Most of you know - I don't own a TV. I got tired one night of all the time being wasted, and I got up, ripped it out of the wall, and tossed it out. Since then, I don't really watch TV. But HERE - we have to monitor world events, so guess what's on all the time? 'Al Jazeera' - kind of like an Arab BBC, or CBC. I don't know why, but it's getting on my nerves! (Haha!) Naw - just kidding. Maybe it's just cause I can't work with distractions, and the 'one eyed monster' (aka: the TV) is growling at me all day... with an English Accent! (Yeah - it's an Arab channel, but everyone on it speak with an English accent!)
I got my first piece of mail yesterday! It was brought in by one of the senior members of the team. As she walked in with it, all eyes were on it hoping it was theirs! (Mail call doesn't happen here like you see in the movies... probably because there isn't a sack of mail to give out. Somebody usually just walks over to the mail office and with hoping eyes looks into the pigeon hole and sees if there is mail.) Well, yesterday this person walked in to the room holding aloft this envelope, wading through people who all had their eyes on it. As I saw this envelope in the air, I realized it was for me! (Somebody actually had it in their hand, thinking that it was theirs, but NO!) Haha! Well - it was my first piece of mail and it was full of... Stickers?! Someone was being clever at home! Haha! (Haha! Thanks JL) Well - I'm going to put them aside for when I get out there, so I can give them to the children. The poverty in this country is cruel. I was told today that a can of pop is a big deal for many grown up Afghans here.
We're working on projects that will hopefully improve the lives of people. I'm particularly concerned about the corruption in this country... and the lies! Some say it can never be changed. I hope and think otherwise. It'll take convincing of people one at a time. And believe me - we're not sitting on our backsides here! As an observation, some people think people from 3rd world countries are just stupid. They react slow, they never get what seems to be common sense (like a story I was just told of a Buddy who was helping an Afghan Soldier learn how to use our service rifle. When he was told to cock the weapon, he didn't move his head, and the spent casing flew into his eye! So you'd think he would have learned from that, but he did it over and over. Now, Ladies and Gents, these spent casings are burning hot - how he never learned after the first one is well beyond me!). You might be laughing (heck I was when I heard it!), but when you reflect that they have been undernourished, vitamin deficient, under-hydrated, etc. you can see why there is a bit of an intelligence gap. In the end, when my buddies and I reflect on this - it's shameful for anyone from privilege (and that's where we all come from) to think ourselves any higher in intellect than anyone else from the 3rd world.
A shout out to Apple for such flatternig comments on my pic! Haha! ;) Also to ER for the email talking about the clever names of the restaurants, such as the bakery named: Marlon Bran Dough! Hahaha! I'll see if I can take a pic of the KAF-eh sign, nect time I pass by.
Wanna know what it sound like here? If you played the soundtrack to Apocalypse Now (just the helicopter sounds) constantly, on a loop... you have it. Dust is now kicking up for some weird reason in the air. I said I would tell you about the 'impending dust storm' we were supposed to have. (Actually, did I already report?) It happened, but it was so quick. Well - thank goodness. I don't have goggles, so dust keeps getting around my sunglasses!
One last thing - they sell shampoo and soap... that doesn't need rinsing. ave you ever heard of that? NO RINSE shampoo! Cool... except I'm kinda scared to use it. Oh, but I will have to soon enough! One other last story, I was told of a group that wanted to help some women in Kandahar by sending them liquid soap. Well the poor women hand't seen liquid soap before, so they thought it was body cream. As you can imagine - they all got serious rashes. Poor women. Lesson - if you're gonna try and be helpful, you better do / provide something that the people could use (and knowing what it is you're giving might be helpful too!). Haha! Well, after the mystery was solved, the women were very happy with their liquid soap. :)
2 comments:
i am glad you are sharing your loot..but don't forget to put some stickers on your helmet! it needs some BLING!
hey! ive been away for 2 weeks at camp, and prepping for another two, so just letting you guys know that im not dead..just hurt. i hurt the ligaments in my ankle falling UP stairs-that's skill, eh sir?? lol
you don't seem to be doing to badly there, and from what i understand you're probably eating better than i am! i really miss you and hope you're back soon, even if its just for a visit. bye!
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