"A hobby, or perhaps a lifestyle." basrah's Profile

Everyone needs a hobby, right? Well, when I was growing up I had a few different interests that were typical to a Canadian boy of my age, but nothing that I really felt a big connection to. Sure, I loved to play hockey, but wasnt really all that great, and it was far too expensive to play actual ice hockey, so it never came to be anything more than a fun after school activity.

Growing up next to an army base, in Victoria, BC, I saw soldiers marching and running by on a daily basis, planting the seed in my head to become a soldier at a very young age. I followed this, and have now been in the military for almost ten years.

One thing that captured my imagination though was the idea of travel, and foreign countries. My mother brought home some foreign currency that she thought I might enjoy, and it it sparked a massive interest. The idea that there were all sorts of people around the world who spoke different languages, had different histories, and a totally different culture, really blew me away.

My first big trip outside of Canada was to New Zealand in 2002, and from that point on I was hooked! I later went over seas with the military to Bosnia, and was able to travel a bit around Europe, and then take some vacation time overseas. As I write this I am sitting in Afghanistan on my second tour here, and even though I have been to 45 different countries, I feel I am just getting started.

So, everyone certainly does need a hobby, and travel is definitely mine.

Jumping out of airplanes

My main job in the army when I am back in Canada is that of a parachute instructor. So pretty much I get paid to jump out of airplanes and teach others how to do it. Up until two years ago I had never parachuted, now I have 23 jumps, am a qualified jumpmaster, and para instructor, of which there are only about 30 in all of Canada.

Intro Updated Jul 11, 2011
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sof76 Apr 29, 2013 at 7:48 PM

Happy Birthday, from Argentina!!
=)
Sof
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rosequartzlover1 Apr 29, 2013 at 2:11 AM

Hi! John..HAPPY BIRTH DAY : )
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Durfun Jul 11, 2011 at 2:42 AM

Hi, Welcome, Soldier ;-) I was lucky to visit Kabul in 1992.. things were a whole lot different then..
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Donna_in_India Jul 11, 2011 at 2:37 AM

Hi John - welcome to VT! Looking forward to reading your travels pages -you've been to some very interesting places.
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angiebabe Jul 7, 2011 at 5:54 AM

hi John and welcome to VT! youve got an excellent range of travels listed already! - so enjoy building your pages and getting to know its a great VT community we have here! all the best