Hi Newbe1! Glad to hear you are ok! How's your wife and child? I would be
most happy to send some supplies over to you! Just let me know how I could do
that!

If anyone in the CT area would be willing to donate some erasers and things,
let me know!

Music Woman


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How about a a few boxes all ready to plant, from Home Towns about the
USA. and perhaps a traveling H.H. to move from base to base ? I will
send some stuff.
Butterfly in Ct.

mindizney@aol.com wrote:

>Hi Newbe1! Glad to hear you are ok! How's your wife and child? I would be
>most happy to send some supplies over to you! Just let me know how I could do
>that!
>
>If anyone in the CT area would be willing to donate some erasers and things,
>let me know!
>
>Music Woman
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

Would there be problems with getting these things through whatever
checkpoints the mail travels to get to you Kristoffer? I would
certainly be willing to create something for you, but am wondering if
part of your intent is to have your buddies over there doing the
creating as an interesting diversion from the heat and sand. Would
the powers that be allow carving tools to make their way to you?
Memlili






--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kristoffer J buquet"
wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> Just wanted to drop you all a note saying "hello from sunny Iraq".
>
> I know that I haven't posted to the list in quite some time now, as
> things have been a little hectic here.
>
> Anyway, now I do have the ability to get online somewhat regularly
> and look forward to chatting with you all again in the near future.
>
> I would like to ask the group a question...if I am going "out of
the
> rules" here please let me know and I will stop.
>
> As one would expect there is not a bunch of involvement in the
> letterboxing community here in Baghdad; at least not on the
> local "Baghdadians" side of the fence. However, I have gotten quite
a
> few of the people in my unit here interested in the letterboxing
> idea. My idea is to start off by creating a few boxes to hide on
the
> various bases and installations that we have here in Baghdad; then
> see how far throughout other bases in Iraq I can help it spread.
That
> way, there is no harm and danger involved while hunting for the
> boxes, while still being able to get more people involved in the
> sport.
>
> Well given that this is a combat zone I did not think that I would
> have an opportunity like this, thus I did not bring any of my
boxing
> gear with me.
>
> So here lies my question...
>
> Do any of you know of any local or chain stores that may be willing
> to donate some letter boxing supplies to my unit over here in Iraq?
> That way we can have some sort of stress free activity to do when
we
> do have a few minutes of down time. Maybe some erasers, exactos,
> carvers, pencils, little notbooks for the logs, ziplock bags,
> etc...Anything at all would help.
>
> Thank you all upfront for your help and support. Any and all
> information that you may be able to provide me with on possibly
> getting some donations to start up an Iraqi Letterboxing group
would
> be greatly appreaciated.
>
> Regards,
>
> NewBe1
> (Kristoffer J Buquet)
> KBuquet@A...

We'd love to send whatever you'd like. We can send complete boxes
and box-making material. Just let us know what to sent and where to
send it. We will also sent carving tools, but want confirmation
first that it would be ok. Wouldn't want them holding up your mail
because you're suddenly getting a lot of little knives! Just send us
the details on or off list, and we will get what we can to you and
your unit. God bless and protect you!
Patrick & Amy

I'd be willing to participate and even coordinate the effort. I could
handle collection and shipping if you'd all like to work with me.



~Beth





>From: "thelionandsanddollar"
>Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [LbNA] Re: hello from sunny Iraq
>Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 13:01:59 -0000
>
>We'd love to send whatever you'd like. We can send complete boxes
>and box-making material. Just let us know what to sent and where to
>send it. We will also sent carving tools, but want confirmation
>first that it would be ok. Wouldn't want them holding up your mail
>because you're suddenly getting a lot of little knives! Just send us
>the details on or off list, and we will get what we can to you and
>your unit. God bless and protect you!
>Patrick & Amy
>
>
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Add MSN 8 Internet Software to your existing Internet access and enjoy
patented spam protection and more. Sign up now!
http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/byoa

Wow....that sounds like a great idea! If anyone would like to send anything to me over here my adress is as follows:

Kristoffer J Buquet
ISG/JIDC
BIAP
09335

The address may seem odd, however as long as you send things via the US Postal system they will get to me here in Iraq, even though that zip code is a US based zip code. Just the way the gov't does mail for overseas.

Thanks again...and I look forward to meeting you all when I return home.

NewBe1

Kristoffer J Buquet
kristoffer.buquet@us.army.mil


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Memlili and all,

As far as sending cutting tools through the mail. That is not a problem with the postal service...as long as you don't send any large knife like objects :-)

NewBe1

Kristoffer J Buquet
kristoffer.buquet@us.army.mil


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Beth et all,

I am very greatful for your all support and kind gestures.

Your support and help means the world!

Regards,

NewBe1

Kristoffer J Buquet
kristoffer.buquet@us.army.mil


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hiya NewBe1,

You think it will be okay to hide plastic boxes on bases over there????? I'm
wondering about someone who doesn't know about Lbing finding one--with all
the security concerns/fears of terrorism... You understand the situation/know
much more about this than me (of course!)--it would be alright?

