Once you’ve opened this message you can no longer say you’ve never received an e-mail from Kyrgyzstan .  That’s where this is coming from.  We flew here on Monday, which turned into almost Wednesday by the time we arrived.  16 hours is a long time to sit in the center seat on an airplane jammed full of sweaty people.  I took one of the center seats on purpose because I figured that, since I am not too big, I am one of the people in this group most able to survive there.  At least it was a commercial plane (chartered) so they fed us and showed movies.  Of course the headphones I got didn’t work so understanding the movies was tough.  We did stop once, in Germany .  Wasn’t much to see though since we were confined to a special section of the terminal.  When we boarded the plane in Indianapolis I couldn’t help feeling a little like the late Frank Melton.  I was carrying firearms onto a commercial aircraft.  Of course so was everyone else except the chaplain. 

The base we are staying on is small but not bad.  They have a really good dining facility, a nice gym, a decent base exchange and free Wi-Fi.  I have been able to talk with Melanie, though it does cost a little.  Our accommodations here are not the greatest.  I am staying in a large RTFS (relocatable tension fabric structure), also known as a “clam shell” because of its shape.  I figured out that it is about 100’ x 60’ and is like a huge tent with a metal frame for support..  It is full of bunk beds.  There are 168 of us sharing this space and by the smell of it some of them haven’t found the showers yet.  Of course I have a top bunk but that’s OK.  The clam shell is air conditioned, somewhat, and it did keep the rain off us yesterday.  The showers are right next door and they keep them clean.  There is also a free laundry room next door.  I am trying to keep everything clean so I don’t have to pack dirty clothes when we leave here.  I went to the gym yesterday and taught myself to run on a treadmill.  I think that’s what I will have to do in Afghanistan .  They say the air outdoors there is very polluted.  Also, the danger from snipers is much less indoors.  We should only be here a few days.  Then we’ll get a look at our long-term accommodations.

We can’t leave the base here but, from what we could see flying in, Kyrgyzstan looks like a mostly dry steppe type climate.  Hot during the day and cool at night.  It is almost in southern Russia .  They have huge grasshoppers here.  They make me think of a plague of locusts.  I had to chase on off my bunk this afternoon.  Off to the south you can see some very impressive mountains.  If the clouds clear later today, I am going to try to get some pictures.

 

John Lacourrége

Program Director

Council 9543

Knights of Columbus

St, Francis of Assisi Church

Madison, ms