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Last week I was told I was on the short list for a project in Djibouti Africa. The Djibouti portion of the project will last at least one year. I would have to stay three months at a time. I find the international aspect of the assignment very intriguing and I may accept the assignment.

Google Map of location

It looks like a dangerous part of the world. Do you globe trotting types have packing/surviving advise?

stay low and run in a zig-zag pattern.

Never wear any uniform that would make you look like an officer.

I hope you are getting hazzard pay added to your regularcheck for this (as well as compensation for being away from the family for so long). Invest that money well and let it grow.

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

FYI gold and silver have both tripled in price since 2000-2001 can you say the same for your stocks?

Congrats on that Cy and be careful.

When you get there ya gotta shake jabooty mon!

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80S - Madson-(450 BS / 450 M)...........80H - Madera-(447 Eng / 412 Enc)...........80K - Madala-(450 Herb / 450 Skin)
65L - Madwyn-(430Ins / 329 Tail)........61M - Madran-(300 M / 250 Enc).............64P - Madmon-(315 M / 347 JC)

Congrats on the job Cyrus, be sure to stay in touch

Well Somalia is pretty dicey, and the northern part of it contains a couple of breakaway sections where there has been fighting recently. Eritrea on the other side has been trying to provoke Ethiopia for a long time, so there is occasional fighting there. However, I don't think that inside Djibouti itself there is any high-level conflict to worry about. Keep safe if you do end up over there.

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65 min: Fastest Accepted Member in Avian History (as far as I'm aware)
ARCHITECH (Peace to GG)

I've never been to Africa, but living overseas for any period of time will change you as a person, and only for the better. The experience will be fantastic for you, especially at first.

After a period of time, the honeymoon will wear off and you'll crash like a rock. You'll wonder why in the world you ever went to this maggot infested hellhole and wonder how anyone else could possibly survive there. About the time your year and a half mark comes up, you'll wake up one day and realize that you love the place. It's bizarre, but it's almost ALWAYS the cycle that happens, no matter how extreme the change in scenery from where you come from. Hang in there when the going gets rough, it DOES get better.

Of course, coming from Louisiana, it won't be much of a change, going to a third world country!

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

It is official, I am set to deploy Nov 29th. I am trying to push it back a week, but that may not be possible.

Holy crap that was fast!!! I've been planning my move overseas for about a year, and it will STILL be at least another 9 months til I'm ready! Sheesh!! I'm jealous.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

lol, Jealous??? I would not go that far. I am still trying to figure out if I get to live in a tent or a or modified cargo container.

Sounds like quite an adventure.... just make sure to say that your tent needs to have a high speed cable line or you won't go.

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~Ravage™
~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
~The problem with facts, is that sometimes they don't support your opinion.

Good luck, and stay safe!

_________________
"Loose with Dignity"
Robert
Second President, Avian Gamers

DDO - Cannith - AlistairItor - Rogue/Ranger (5/3) - Main
DDO - Cannith - Guijanitor - Paladin/Rogue (4/1)
DDO - Cannith - RicochetItor - Rogue (5)

Cyrus buddy, I like your spirit!

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Dr. Golga Bolg
SWTOR - Golga
Rift - Gnarlwood: Golgar Golgantua Golgate - Retired
WoW - Dalaran: Bolg Golga Virrok All Retired
SWG - Golga Bolg - Doctor (Resident) Retired
Eve - Edge Finn - Limbo
Section 2 - (Former) Director
What am I playing now?: The waiting game

My deployment date has moved from Nov 29th to Dec 6th and now probably to Dec 11th. Getting medical clearance is latest thing pushing the date back. Next week I visit my doctor again, if the new prescription works as intended I should be cleared for travel. They gave me 7 shots just before thanksgiving, and I just started taking a malaria pill. I'm having a very hard time falling asleep; I think that pill may be the cause.

I went to a local outdoors store and bought a lot of clothes supposedly good for the desert. The stuff feels great, but Danyale fusses when I wear it at home because she says it looks funny... Like I am going on a safari.

This weekend I plan on buying some entertainment. I need to get an ipod, maybe a consol system or games that will work on my company laptop. I really don’t know what to buy as far as electronic entertainment goes. I would like to try Eve or WoW from Djibouti but I don’t know what bandwidth restrictions will be on me while in country.

I don't know anything bout Djibouti (sorry, I am really immature) but just wanted to wish you luck Cryus, sounds like a great opportunity. Good luck and take care of yourself!

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Avian Football League 2007 Forum Thread

Enjoy your time there and stay well. Oh and don't name your teddy bear Mohammed as it's not a good idea, I'm told.

Hey guys, I’m alive and well in Djibouti. About to log my second week in country.

It doesn't feel like Christmas with the 90 degree highs, but people are trying their best to inject the Christmas spirit.

Work keeps me very busy, so I’m lurking. Keep up the posts, I’m reading even if I’m not posting.

Also, special thanks to Obo for helping me maintain communications with my family back home. I owe you big time!

Merry Christmas! Yeah, I think the same thing about 'weirdness' for Christmas time, being in Florida. I'm assuming it's worse there.

Now get out of Mibouti.

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The Cord
Occasional Caretaker of the Horde Maelstrom Guild
Ex-Section 3 Director

Merry Christmas Cy. Stay safe.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

I put together a few slide shows of my experience so far. You can download them at the following link: http://www.brianthibodeaux.net/ftp/Djibouti

golf course made me laugh!

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the 005 powerpoint presentation seems to be missing... what aren't you showing us?

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~Ravage™
~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
~The problem with facts, is that sometimes they don't support your opinion.