--Wild Woman

Wild Woman,

Good point. Yes, people are a little freaked out when they find "new packages and items" that they do not recognize on the various installations. However, I would be careful to place them in an environment that would minimize this panic. Probably place them in buildings, and let the person(s) in charge of those respective buildings know that they are there. That is of course once I explain to them the sport and get their permission to place the box(es) there.

Regards,

NewBe1

Kristoffer J Buquet
kristoffer.buquet@us.army.mil


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I had a similar debate when I really wanted to leave a letterbox in
Jerusalem this summer. It became a matter of some debate with some from the
list. I was really excited about the possibility of being the first person
to plant a letterbox in a new country, but I was very aware of the security
risks it could pose not only for me and the box, but also for anyone else
who looked for it later.

In the end I decided that I would probably not be able to safely leave a box
since the few places people could think of that were safe to leave things
were not as respectful of religious/cultural locations. I ended up making
the decision to carve a nice dove stamp still that I took just in case of a
miracle, but I went with no expectations of actually being able to use it
there.

My pleasant surprise came as I got to know a certain shopkeeper (who goes by
Baghdadi) who was just wonderful and had many connections with past visitors
from my university. When I noticed that he had a wall that he kept business
cards and wedding invites from past customers, I gathered my courage and
explained letterboxing to him and asked how he felt about leaving a
microletterbox behind his counter or on the wall. He was very happy to be
involved, so now I have the honor of being the first planter in Israel.

Just a little while ago, I received a letter from Baghdadi talking about how
there is no tourism there now because of the hostilities and that he has
decided to sell some of his olive wood nativity sets to anyone that is
interested by mail (if anyone is interested contact me off-list, I would
love to help this sweet man) the thing that made me smile was that he
stamped my dove stamp on the top of the letter he sent me, so I know that he
still has the box there.

I think you would be fine leaving letterboxes; you just need to be extra
careful about how you do it. I wouldn't assume spots are okay. Make sure
you get permission and the location is safe, or you can find a cooperative
businesskeeper like I did. Then your boxes don't become a litter spot or
nuisance left in a strange land. If they no longer wish to keep it, they
don't have to.

Best of luck to you!
Cadenza

I was one of those who was against planting a box in Jerusalem because
I was so worried from the safety point of view should someone observe
you in the act of planting the box, and the box itself. I thought
there was a good chance those actions would not be understood and be
perceived as a threat. When you returned I read your post and found
your adventures in Jerusalem and with meeting the shopkeeper Baghdadi
delightful, but I never told you so and I'm sorry I didn't. I'm so
glad you did what you did.

catbead

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> I had a similar debate when I really wanted to leave a letterbox in
> Jerusalem this summer. It became a matter of some debate with some
from the
> list. I was really excited about the possibility of being the first
person
> to plant a letterbox in a new country, but I was very aware of the
security
> risks it could pose not only for me and the box, but also for anyone
else
> who looked for it later.
>
> In the end I decided that I would probably not be able to safely
leave a box
> since the few places people could think of that were safe to leave
things
> were not as respectful of religious/cultural locations. I ended up
making
> the decision to carve a nice dove stamp still that I took just in
case of a
> miracle, but I went with no expectations of actually being able to
use it
> there.
>
> My pleasant surprise came as I got to know a certain shopkeeper (who
goes by
> Baghdadi) who was just wonderful and had many connections with past
visitors
> from my university. When I noticed that he had a wall that he kept
business
> cards and wedding invites from past customers, I gathered my courage and
> explained letterboxing to him and asked how he felt about leaving a
> microletterbox behind his counter or on the wall. He was very happy
to be
> involved, so now I have the honor of being the first planter in Israel.
>
> Just a little while ago, I received a letter from Baghdadi talking
about how
> there is no tourism there now because of the hostilities and that he has
> decided to sell some of his olive wood nativity sets to anyone that is
> interested by mail (if anyone is interested contact me off-list, I would
> love to help this sweet man) the thing that made me smile was that he
> stamped my dove stamp on the top of the letter he sent me, so I know
that he
> still has the box there.
>
> I think you would be fine leaving letterboxes; you just need to be extra
> careful about how you do it. I wouldn't assume spots are okay.
Make sure
> you get permission and the location is safe, or you can find a
cooperative
> businesskeeper like I did. Then your boxes don't become a litter
spot or
> nuisance left in a strange land. If they no longer wish to keep it,
they
> don't have to.
>
> Best of luck to you!
> Cadenza

I know of at least one other letterboxer who's over there at the
moment (my baby sis). She'd love to 'play' I'm sure but I don't
think they're traveling that much at the moment since she's
somewhere near the 'triangle'. I'll drop her a note to let her know
about possible LB action in the big sandbox & see if she has any
materials with her! Thanks for the update & your hard work & for
your dedication to duty.

May God Bless you!!!

dvn2r ckr

--Who's wondering if you can ship a HH MPS? ;)


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, KBuquet@A... wrote:
> Beth et all,
>
> I am very greatful for your all support and kind gestures.
>
> Your support and help means the world!
>
> Regards,
>
> NewBe1
>
> Kristoffer J Buquet
> kristoffer.buquet@u...