Back at NMAA today. You'll notice that I'm caught up with my blog postings now too. I'm actually writing this and posting it the same day that it happened. In addition to reviewing the translated documents from my meeting with Col Fazel on Sunday, I traveled with one of our team members to review the progress of the playground equipment he has coordinated for a local girls' school. This is really an impressive effort. Please visit their facebook page and consider donating some money to the cause.
This is a the brain child of one of our team members here on a one year tour. He wanted to do more than work here at NMAA, and after talking with our interpreters and the ANA soldiers we work with, he took it as a personal mission to help provide books, classroom, and playground equipment for a local girls' school just outside the gates of NMAA. He started raising money through family contacts, found a way to get it all here, and has been making a real difference. I am humbled and honored to be able to work with all these great people. I hope to visit the school with him in a few weeks to see the new playground, meet the teachers and girls, and help out in any way I can. Educating the girls of Afghanistan is one thing that will make them stand out as a country in this part of the world. Plus, I have a real soft spot for ensuring the young girls of the world are educated and provided as many opportunities as possible. I hope nothing less for my own three daughters, Isabella, Abigail, and Emilia.
A bit of a mundane day. I'm getting into a routine now. The food in the chow hall is O.K. The sanitation could be a bit better (it could be a lot better really), but I've learned to use hand sanitizer regularly. This aspect is really playing a bit of havoc with my germ-a-phobia, but I'll survive. I'm glad I got the hepatitis-B shot now. I'm stationed on a coalition base with soldiers from 20+ other countries so there is a very international flavor to all the supporting shops, chow hall food, etc. So far I've got a room to myself, but there are a bunch of people inbound to augment our team in the next few weeks. I'll have at least one roommate, perhaps two for a while. My room is about 8 feet wide by 15 feet long. Reminds me of a prison cell at times, but I don't get locked in at night. I tried to take some pictures, but it is literally so small, I couldn't position the camera to give an impression of it. I'll try again later.
We came in to work today with really bad news. A suicide bomber killed 10, including at least 5 Americans this morning while injuring many other civilians. Here's a link to the news story. I'm told attacks pick up more in the summer, so we may just be getting started. Good thing we didn't need to traverse this route today. God Bless the soldiers and civilians that were victims today. Please keep their families in your prayers.
I'm going to jump into the Computer Science department here tomorrow setting up a plan for my time here. All the courses are taught in Dari or Pashto so I'll need lots of translator support. Luckily I've been assigned someone to translate and help me out.
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Rough going. I keep thinking of my Army brother who finally admitted, "Next time, I'm going to go Air Force."
ReplyDeleteWow just have read day 4 and 3. We just signed for our house here. So far we really like it. I guess Gina's cooking will taste even more amazing upon your return. Stay safe. I think a prison cell is more like 4x8 so your in a suite. Take care
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