-I am thoroughly impressed that my Mom turned 83 years old yesterday. I was glad we were able to Skype for awhile. Her tenacity and strength are inspiring.
-The more thin-skinned and sensitive you are the more lonely command can be.
-One day when we were out at Marawara Bridge checking on the construction progress I spoke with a couple of young men who were busy with a pile of green stuff that was rolled up into little balls. They were putting each green ball into little baggies. Evidently these budding entrepreneurs were bagging them up to sell them as a type of dip that men put in their lip just like Copenhagen. They told me they buy tobacco at the bazaar and then mix it with lime and ash and then sell the balls for five Afghanis (about ten cents). People who buy it pinch a little off and put it in their lip. Not sure what else goes into it besides lime and ash but I have a feeling there may be more to it then that. One of the Afghan police who was with us bought a bag for himself. One ball usually lasts a whole day. The young men said even kids do it, sometimes starting at eight years old...crazy.-Nine pounds so far on the New Year's Resolution....long way to go.
-The Afghan Jungle Cats that started out as cute kittens have somehow taken over the base. They must be part rabbit because they seemed to be multiplying at a rapid pace. Either that or they called all their jungle cat buddies around Afghanistan and said "Hey, come on out to Camp Wright, we'll have a great time!" We received a second opinion on their heritage and may be able to remove them from the base or euthanize them. I know, I know but if they scratch someone it means rabies shots and we don't have enough vaccine for everyone. Unfortunately the Feline Liberation Front is in full force around the base, so we have seen various cat dishes with food and even a little cat house for them to sleep in...gotta take care of this.
-One of the annoying differences in cultures is that in Afghanistan the term thank you is not used much. They have a word for it. Manana means thank you. But they either have a difficult time expressing appreciation because of a pride thing or it just isn't something they feel is necessary. In fact, usually they will criticize the gift or gesture, and nine times out of ten they will ask for more. I even gave one of our advisors sixty dollars because his paycheck had been drastically delayed. I wanted to help him out so he could eat. No acknowledgement, no thank you, nothing.
-Though I do not have and will not have Post Tramautic Stress Disorder, I now understand how and why people end up with it.
-I have become addicted to Frosted Mini-Wheats. Every morning I knock on the door to the Admin office. My Yeoman opens the door and hands me Frosted Mini-Wheats, a single serving milk carton and a plastic spoon. I go back to my office across the hall and enjoy my breakfast before going out on mission. It has become a ritual that I actually look forward to each day. I don't remember ever eating Frosted Mini-Wheats before this...ever.
-I first came here last February to conduct a site survey. While I was visiting I took a picture of a young boy outside a school we were building. Throughout the year I have seen him a few times and, in fact, took a picture of him yesterday. I commented to him that he has grown quite a bit over the past year. He replied, "That is God's will." He also mentioned that we have been coming here over and over and we have never given them anything. I reminded him that we built him a school and he returned "Oh, yes, thank you." Reference my previous point and you see I had to shame him into appreciation. Then he proceeded to ask me what I had in my pockets that I could give him (nothing), what about in the trucks (nothing), how about my gloves (no).
-The thing I will remember the most about this place will be the children. When most families are having seven to ten kids there are quite a few children running around. Wherever we go they always seem to gather. They are amazingly beautiful as children and most have that untarnished joy and innocence that shows in their eyes and in their smiles. I have taken many pictures of the girls and boys sitting on the rock walls as we passed to reach a particular school project. Yesterday as we walked the same path, we passed a couple of females wearing their blue burqas. I wondered to myself if, perhaps, these were two of the girls I had taken pictures of previously. Maybe they had reached that certain age, or had been married off at twelve or fourteen. I could hope and pray all day but know that the joy and innocence will fade for most of them, sooner rather than later. I fear both the boys and girls face many more years of war and strife. It breaks your heart.
-Amazingly I have already read two books and working on a third in 2012. Considering what little time I have and my track record over the past few years that is a pretty good start.
- As far as I can remember, I have only been to a movie theatre two or three times in the past year (no movie theatres here). That too is a record. I look forward to being able to go to the movies with a big tub of popcorn and a giant Slurpee.
-My kids do not have any MVP trophies on their shelves. They have never been the state champion of this or the winner of that. But, wow, I am humbled at what wonderful human beings they have become. They are all just hard working, respectful, moral, good people and they are beautiful inside and out. They all truly have good and kind hearts. It brings me to tears to think at how lucky I am while I give all the credit to Midori. She raised them while I spent most of their childhoods at sea. To say I am proud does not do justice to how I feel...truly, truly blessed.
-Enough for now...sorry if it ran long.
That dip is Nass (naswar, niswar) and is particularly favored by Pashtun people. It has the same health concerns as any smokeless tobacco...
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