Welcome here, Kyp!
Have you heard about the Starter Kits?
They help to enter the system smoothly.
But if you have enough courage to directly jump into full swing ASL, do it!
There are plenty of players who can lend you a hand to learn the game, either on VASL or Face to Face.
To learn quickly, using a vocal device like Skype or Teamspeak is recommended, as explanations are better said than written.
To find opponents whithin your GMT sector, go an see the ASL Frappr map, that lists players on a world map.
Cheers
Robin