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andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: June 2009

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

I flew to Sharana a little apprehensively, not because I had any reservations about anything in particular, but the exhaustion of this place is setting in, the enemy activity is heating up, and in ten days, something is bound to happen that is worth a certain level of anxiety. We loaded up and headed to a school to conduct an assessment. We were eating Afghan cookies and joking and laughing over the radios as we drove through the twisting alleyways between the qalats (mud-houses.). Uh, we got a guy hit b...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: Sharana

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009/06/sharana.html

I flew to Sharana a little apprehensively, not because I had any reservations about anything in particular, but the exhaustion of this place is setting in, the enemy activity is heating up, and in ten days, something is bound to happen that is worth a certain level of anxiety. We loaded up and headed to a school to conduct an assessment. We were eating Afghan cookies and joking and laughing over the radios as we drove through the twisting alleyways between the qalats (mud-houses.). Uh, we got a guy hit b...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: Pause

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009/10/pause.html

Not blogging any more due to the fact that I cant talk freely about most things in my life right now. The facts must be altered, the opinions censored, and to me. its pointless to write fake blogs for the sake of putting something down. I am however. writing a book. When we have returned from Afghanistan, back to normalcy where everything can stop swirling in shadows, I will try to resume the blog. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Other Blogs I like. Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal.

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: February 2009

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Info Overload. in a good way. Not sure how or when I grew up and got a real job, but it happened, and that epiphany just struck. We had our PAO. In-brief and I am left thoroughly vertiginous 24 hours later. The glory/curse of my job is that it mandates in-depth knowledge of practically every aspect of our brigade and its operations, as well as the foreign counterparts we work with. In less than two hours, we waded through the 4-101 st'. Still trying to get a grasp on (and an interview with! We learned th...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: November 2008

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Is finally over, and I'm. Just waiting for my flight out in the morning, back to Alaska and the snow. Ive learned so much here, but I am beyond ready to be done with this. It has been frustrating and exhausting and fulfilling and amazing all at the same time, but I need a break, a bubble bath, and a glass of wine (or a few! Possibly capture my whole experience here, but I'll touch on a few things. Steve and I went on a mission with the 509 th. And to figure out how I fit in. The EOD. Steve is still laugh...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: April 2009

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

After a week of weather holds, a few more rockets, tower guard, and a bout of the flu where I found myself on my hands and knees puking in a port-a-john (an experience I highly recommend avoiding if at all possible! One thing about this culture that is a little hard to get used to. they have no personal space. As someone who has a bubble with a radius of roughly a mile, its a bit of an adjustment for me. They will get an inch away from your nose while talking, touch you. Ahhh. Subscribe to: Posts (Atom).

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: July 2009

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Dust, a gift, and a bad guy. I flew to Kushamond a week ago, and am quite sure that, had someone told me I had landed on Mars by accident, I would have believed them. Most of the Afghanistan that I have come to know (and love/hate) is full of rocks, and some semblance of vegetation, however sparse. Kush though… nothing but dirt as far as the eye can see, and stench. 8217; moments. Why am I holding a Taliban dude by the arm? Eventually our ride came and we handed him over. Then Sharana got rocketed&#4...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: December 2008

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

Want to write this blog, but I'm. Going to. Not so I can emotionally vomit all over you, but because as I have learned particularly over the past year, pain and hardships numb and scar, and leave you thinking later they weren't. As bad as they actually were. And Im. Not sure I want to be calloused. I need to remember how hard this is. We headed to our favorite dining spot, Benihanas. Where the Hibachi chefs whip up some fantastic Asian cuisine. and Jayvn. Said 'Mama. I just feel like Im. Never going to s...

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: Dand Patan

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009/05/dand-patan.html

I'll have to finish the Kalagu blog later. Let me catch up here, so I can move forward. This is from a couple weeks ago, when I was in Paktya. A group of children sang for the Elders, their young voices carrying a sweet message reminding the audience that, while they may be from separate tribes, they are all one people. It was encouraging to hear a message of unity coming from the rising generation. A poet followed, challenging the crowd with the questions "Who's game is this? 15 May, 2009 20:48.

andryadawn.blogspot.com

Three Cents: January 2009

http://andryadawn.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

I need to write more often, Ive had one of those crazy-busy weeks where I cant even remember as far back as Monday. Time seems to be moving so fast. Last weekend was wonderful. such a small, tightly knit town. Lots of friendly locals to talk to and the most quaint little businesses. The General Store (the only store in town really) carried everything from fur to highlighters to Alaskan. But was deterred after falling into the waist-high snow covering the ground. Im. The work week was so busy, and Im.