Here we go..

It took me almost a week to get half way around the world. We took a 2 day pit stop in Al Udeid, where there is nothing but dirt and hot. Hot is a noun, I’m serious, if you don’t believe me go anywhere near Saudi Arabia.

I’ve been in Kabul two days now. I carry a 9mil on my leg everywhere unless I'm in my office. It is strange, I have no inclination to use it but it is there.

Today I went with the security team for the boss, "PSD" personnel security detail, to another part of Kabul where there is another base. Afghans drive insane, they have only had cars here about 5 years. There are no street lights, road signs for direction or naming purpose, and no government control to make sure people are following the rules because, there are no rules. I've been to Naples and that was orderly and calm compared to here. Men, who I assume are military officials stand around with M-16s on the streets and just stare at everyone. They sometimes point cars in directions but they aren’t listened to. While going through Kabul, we got hit by a little car going about 30. It got crunched up but hit our back wheel, and we had no damage at all. We don't stop in those situations without support because that would be too dangerous. We were safe in our car because it is armored.

This place looks just like I would imagine a poverty stricken country to look. We see a lot of donkeys pulling carriages of fruit, kids with sticks full of "goods", condemned looking buildings that are the stores, but I see absolutely nothing of values out here at all. I think the only people who have money out here are the Taliban and the drug lords.

Less than half the women I see are in burcas. But all women walk behind the men they are with, if they are outside at all. 90% of the people I see here are men and children. We are near a school so there are loads of children. Every time I see the kids I get a little happy about it.

This is already a lot more hard than I thought it was going to be. I’m low right now missing home, missing anything familiar. Everything bad I feel right now will get better with time. I am excited about being here though, I know this is going to be a great adventure. I have already done many things I never have, like ride in the cockpit of a C-17 for an entire flight. (We flew over a herd of camels, it was surreal.)

I’m going to stop now, because this is too long. I have more things to say and I don’t know how to say them.