EB,
I knew a sweet beautiful girl in college from Jordan. Not a girl friend or anything but she was interesting to talk to. What was really amusing is she was confused that I wasn't into baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie, and didn't have a girlfriend at the time. She said I must not be a typical American.
I sent an aquaculture book on the culture of hybrid striped bass to a gentlemen in Jordan. I was surprised to get payment in American dollars.
![shocked \:o](/forums/images/graemlins/default/shocked.gif)
When I was in the ANG our area of operation was the Middle East. Fortunately we just missed Desert Storm by 20 minutes (the war ended early) and I was out by 92 before the Iraqi Invasion. I would have gladly served in the war zone but glad I didn't.