Picture: View from the top of the tallest building in the world... taller buildings in sight are quite large high rises so I' thought this would give you some perspective.

Good Morning From Afghanistan!!!

So, here's how I'm living life out here. I live in about a two story 2500 sq foot house made up of about 12 bedrooms, 6 baths, a small kitchen and two common areas I've never seen anyone use. Myself, I have to walk down to the first floor and through the entire house to get to the bathroom which I share with a very neat and pleasant gentleman that also works with the company.

The house is located within a secure compound of multiple homes with very high hardened walls and a significant armed security presence. The security is provided by local Afghan men and I'm finding them most pleasant to speak with, what little we can share. Some speak some English and have made a deal with me that if I teach them more English they will teach me some Dari. Good deal for me! To get to work, we have mulitple vans for transport. So I put on my 20 pound flak/bullet vest with my standard company uniform (civilian clothes) and jump into the van which is right outside our quarters. We then drive to a multinational military installation where our office is. It's about a 1/4 mile walk to the office through the installation, after one gets through multiple layers of security. Hopefully next week I can start walking to work (about a mile) with a couple of guys through some secured alley ways, which will prevent me from having to wear the flak/bullet vest. Oh ya, they also issued me a lovely helmut.

Still settling into the office, trying to get my issued computer up and running... most of you know that's quite the challenge for me. While on the installation and even from our compound, we eat in a military dining facility for our meals. There is normally plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables along with lots of unhealthy options which I'm bound and determined to stay away from. The desserts are amazing, but avoiding them too. The good news is that I discovered they actually have soy milk, so I'm now a happy camper!

The weather here is very dry, dusty and right now pretty darn hot (makes that 20 lb jacket so much more enjoyable). However, there is bottled water literally everywhere so I'm never wanting from that. Keeping my hands clean and sanitary is still an issue I need to resolve. The guys tell me that typhoid is a common ailment but I'm determined not to submit to it... I'll let you know when I get it even though Doc Rosenbaum back home ensured I got my shot before departing.

Well, today is my day off (Friday). I'm heading out to a local bizzare (for the international community so it's pretty safe) to try and pick up a new flak/bullet jacket that isn't too big. Can you believe they don't normally carry these in petite sizes? Hope to pick up a few trinkets while there too, but there's plenty of time here for that.

Gotta head out. But know I love and miss my friends and family.

GAIL