It is either one of three things... you guess:

1) What happens in Djibouti stays in Djibouti
2) Top secret. If I showed you, I would have to kill you
3) Leet Louisiana education in action


I am trying to figure out how to make a video as I drive down the streets.

First because there seems to be no rules to driving. They don’t drive in the lanes, they usually straddle the lanes, pass on both the right and left, and they frequently drive in the oncoming traffic lane. Not to mention they drive super fast and 98% of the population is high on Khat by 3pm. I would love to document the crazy driving situation, but still shots don’t seem to capture it well.

Second many locals don’t want their picture taken; the uneducated think it steals their sole, the educated want money for their pic… So when most see the camera they start yelling at you. If I could mount my webcam and record, I could get a lot more scenery and the camera is small enough that most people would not notice it.

Third, the other day I went to the market area. It was freaking scary. Hundreds of people small narrow winding roads, I had flashbacks or Indiana Jones running and fighting in the market transposed with Mobs rushing the vehicle like in Black Hawk Down. The scene would have been amazing to show you guys, but if I wiped out a camera I probably would not have survived.

A vehicle mounted webcam would probably work in the above situations.

if you want to scare them, tell them about satelites that can take thier picture every time they go outside

lots of people chrashing into eachother without traffic rules?

Surprisingly I haven’t seen many wrecks. But then again most vehicles I see are banged up. Maybe they crash and go about their business. For safety reasons I limit my exposure to the outside so I only see a fraction of Djibouti real life. We hired a new guy who has lived here for many years; I will try to remember to ask him about accidents.

The other day we got a new truck. It is a huge black GMC. When we drive it in town, some locals throw their hands in the air and cheer as we drive by. It is the funniest thing.

They must have heard about your success in WoW.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

LMFAO

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"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

Here are a few new movies from Djibouti:
Works best if you right click and choose "Save Target As"

• Djibouti Streets 1
• Djibouti Streets 2
• Kenpinski Inside at Night
• Kenpinski Pool Side at Night 1
• Kenpinski Pool Side at Night 2

Great vids Cyrus! But only the first two worked for me. Good to hear from you though!

Are people there talking much about the violence in Chad?

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Same here. Nice view until you hit the potholes!

_________________
Dr. Golga Bolg
SWTOR - Golga
Rift - Gnarlwood: Golgar Golgantua Golgate - Retired
WoW - Dalaran: Bolg Golga Virrok All Retired
SWG - Golga Bolg - Doctor (Resident) Retired
Eve - Edge Finn - Limbo
Section 2 - (Former) Director
What am I playing now?: The waiting game

Ok, I think I fixed all the videos.... I had the url incorrect.



Most locals don’t talk much about the outside world.... but the business men, French military, and US military have been a-buzz with events in Chad, Kenya, and the latest rumor that Al Qaeda in Iraq is relocating to north and east Africa. The Al Qaeda stuff was a very serious matter, we had to issue local cell phones to everyone on our team, and we had to fill out some kidnap paperwork with the military.

The French fighter jets have been taking off much more frequently. For the first time I noticed a US surveillance aircraft taking off. The French pilots told me that the fighters I see taking off are not for training, each one is taking off for a reason… and there are a lot taking off lately. A New Zealander on our team worked in Afghanistan for a few years, he said he did not see that many aircraft taking off over there… and they were bombing stuff.

Djibouti Heat Claims First Casualty.

Two days ago a US Marine died due to the heat. They say several Marines were doing physical training, afterwards most of them went to eat, one guy stayed behind saying he did not feel good. Later they found him dead in his room.

Yikes. How hot is it over there?

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Romsuiag (Brad)
Former and Third President of Avian

Must be around 40 celeius in the shadow...
So out in the sun it might exceed 55 celsius or even more than that.

It's unfourtunate for the marine as well as the family and comrades...

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1st Feb 2008

Speak English son. That doesn't mean a thing to me.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

(40 * 9 / 5) + 32 = (360 / 5 ) + 32 = 72 + 32 = 104

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

The base weather station has shown the highs to be in the mid to high 90s. That does not sound so hot to me; summer back home would get over 100. I think it feels hotter because of the sun intensity. Did any of you see the movie "Pitch Black" Every time I walk out of a building I think of that movie because everything looks white and washed out.

I was amazed the other day as I walked to lunch; I could feel the heat emanating from the ground several degrees warmer than the air around my head. It was like walking across dark pavement in the summer where you can feel the heat rising off the surface... But here there was no dark pavement, it was loose dirt.

Just yesterday we had an Egyptian worker sent to the Base clinic for dehydration.

A few weeks ago I found myself with headaches and an unwillingness to drink. When I though about it I realized how little water I had consumed over the past few days. I mixed some flavoring into my water and tried to drink a bottle ever couple of hours. I wonder if a symptom of dehydration is lack of desire to drink. I feel much better now. But I have to force myself to drink way more than what feels natural to me.

That reminds me of "Aliens":

"But it's a dry heat"

_________________
"Loose with Dignity"
Robert
Second President, Avian Gamers

DDO - Cannith - AlistairItor - Rogue/Ranger (5/3) - Main
DDO - Cannith - Guijanitor - Paladin/Rogue (4/1)
DDO - Cannith - RicochetItor - Rogue (5)

Thanks for the math.

As I mentioned 40 C (104 F) in the shadows and 55 C (131 F) or more in the sun. That is a lot.
Also consider they were doing physical training.

And BTW Talon... how old are you again?

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1st Feb 2008

I think it can give you a general loss of appetite and, occasionally, nausea.

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X2-PB

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