Here's One for You

Let me start by saying there is nothing feminine about the men here, but I've noted many (maybe 10%) walking down the street holding hands like lovers on a walk in the park. Many of the younger boys/men (higher proportion), walk arm in arm. I asked Asa about this and she said it's because they are "best friends". Definitely not what one would see in America, but this is far from America for sure. I thought you would find that interesting.

Asa came to work sick yesterday and was going to the doctor after her 1/2 day... the company only requires our interpreters to work 1/2 days during Ramazan unless work dictates otherwise. Anyway, I asked her the process to see the doctor. She says she goes to the hospital near her home and waits in a large room to see a doctor... they do not have assigned doctors, you get who you get. Forgot to ask her about payment. I do know that many of our senior interpreters are medical doctors; however, the pay is so low they work as interpreters for the Americans during the day making significantly more money. At the end of their normal work day, they volunteer as doctors in hospitals/clinics to keep their skills up. One must ask: "What's going to happen to these people when the Americans leave." And, our focus here is all about the exit strategy, shaping the Afghan infrasturcture as much as possible so we (the international community) can depart without leaving a HUGE void.

This blog hug goes out to probably the most talented man I've ever met and also my brother-in-law................... DAVID BRIEN XXXOOO