Taking a walk

On a clear day...I like to take a minute for myself both here and back home and just enjoy what the Lord gave me to see and enjoy. I enjoy the colors of nature, viewing the goings on of animals and insects and of course people watching. At home, I go to one of the many parks or walking paths near my home. There's one located downhill from a Mall that is incredible and is isolated. The path is clear and the vegetation is overgrown and it's quiet. Or I just take a walk to my favorite park where I know of many people that walk daily and I can get a bit of exercise and a little interaction. It's a daily thing for me.

In Afghanistan on the bases, we are limited to inside the barriers, (wall is what we call it, but it's Hesco's or barbed wire with guards to make sure we stay in and the talameanies stay out). So nature walking is very limited and we all have the natural curiosity of what's on the other side. There are very few places that you can go for alone time and especially if you're female. we are reminded constantly that this is a war zone and while base rules fall under US law, you must obey the country rules too and can be tried under Afghan laws. Us women folk do not walk alone in isolated areas- even the ones that say they can handle themselves. Oh I walk a lot, but not for pleasure. Merely to get from duty "A" to duty "B". There's no climbing the walls where I'm at now. They are pretty strict at this base. I finally found an opportunity to walk the perimeter with a fellow that is trustworthy and Safety is his middle name. It was amazing and very muddy. I saw many locals at home and at work in their daily lives and got to view the countryside. It's amazing what surrounds these FOB's.

Speaking of, I can't believe that all the research that I did prior to coming here and having been here for months and I just found out that the Taliban is a tribal name and we all may be working side by side with them, good and bad. I had wondered how they picked that name. It even sounds a little frightening (me being a sheltered American), but knowing that took a little of the sting away.  Sometimes it's safer for me to stay in obliviousland or maybe it didn't register because- really, who cares. It only affects me at this time. Afghanistan has gone through many would be conquerers and other than Alexander the Great, (still the only one to conquer Afghanistan), it's yet to happen again. They are an adaptable people, long suffering. They don't trust us and most don't trust them. What a life. I am learning a few phrases to speak to them. What a can of worms I've opened. Now they only speak to me in their language. It's really fun eventhough I can't understand them half the time! But, the other half I can! I continue to hope and pray for peace, freedom, comfort and opportunity for an enriched life for all.