31 things learned in Afghanistan

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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Editor's Note: Tech. Sgt. Crystal Maxton is a Reservist assigned to the 931st Air Refueling Group. She is currently serving her second tour as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. Below is a list Sergeant Maxton created after her first tour.

31 Things I Learned in Afghanistan
by Tech. Sgt. Crystal Maxton

1. Many things can be made out of pieces of wood.
2. A barrel is an outdoor grill in Afghanistan.
3. Take advantage of surf and turf night (in civilian speak, seafood and steak night)
4. Don't worry about the booms til you feel them rumble your insides.
5. One easily gets used to the hum of helicopters and the roar of heavies.
6. Flares double as fireworks on the 4th of July.
7. "Steel Beach" is not a glamourous, ocean-view location.
8. Every day is a gift.
9. Flag draped coffins can quiet an entire base.
10. Losing someone to war is harder than I imagined.
11. You'll have good days and you'll have bad days...just keep them in perspective.
12. Home is where you are and what you make of it.
13. You've got to let things go out here.
14. iPods - everyone has one and everyone uses one.
15. A B-hut is luxury living in Afghanistan - most kids grow up in mudhuts.
16. Invest in green bean stock.
18. Crystal Light makes water taste good.
19. You can play kickball and baseball on the JOC "parking lot."
20. As much as you think people back home are worrying about you, you worry about them more.
21. The aerial gunnery range is always hot.
22. Sometimes you just have to get away.
23. Spending the 5th anniversary of 9/11 in the mountains of Afghanistan is very surreal.
24. Clouds are our friends.
25. Bad things sometimes happen to good people.
26. Shower curtains make great "doors" to the stalls in the bathrooms.
27. Chair jousting is great....until you break all the chairs.
28. Dogs from mud huts can not get through concertina wire and a barbed wire fence.
29. Inshallah
30. Roll call during a memorial service for a fallen soldier is hard to take.
31. You know you are used to this place when you hear an explosion and all that is said is, "Huh - that one was kind of close."