It's Not All Fun and Games

Hello All,

As stated in the title, it's not all fun and games here to say the very least. Here's a picture of a US Embassy armored vehicle which was set ablaze by local Afghans after it was in a vehicle accident here in Kabul not far from the Ministry I travel to. Unfortunately, this was an armored vehicle (very heavy) and it hit a local vehicle (very light) killing the 4 Afghans in the second vehicle. Fortunately, the Americans in the armored vehicle all jumped into a trailing vehicle and were able to escape relatively unharmed. A mob formed and grew angrier, burning this vehicle. The Afghan police ultimately broke up the mob using minimum force measures. A good thing for the people and the right thing to do for the police.

Our company policy is for all of us to travel in "low profile" vehicles, which mean they look just like the local vehicles and are driven by Afghan drivers. We are also required to wear body armor while in the vehicle. It's worked for a long time and I believe we blend in quite well. Oh ya, I'm amazed there aren't more accidents over here... no rhyme or reason for entering into a traffic circle or any other traffic rules we have in our country.

Here's my real threat these days: TYPHOID. I'm neurotic about washing my hands and keeping hands away from mouth and eyes even when they're clean. However, they estimate that typhoid is carried by about 90% of the population, so keeping it in check is a problem. So far so good. Need a favor though from one of my blog followers: I need some individually packaged sanitizing wipes. I have some liquid sanitizer, but really need to clean my hands of dirt too while I'm visiting the Ministry. If someone volunteers, I will post the name of the "stuckee". I could also use some of those mesh bags you put delicates in for the wash... the machines here are just tearing up my "delicates". Ditto on the blog thing. Needless to say, I do not have access to either of these products over here.

And now for the big blog hug announcement: wait, wait...... My Big Brother Bob!!!!!!!
Since Bob does not have email access I would appreciate someone telling him about his hug. Thank you. Oh man, I've been demanding on this one.

Love

GAIL

It's The Little Things

Good Morning All,

It's the little things, like the air conditioner in my room... there's a story here too. The good news is that I have air conditioning in my little room. The drawback is the fan is either set to off or high and my bed/head is right below the unit... no option there. So, one of the guys (Chris) helped me rig up a piece of cardboard to deflect the air (and man, does it blow) away from a direct hit to my head at night. The problem: the duct tape just doesn't hold it up very well (you probably noted the many layers of tape). Many nights I'll be sleeping soundly and this big piece of cardboard targets my head while I'm in a deep state of sleep. Well, given my current living conditions in a war zone... this scares the you know what out of me. Getting back to sleep after I search the room for my heart and getting it back into place is a challenge.

So, I was telling Asa about my situation one morning after she commented I looked particularly tired. So, we left the office and had a lovely walk back to my sleeping quarters. She then explained to the house maintenance guys (in Dari) how to build a permanent wooden shelf below the air conditioner so it deflects the air away from me. She also scolded them about the paint in my room (look close at the picture). Needless to say within the next couple of days they are putting a wooden shelf and painting the room. This woman is just wonderful!!

So, that's my story for today. Not real exciting, but it's huge in my simple little world here in Compound 10 (our "neighborhood")

BREAK

I received my first email from my niece Keilah the other day with lots of nice mushy stuff... what great joy for me!!!

Today's blog hug is a no-brainer.... my amazing niece Keilah who is rapidly turning into a most remarkable woman

Love to All,

GAIL

Water Balloon Fight!!!!!

I believe I may just have captured on film the first water baloon fight in the history of Afghanistan!!!! My buddy Ken (the one surrounded by kids) somehow got his hands on a whole bunch of water balloons and filled them for our walk home the other day. He's quite the imaginative guy and is a master of showing people what Americans are really all about... it's not about combat gear, armored cars and automatic weapons. Indeed, America's all about things like water balloon fights, skateboarding, and kindness to mankind.

The big battle started with Ken throwing a balloon at a couple of Afghan men (mid 20s) walking in front of us. Before you knew it, these guys had a couple of balloons in their possession and were laughing hysterically, not very good shots though as they never hit their intended target (Ken). As the fight progressed, one of the shopkeepers (I would guess mid-50's) ran out and engaged, pulling a balloon out of Ken's bag and throwing it never coming close to any target. I'm guessing he just couldn't pass up the opportunity to play. Ultimately, Ken's target audience (the boys) joined in and about 15 of us were just laughing hysterically... many wet. Don't worry, the dog (Tiger) escaped unwet.

