Happy October and Happy First Anniversary of my arrival on the far side of the world. Just over one year ago I arrived at my tiny Forward Operating Base near Kandahar to begin my adventure and new job of teaching/mentoring the Afghan National Security Forces.
It's been an interesting year. Looking back over my entries these past 10 months, I'm amazed at what I haven't chosen to write about as much as I am by what I did. The good news is that the weather has cooled off enough that generators are no longer the bane of my daily existence. That is a good thing, since the Afghan side is currently short one - blown head gasket, see previous blogs on "Fixing the Army" for the fun involved with fixing it.
I realized that I haven't written much about friendships here. Most places I have worked, I tend to have many friendly acquaintances but only one or two people that will remain friends beyond the work environment. Until recently, most military personnel were only here for six month tours. I arrived at the end of the New York National Guard's tour, was here for all of the Virginia Guard's tour as well as the short-lived Alabama/Tennessee Guard's stay (they were reassigned in another area because of internal Army politics - which was too bad, they were great guys), and am now working with the Kansas Guard under Active Duty leadership. Likewise the Coalition Forces members here have rotated regularly... I've gotten to know British, Dutch, and Canadian officers and men and learned much from all.
The longest-lived friendship here is with another US contractor, who has been here almost nine months. Ron is NOT what one would expect to see. He is a solidly built African American with long dreadlocks and a full beard. His expertise is communications and satellite equipment and he knows his stuff. He has the type of personality that everyone gravitates to. He left the other day for the states for a medical procedure. Not much fun to have your gall bladder go on the fritz in a war zone - I hope everything works out and he makes it back when he plans to - he's one of the good guys.
A few weeks ago another friendship changed when Jerry, a Dutch Major, finished his tour of duty and went back to the Netherlands. He and I didn't always agree, but we "got" each other. phrase he taught us was "You can go now.", used whenever he was getting the worst in a discussion. In exchange, I taught him the proper usage of the phrase "You Dick!" He introduced me to some wonderful Dutch cookies and other foodstuffs and I introduced him to "Firefly" - the short-lived US TV-series from a few years ago. I will miss evenings watching movies and Firefly on my computer with him, munching on cookies and Dutch sausages and the like. He's good company, but then again, he's good people, one of the band of brothers.
I've also established friendships with several Afghans. Friendships with the Afghans are a little different. Many Afghans want to be your friend, for friends do things for each other and buy things for each other. They might give me a ring or a scarf for my wife, then expect me to buy them a computer - after all, I make more money than they do, so it should be no problem, right? Luckily, I do have a few who are happy just to be friends, to share a cup (or six or seven) of chai or a meal together, and talk of families and houses and better days. These are good men that can put aside major cultural differences and accept others without judgment. I just hope that all the players here leave them a country that can be put back together again - or if not, can fragment without a civil war ensuing. High hopes, to be sure. No matter what happens, I wish only the best for men like Ahmad Shah, Mirwais Noorzai and Haji Mohammad. They are good men, in any culture, who I am proud to know.
As for the rest, the pleasant acquaintances and such, are like ships that pass in the night. Sometimes you see them and remember them, other times they become lost over the horizon as time slides inexorably on.
It's been an interesting year. Looking back over my entries these past 10 months, I'm amazed at what I haven't chosen to write about as much as I am by what I did. The good news is that the weather has cooled off enough that generators are no longer the bane of my daily existence. That is a good thing, since the Afghan side is currently short one - blown head gasket, see previous blogs on "Fixing the Army" for the fun involved with fixing it.
I realized that I haven't written much about friendships here. Most places I have worked, I tend to have many friendly acquaintances but only one or two people that will remain friends beyond the work environment. Until recently, most military personnel were only here for six month tours. I arrived at the end of the New York National Guard's tour, was here for all of the Virginia Guard's tour as well as the short-lived Alabama/Tennessee Guard's stay (they were reassigned in another area because of internal Army politics - which was too bad, they were great guys), and am now working with the Kansas Guard under Active Duty leadership. Likewise the Coalition Forces members here have rotated regularly... I've gotten to know British, Dutch, and Canadian officers and men and learned much from all.
The longest-lived friendship here is with another US contractor, who has been here almost nine months. Ron is NOT what one would expect to see. He is a solidly built African American with long dreadlocks and a full beard. His expertise is communications and satellite equipment and he knows his stuff. He has the type of personality that everyone gravitates to. He left the other day for the states for a medical procedure. Not much fun to have your gall bladder go on the fritz in a war zone - I hope everything works out and he makes it back when he plans to - he's one of the good guys.
A few weeks ago another friendship changed when Jerry, a Dutch Major, finished his tour of duty and went back to the Netherlands. He and I didn't always agree, but we "got" each other. phrase he taught us was "You can go now.", used whenever he was getting the worst in a discussion. In exchange, I taught him the proper usage of the phrase "You Dick!" He introduced me to some wonderful Dutch cookies and other foodstuffs and I introduced him to "Firefly" - the short-lived US TV-series from a few years ago. I will miss evenings watching movies and Firefly on my computer with him, munching on cookies and Dutch sausages and the like. He's good company, but then again, he's good people, one of the band of brothers.
I've also established friendships with several Afghans. Friendships with the Afghans are a little different. Many Afghans want to be your friend, for friends do things for each other and buy things for each other. They might give me a ring or a scarf for my wife, then expect me to buy them a computer - after all, I make more money than they do, so it should be no problem, right? Luckily, I do have a few who are happy just to be friends, to share a cup (or six or seven) of chai or a meal together, and talk of families and houses and better days. These are good men that can put aside major cultural differences and accept others without judgment. I just hope that all the players here leave them a country that can be put back together again - or if not, can fragment without a civil war ensuing. High hopes, to be sure. No matter what happens, I wish only the best for men like Ahmad Shah, Mirwais Noorzai and Haji Mohammad. They are good men, in any culture, who I am proud to know.
As for the rest, the pleasant acquaintances and such, are like ships that pass in the night. Sometimes you see them and remember them, other times they become lost over the horizon as time slides inexorably on.
Hooah
SLK
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