Today is day 3 of my new assignment. This base is old and run down. It was never meant to be a permanent base, but here we are. It totally explains why there are few bathrooms or nice showers. The base just grew without any growth in the frivolities- if that's what you want to call the shit-er. I had originally nicknamed it hell hole. Today it's a beautiful day. Overnight, the stars shine brightly, (there are rarely clouds overhead) and it's so dark here at night, with a crispness that fills the air. The solar eclipse that you were viewing last night was the same one that I saw and it brought me closer to home. I could call this place quaint, but no. It's filled with cement blocks 10 feet tall and hescos, (walls made of burlap and wire filled with sand- an excellent bullet barrier, 12 feet high). So I think this is "The little city that could." It could___, fill in the blanks. Current temperatures are 25 as the night time low and during the day it gets up to 60, so we peel it off layer by layer. No rain or snow as of yet, but I hear that it's a-coming.
I'm in the mountains. I don't do heights, but I figured anything once. I love it! The view is incredible. Everywhere you look is something else spectacular. Still no trees, but I heard there's an abundance of green and poppies after the rainy season. The air is so clean. I still have the Kandahar crud stuffing up my sinuses, but it's slowly going away... and I can breath here! We have a city nearby that we overlook and even that is very interesting with it's palaces contrasting with the slums and the mosques and the busyness of the place. I only wish that I could stroll down there and get some hummus and fresh pita bread. I still have no idea what city it is, but I understand that the drug Lords are paid well to leave us alone. It's a place where you wish you were a photographer and then realize that you're not suppose to post photos anyway.
I have taken so many pictures of all of the places that I've seen and people that I've met. Unfortunately, I am always the waterfalls when it's time to leave those places. Tears just fall. You get so close to people here. They become your family. You trust them blindly and develop these bonds that feel as if you've known them forever and you can't ever imagine a day without them. And then it's time to move on. I can already tell that I'm in such a place. I have my own room in a tent with 3 other girls- it holds 10 people (maybe that's why we don't get heat...why waste it on us 3.) The girls were most welcoming and set me up with clean sheets and a small tour of our immediate area. We are considerate of each other. Rarely are there people who will two-face you here and I'm counting on the TCN's to get even with those because they are treated worse by those same people. What's acceptable in one culture... you never know. ..you really have to watch your P's & Q's sometimes.
For example, I'm here with Romanians this time. Very virile, horn toad guys. Must remember to steer clear of them on my midnight runs in my jammies. Their female soldiers wear dangling earrings and don't have rifles- hum? Very few Bosnians but I have found some. There's also Afghani's and some Arabs. AND there is also a huge population of Michiganders... about 8 of us! Almost enough for egg roll, (with 12 you get egg roll, get it?) It's different here versus the southern region, because in the north they like Americans and do not like the Taliban.
We walk, no vehicles here. There's only a few trucks and some heavy machinery. So, I'm counting on losing some poundage here. My body better not turn on me and accommodate for all of this walking. I think that I should get something out of all these miles that I huff everyday. Never you mind that I should eat better. Those damn nutrition guides are posted everywhere. Just when I'd like a bit of pecan pie, I must reach over the calorie counter to get at it and it reminds me enough to skip it this once. However it did not work today. My favorite, chocolate chip cookies were on the menu and I saw them from way across the hall- yum! So I grabbed just one. As I left the DFAC, I took a good sized bite to find...raisins- WTH??? YUK! Nothing is worse that expecting chocolate and getting something healthy. Who sabotaged that I might ask? Some health nut wizard chef would be my answer. So, I guess I will go and check out my surroundings and enjoy the last snow free day. The wind is blowing...here it comes. Forecast for tomorrow is snow!
I'm in the mountains. I don't do heights, but I figured anything once. I love it! The view is incredible. Everywhere you look is something else spectacular. Still no trees, but I heard there's an abundance of green and poppies after the rainy season. The air is so clean. I still have the Kandahar crud stuffing up my sinuses, but it's slowly going away... and I can breath here! We have a city nearby that we overlook and even that is very interesting with it's palaces contrasting with the slums and the mosques and the busyness of the place. I only wish that I could stroll down there and get some hummus and fresh pita bread. I still have no idea what city it is, but I understand that the drug Lords are paid well to leave us alone. It's a place where you wish you were a photographer and then realize that you're not suppose to post photos anyway.
I have taken so many pictures of all of the places that I've seen and people that I've met. Unfortunately, I am always the waterfalls when it's time to leave those places. Tears just fall. You get so close to people here. They become your family. You trust them blindly and develop these bonds that feel as if you've known them forever and you can't ever imagine a day without them. And then it's time to move on. I can already tell that I'm in such a place. I have my own room in a tent with 3 other girls- it holds 10 people (maybe that's why we don't get heat...why waste it on us 3.) The girls were most welcoming and set me up with clean sheets and a small tour of our immediate area. We are considerate of each other. Rarely are there people who will two-face you here and I'm counting on the TCN's to get even with those because they are treated worse by those same people. What's acceptable in one culture... you never know. ..you really have to watch your P's & Q's sometimes.
For example, I'm here with Romanians this time. Very virile, horn toad guys. Must remember to steer clear of them on my midnight runs in my jammies. Their female soldiers wear dangling earrings and don't have rifles- hum? Very few Bosnians but I have found some. There's also Afghani's and some Arabs. AND there is also a huge population of Michiganders... about 8 of us! Almost enough for egg roll, (with 12 you get egg roll, get it?) It's different here versus the southern region, because in the north they like Americans and do not like the Taliban.
We walk, no vehicles here. There's only a few trucks and some heavy machinery. So, I'm counting on losing some poundage here. My body better not turn on me and accommodate for all of this walking. I think that I should get something out of all these miles that I huff everyday. Never you mind that I should eat better. Those damn nutrition guides are posted everywhere. Just when I'd like a bit of pecan pie, I must reach over the calorie counter to get at it and it reminds me enough to skip it this once. However it did not work today. My favorite, chocolate chip cookies were on the menu and I saw them from way across the hall- yum! So I grabbed just one. As I left the DFAC, I took a good sized bite to find...raisins- WTH??? YUK! Nothing is worse that expecting chocolate and getting something healthy. Who sabotaged that I might ask? Some health nut wizard chef would be my answer. So, I guess I will go and check out my surroundings and enjoy the last snow free day. The wind is blowing...here it comes. Forecast for tomorrow is snow!
