-Name: SSG Erickson
-Attended BCT: January 2000
-BCT Location: Ft Leonard Wood, MO
-MOS: 91S/68S - Preventive Medicine
-AIT Location: Ft Sam Houston, TX
-Deployments: Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo - 2005
-Current Duty: Drill Sergeant
-Current Location: Washington State
-Support Locations: Fort Knox
Fort Jackson

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Kosovo Weather


One of the things I've come to really notice about Kosovo is the weather. And as uninteresting as weather is normally, for some reason, Kosovar weather always interests me.

Bondsteel is located in the middle of the Kosovar Valley with rolling hills and farmlands surrounding us. The Tornado guys have mentioned that it reminds them a lot like Kansas, well, aside from the looming figure of Big Duke to the South of us. Anyway, there are mountains surrounding, but generally with the absence of many tall buildings or what not, the sky is wide open.

Most people generally enjoy a good sunny day here. I found that I do not like cloudless days in Kosovo. A layer of haze surrounds the skyline and mutes out the rolling hills in the distance. And generally its hot and muggy.

And then there is the sun. I don't know why, but the Kosovo sun seems to be brighter then anywhere else I've ever been. We've nicknamed Kosovo Tattooine because of its 'duel suns', at least, half the time it feels like that. Sunglasses are mandatory, as if you leave your room to go out, you will find yourself blinded for a short time as your eyes try to cope with the brightness. The SEAhuts are situated in an area that has no grass, just this white powdery dirt that seems to reflect the sunlight that much more.

When you go back in your room, be prepared to be blinded again by the stark darkness that is the SEAhut as opposed to the scorching sun outside. Fortunately, we are priveleged with Air Conditioners.

So anyway, sunny days are not my favorite days in Kosovo. My favorite days are the cloudy days. Because the Cloud Formations here are amazing. I've never seen a sky so frequently where we have black storm clouds raining on us and the tattooine sun is still shining on our heads. That, and the cloud cover generally keeps things cool as opposed to, well, scorching. And it cuts down on the heat injuries.

Thunderstorms here are also wicked. One time me and a friend just watched the rain come down and the lightning strike. That was one of my favorite nights here, just talking and listening to the Thunder crack.

I sometimes take pictures of the skyline, just for my own reference, when you can see the mountains clearly in FYROM. Or just the white puffy clouds that litter the sky.

I don't know. My NCOIC made mention of my love of cloudy days vs bright sunny days. Well, if there is one more thing I can appreciate about this place to get me through this deployment, that's alright with me.

1 Comments:

Blogger Kami said...

Comments Retrieved for This Post:

I enjoyed reading your blog. Your thoughts regarding lack of leadership models ring true. That sort of situation either makes you a really poor leader or a really good one.

Drop me aline sometime after you look at my web site (tigerforcerecon.com)

Are you still drilling or did you finally get out.
OH, one last thought. don't worry about using military jargon. There are more and more vets all over the place, and they will know what you mean when you say meet me at 1730.
Best wishes.
Hank
Hank | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 7:45 pm | #

6/4/08 16:38  

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