American college kid joins Libya rebels for vacation

Source: CSM

At this rebel outpost in the middle of the desert near the front lines of the fight with Muammar Qaddafi’s loyalists, a gaggle of rebel fighters gathers in a circle, laughing, cheering, and filming with their mobile phones. Chris Jeon wears a cobalt basketball jersey emblazoned with the words “Los Angeles” and the number 44, camouflage pants, and black and white Converse sneakers. Around his neck hangs a spent ammunition casing on a string, and a black and white scarf is wrapped around his head, courtesy of the rebel fighters.

In a daring, one might even say foolhardy, decision two weeks ago, Mr Jeon flew on a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Cairo. He then travelled by train to Alexandria and by a series of buses to the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. From there, he hitched a ride with rebels heading west towards the Libyan capital of Tripoli. After a 400km (248-mile) trek across the desolate North African landscape, he was now in the town of An Nawfaliyah, the toast of his comrades and a newly anointed road warrior.

“I haven’t spent a dollar in weeks,” he says, because the people of Libya have extended such hospitality.
>He has no way of contact with the outside world, and on Tuesday was unsure of the date. Yet he seemed to be having the time of his life. At the rebel checkpoint about 80 miles from Sirte, he held a Russian-made shotgun the rebels had given him, appearing to be unfamiliar with it. Then a rebel handed him an AK-47, and he awkwardly fired several rounds into the air. The fighters cheered and laughed before quickly taking the gun back.



Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0901/American-college-kid-joins-Libya-rebels-for-vacation

this kid realizes what's going on over there isn't a fucking thrill-seeking game, right?

At least lose the Jerry West jersey and try to blend in, if you must be there...

He may have a real hard time catching a flight home.

down Muammar Qaddafi. They'll probably give him a free flight home.

"Hi, I'm a college student from the USA and I've decided to spend my vacation with out and help out your revolution! I don't speak your language or know your customs; I have no relevant skills or fighting capabilities, but I'm committed to your cause and want to hang out with you, anyway...Oh yeah, I've got to be back in Los Angeles once classes start again..."


And the rebels just said "Sure, hang out with us for awhile! We'll even accept you as one of our own and make you an honorary member!"


Am I reading this correctly? We're honestly supposed to believe this?

by the looks of things, this kid just seems like a thrill-seeker...Just wants a cool story to tell the sorority girls at $1 pitcher night...

It will be even worse if his antics get someone else hurt.

You may have been a little misguided but your heart was in the right place. :(

This guy is a thrill seeker candidate for the Darwin award.

It is like the "say cheese" of Libyan rebel photography -- "okay now shoot the sky" (click).

evanchill Evan Hill
Our team in east #Libya said rebels fed up with Chris Jeon, US kid who tried to join, told him 2 go, last seen on pick-up going 2 Benghazi. 15 hours ago

Libyan rebels send UCLA student Chris Jeon home, day after he gains worldwide fame: report
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/09/02/2011-09-02_libyan_rebels_send_ucla_student_chris_jeon_home_day_after_he_gains_worldwide_fam.html#ixzz1WsYBT8qq

"Everybody hates a tourist."

Source: LAist

...


There were reports that the rebels didn't want him after all, but now some of the foreign correspondents stationed in Libya are saying that Jeon isn't leaving without a fight.

Bradley Hope, the foreign correspondent for an Australian paper The National who wrote the first profile of Jeon has been keeping his followers on Twitter abreast of Jeon's whereabouts. He sent out a tweet this morning:



Hope has been asking rebels what they think about Jeon's mission and they told him this:



It's anecdotal, but one guy made it sound like Jeon had been fully accepted:



...


Jeon's parents are probably freaking out right now, but they should be happy to know that at least he's wearing sunblock.


http://laist.com/2011/09/03/uclas_thrill-seeking_chris_jeon_isn.php