two weeks here experiencing this month have been rather interesting. It is like Christmas time which last a whole month what comes to people's habbits. Well not exactly but there are some similarities like eating until you burst after fasting all day from sunrise to sunset. This they repeat ever http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-207697.html Greetings from KuwaitYou know those times in your life when you start acting faster thanyou're thinking Yes well I seem to rush into these opportunities of'guttrusting' or thoughtlessness faster than others. . . . . . .There was an auctionget together 9 days ago in the teacher apartmentcomplex. Emily and I scored some goods a water dispenser some glassvase thingies and some duvet covers http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Kuwait/Al-Kuwait/blog-205518.html