Posts from ‘March, 2009’

Since there aren’t that many women here in Kamp Holland, the bathroom facilities are shared between men and women.
I guess this isn’t a big deal.
And until today, I hadn’t actually run into a single person in the bathroom, male or female.
But.
Today I was in the stall and, as I opened the door to leave, directly [...]

Here are a few of my first impressions of TK…
Dust. (When people warned me about the dust, especially in my recording equipment, I didn’t really get it. I think I pictured massive dust bunnies attacking my microphone. It’s obviously not that kind of dust. It’s more like very, very fine sand. And it leaves a [...]

The flight to Tarin Kowt was mercifully short and smooth - I must say, as a frequent sufferer of airsickness, I really appreciate the speed of ascent and descent of these military planes!
When we arrived, we were again greeted by the Press Officer (Captain Jurgen) who took us to the canteen (known as the D-FAC [...]

I made this a separate entry because the flight to Kandahar was unlike any other flight I’d ever been on.
First of all, as I said, Michel and I were flying with our flak jackets and helmets. Which was, let’s say, unusual.
As we boarded the plane it felt like we’d walked into the middle of a [...]

There’s not too much to tell about the actual trip from Eindhoven to TK, so this won’t be a long entry… but there were a couple of highlights.
For me, the first highlight was being the last to board. On a plane without assigned seating, this means you sit at the front… in business class! I [...]

Since I’ve already announced that we’re safe and sound in TK, this entry (and possibly the next couple entries) will be a little out of order. But we wanted to fill you in on what it was like getting here.
At 8am on Wednesday morning we arrived at Eindhoven airbase. I think the moment we pulled [...]

Well, after 24 hours of traveling (and waiting), we finally made it to TK (yes, that’s army slang… and yes, there will be more… and yes, it makes us cool to use it).
We’ve already taken copious notes and dozens of photos and we’ll get some blog entries up as soon as we can… but, as [...]

So. In preparation for our trip to Afghanistan, I had to learn how to wear a headscarf.
I convinced Ida Ramlan, from the Administration department here at Radio Netherlands (and one of the only people in the building wearing a headscarf!), to help me.
Below are a few pictures that Michel took of my transition (don’t get [...]

So.
The other day I mentioned that Michel and I have been a little busy with some Big Plans… but I (very secretively) didn’t reveal what those Big Plans were.
Now that it’s only 2 days away, I think it’s time.
Ready?
We’re going to Afghanistan.
Yup, Afghanistan.
Why would a radio show about Holland go to Afghanistan, you ask?
Because that’s [...]

Ok. I’ll admit, it’s been a little quiet here on the Curious Orange blog. It’s terrible how life interferes with writing to all our dear and devoted readers, isn’t it?
But I promise we have a good excuse.
Which I will reveal very, very soon.
But in the mean time, I’ve just edited my second ever video! Go [...]