Posts

Showing posts from February, 2010

Afghanistan - Day 17 - Heading Home

Today is Going-Home Day. I couldn't wait to get it started. My eyes opened, my hand reached for the cell phone and I checked the time. 1:58am Nuts. I rolled over and went back to sleep. A few hours later I woke up again with the sound of the rain still hitting the tent. It's been cloudy and raining for the past three days. I hoped the clouds would break and give me one more glimpse of the snow-covered peaks. As I walked out of breakfast, the sky had another idea: The rain became snow. I walked back to the tent and met Chief Quenga, whom I thanked for the use of his sleeping bag for the past two weeks. He dropped me off at the passenger terminal where I checked in for my flight to Dubai. After checking in I made my way over to church. After a wonderful time of singing and a touching communion, the tallest chaplain in the Air Force gave a spot-on message about how to develop a heart for God's people. Then for the last time I walked across the post to the passenger terminal, f...

Afghanistan - Day 16 - Souvenirs

This morning I woke up and slept in a bit. After a lazy breakfast I walked my 4 miles and got back to the business of reading. After lunch I forced myself out of the tent and into the bazaar at the entrance to the Special Forces camp. (I suppose those shopkeepers need extra protection or something...) It was a flash back through time as I walked amongst the stalls, examining the wares on display and haggling with the shopkeepers. Beautifully carved gemstones, handmade fur coats, "Karzai" hats, pirated movies, brass vessels, cell phones, Afghan clothing, carpets and more covered every available space. I selected a few items, bargained for a better price and left knowing that I still overpaid. But I was happy to pay what I did for the souvenirs, so I didn't mind stimulating the local economy. The word "souvenir" is a French verb meaning, "to remember." And there will be many wonderful things about my time here that I will remember: Rubbing shoulders with...

Afghanistan - Day 15 - Appreciation

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. Oh, the beautiful rain that washes the sky and keeps the dust from coating me with a layer of suffocating grit. With a bounce in my step I headed off to the shower connex (pre-fabricated building that looks like a shipping container) and cleaned myself up. A shave and a shower for my last day of teaching seemed in order. Towards the end of the class Chief Quenga and Major Brown showed up at the door. After I started the students on the final lab exercise I went back and chatted with them. They asked about how the classes went (I assured them that things went well). And then they asked about my impression of the facilities - Was everything OK? How was the classroom? How was the tent? I assured them that not only were the facilities serviceable, but in the process I had gained a greater appreciation for the servicemembers who have to endure these conditions for 12-18 months at a time. They then presented me with a Certificate of Appreciation s...

Afghanistan - Day 14 - Walking Around

I'm still sticking to my plan of walking at least 4 miles a day. That and smart choices at the DFAC have helped to evaporate some of my "gravity belt". As I've been walking around I've noticed three things that fascinate me: 1. It is the exception for a servicemember to be walking alone. It seems as if they always move in pairs or threes. Whether it is for their PT (Physical Training) runs, going to eat or heading to the job they are never alone. It is the "Battle Buddy" mentality that is so a part of the fabric of the military. There are messages everywhere about teamwork and supporting your teammates. This extends even to the most mundane of tasks such as walking around. 2. The "Multinational Coalition" is truly multinational. Since being here I have seen military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, UAE and Pakistan in addition to soldiers in the Afghan National Army. There is...

Afghanistan - Day 13 - Dust

There's just no getting away from the dust. In my tent, the dust is an ever-present reality on the floor. If I don't have shoes or flip-flops on, my feet will get dirty instantly. My suitcase and my backpack are now coated with a beige layer of Bagram's finest (pun intended). At the end of the day I can shake dust from my pants without ever having sat down in that dust. It is constantly blowing through the air, looking for surfaces to which to cling and crevices in which to burrow. When I walk down the road to my classroom, the DFAC, the MWR or the latrines, dust is being kicked up by all the vehicles, small and large, that travel that main road. I try to breathe through my nose but sometimes I open my mouth. Just that little yawn is enough to feel the grit on my teeth for the next two minutes. In my classroom dust coats the floor. Sweeping it out would be a sheer impossibility if not for the ingenuity of the two Afghans who do this. They spray a little mist of water before...

Afghanistan - Day 12 - The Grind

Today was so routine. I woke up, grabbed a quick breakfast at the DFAC and headed to the classroom. Lunch and a little more teaching and I was out for the day. I meandered down to the BBQ DFAC for a pork chop and some overboiled corn-on-the-cob before trudging back towards my tent for the night. It seems that my body and my mind have settled into the rhythm of the post, and I feel quite comfortable. I wouldn't call it Stockholm Syndrome, but I'm actually getting a very good night's rest. Part of that is the 4+ miles I'm walking every day, part of that may be that afterburners on an F-18 fighter taking off don't annoy me as much. Still, five more nights on the top bunk before I get on a plane and head home.

Afghanistan - Day 11 - A New Day/Week/Month

Today was a great start to a new week. Aside from my blistered toes, my body feels pretty good. I've rested well and it is paying off. My energy level with the students is much better, and this group has responded well. It's going to be a good week. Other than that, nothing new or unusual. I suppose I've settled down into a nice routine here. Seven more days and I'll be home.