-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

- ---
title: "Arriving In Afghanistan"
author: Greg
layout: post
permalink: /2010/12/arriving-in-afghanistan/
published_at: 2010-12-13 13:00:00 AFT
comments: True
licence: Creative Commons
categories:
  - Army
tags:
  - Afghanistan
- ---

17 days down, about 90 to go :) I'm in Afghanistan enjoying the taste of the fine dust of Urganzan and the scenic mountains which surround to create the Tarin Kowt bowl. After 4 long months of training, I'm finally here and I've settled in. It feels like a dusty version of barracks. The cold has started but the mountains are still bare and once the sun rises above the dust horizon it is actually quite pleasant. In my short time here I've got myself one wary (war story).

Just prior to my shift in the commcen, I got a nose bleed and after a couple of minutes of feeling dizzy I collapsed in front of all the Charlies. The Charlies nursed me until the doctor arrived and I spent the night hooked up to an IV drip at the yank hospital 100 meters from where I sleep. Because I was technically a transfer I was classified as a casualty and as such notice of casualty (noticas) paperwork needed to be drawn up requiring me to inform my next of kin. Some blood tests revealed that I was a dehydrated which was a massive relief because it gave me a good excuse as to why I had fainted. The truth of the matter is, I don't do so well with the sight of my own blood. Needless to say the dehydration option still didn't satisfy everyone and I have been copping my fair share of flack :) But at least they don't know the truth.

For the last 4 months I've been living in Randwick Barracks. It's been great, $10 cab ride to Coogee, $20 to the city and I've made the most of it with the help from my army mates. With not much else to spend my money on, partying was a good option. PT every morning as improved my fitness and I've continued to get PBs in my fitness tests. It was difficult at first fitting into the new unit. Going from an Army Reserve unit into a full time special forces unit took some adjusting. There were a lot of pissing contests which I didn't want to be involved in. SF units defiantly have their fair share of insecure men. I found that out on my second day when I was told quite forcibly by two senior people to stop bringing my tea cup in because it's gay. Now that I've established myself I am more able to be me. After about a month I bought my Ukulele but I will still keep that cup away from the shooters.

I need to chill out before I start shift, now that I've started this journal it will be easier to keep :)
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
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=bPKO
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----