So, How Did You Get Here?

[stogieluver]

I'm a total noobie here, but I feel so lucky to have found this site.

I'm in the U. S. and have been a serious cigar smoker for about ten years now. I never smoked an authentic CC until a trip my wife and I made to Cuba under a licensed "People to People" trip through our local Chamber of Commerce in October.

As I was researching CC's to purchase in Cuba, I found this site but didn't catch on that you could actually order CC's through the site. As a member of another forum, I convinced Shlomo to help this noobie out. He wouldn't give me his secret trusted sites but told me to look around and come back to him for his opinion if I found some promising sites to order authentic CC's without getting shafted. I kept receiving emails from this site and finally my dumb ass realized this might be the real deal. So, I emailed Shlomo and it was as if I had found the keys to the golden city's gate. I knew then that I was home.

As I posted on the noobie forum, I have a couple of videos I posted on youtube. You can go to youtube and do a search for "stogieluver" and you will find the two videos. The one in particular you might enjoy is the one I made of the LCDH located in the Habana Libre Hotel where we stayed during the Havana portion of our trip, and more interesting, I think, of a Cuban tobacco farmer we visited in Vinales.

Didn't mean to be so long winded, but I absoutely love this site. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

Rich Campbell

Mobile, AL

I have now placed my first order and the service has been outstanding. I hope to make some good friends here over time.

[jerseyjay]

Videos + change of pace ... turned out to be a great place to hang.

[nonameno]

Hello Fellow FOHers,

I had been smoking for probably 15 years, but wanted to expand into CCs. I was surfing for information on CCs and found the FOH. It is a wonderful community of people who share and learn together about one of life's little pleasures.

Thank you and best wishes,

Curtiss

[MIKA27]

I personally did not venture on the internet looking for a forum. I for one and ashamedly, was one of those people that believed in meeting people face to face through going out and having a discussion. I never imagined this would become a very important part of my social agenda.

So, I was online looking, hoping to get a better deal on cigars as the costs here in Australia are astronomically high, came by Czars and noticed a "Forum" very similar format to the Formula 1 threads I used to read prior to my own (Which is now here on FOH ) and you know what, have never looked back.

In the end, I have the following via this forum:

1) A place which I have always found a great cigar bargain and by saying this, free information from a community who know about cigars, who offer opinions, reviews, likes and dislikes. The wealth of knowledge combined here guys and gals can not be quantified in years.

2) Friendship and belonging. This speaks for itself. Whilst I haven't met too many people in person (Albeit 30 or 40) I have met most of the Czar crew in person and would welcome all to my home should you ever be down in Melbourne. Whilst we are at it, I have met OzCuban (Steve and his lovely wife) and have met one of the most amazing couple and call them both true friends. Who would have known 4 years ago I'd meet one of my best friends!?

3) Diversity: Yes, this is a cigar forum BUT, Look at the immense range of topics (14,857 of them as I type this!). Members stories, views, opinions, hardships, happiness, sadness, triumphs, charities, births, holidays a window in which to get to know people from other parts of the world, see what is happening in real time. I could go on forever and I know I have missed a great deal because as I type this, my mind is rushing at 100Mph.

All I know, is that I have often found myself here, reading, contributing, laughing, crying and feeling a sense of belonging. I am sure a great many of you have had a cigar in hand, a drink and spent personal time reading up on various topics related to cigars, movies, drinks, sports (Formula 1 I hope!) to name a few and not felt you have wasted your time "On the net" but rather feel a sense of self pride that YOU as a member make up this community and weather you contribute daily or once yearly, YOU have still contributed to the finest social forum and family in the world. FOH is up there with the best social media that exists and we are all REAL.

Thanks for reading, great thread and topic. Another year almost over, where has the time gone!?

Mika

[CanuckSARTech]

Mika sums it up very nicely. Well done - excellent sentiment, Senor!!!

[OZCUBAN]

Exactly

[SCgarman]

Watched some of Robs cigar reviews on utube, wanted to find a better forum that is more respectful than the "other big cigar forum". No trolls dare to enter here, quality cigars available, and great people here to share information and experiences. Glad I found this place and decided to join, no looking back now!