All in all, a great walk home and more importantly a true display of Americanism.

Okay, so what you've all been waiting for; today's blog hug goes out to my dearest niece Rachel whom I miss tremendously. Rachel, please pass on an Auntie Gail hug to Nick, Elena, Eli and Seb.

Love to all.

A Picture's Worth...

A Thousand Words!

What more can I say? Afghan girls playing together in a public park and probably after school... it's why I'm here and why all of you are so supportive of my efforts!!! I wish I could take credit for this picture but I pulled it off the United Nations Afghan Assistance website.

This big blog hug goes out to (don't get too excited this time)... all our American young girls who experience good educations and the ability to play whenever and wherever they want. America is just a great place to be.

Peace be with you my friends and family.

Love

GAIL

All Secure

Hello All,

This is the front door to my Afghanistan home and the gentlemen assigned to protect it... don't worry there are a lot more around but these were the only ones available for the pictures. The structures on either side of the door are a unique hardening system, it's a heavy webbing with a pliable almost wool like material and the inside is filled with sand. And as you can see for yourselves, my "friends" carry fully automatic weapons and look pretty sharp in their uniforms.

As for me, this is my daily "uniform". Khaki pants and light blue blouse. The "necklace" is an ID card and critical paperwork I must carry with me at all times to gain entry into just about everywhere... the US Embassy which is pretty close to where I am standing, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF, where General Petreaus works and where the bazaar is) which is just beyond the embassy, and then a primarily American installation which is about a mile away and where my primary office is. I can eat at any of the above at their dining facilities... company pays.

I've now started walking to and from work. As you can see from the picture, I could use a whole lot more than 1 mile to and from. The food here is actually pretty good and most plentiful.

Okay, here it comes: wait, wait (long pause)... today's Blog hug goes out to Dr. Dan Rosenbaum and his wonderful Staff of great ladies (especially Andrea) who were so very amazing in helping me through my multiple medical challenges to ensure I arrived in good health and well equipped to stay there.

Once again, blog comments are welcome and most appreciated.

In With the Old In With the New

Hello All My Friends and Family

I caught this picture on my way to the Ministry... traffic was crazy yet here was this guy riding along happily with his horse. I've actually seen this a few times, but most of the times it's with a small donkey and a cart loaded to the hilt.

I remain safe and engaged in my job helping build a police investigative capacity over here. The folks I work with at the ministry have quite the challenge given the incredible illiteracy rate here. I found out today that many of the criminal investigators cannot read or write... I have absolutely no idea how they write up their police reports, but I'm sure they've devised a way. I'm looking forward to finding out. I hope to now begin working out of the Ministry on an almost daily basis.

News has probably reached you by now that two of our sailors here were kidnapped from their vehicle and are missing. This is a horrifying thing for them and their families. so your prayers would be greatly appreciated. I just want you to know I'm in a totally different type of operation here, so the probability of that happening to me is quite slim.

It's now 7:30 PM on Sunday which makes it 11:00 AM back home. My body is still adjusting but it is adjusting. I'M TIRED!!!

Okay, I know you're all waiting for it (long pause, I'm setting up the suspense)....

This Blog hug goes out to my "favorite" niece JENNIFER HEBERT (crowd roars).

Jennifer is the one who built my blog while I was still back home in NH and then taught me how to use it. It made so much sense when I was home. I then arrived here and all the icons were in Arabic, poor Jennifer helping through that. So an EXTRA big hug from you all to Jennifer for making this all happen. Or a big kick in the butt because I'm putting you through this... your call. :-}

Peace be with you all,

Auntie/Granty (for some) GAIL

Changing Things Up

Thought I'd mix things up on you a little. Here is a picture of my beautiful sister Mauria and her daughter/my niece the wonderful Jillian.

And, a follow-up on the Kabul Conference. A big success, very little impact from the insurgents/terrorists... a very good thing for the Afghan government. Unfortunately, we lost 5 US military personnel today down in the southern part of the country (I'm up north).

Americans are just wonderful people and the Afghans I get to speak with are most appreciative of our efforts to help their country. In all actuality, they have a hard time comprehending the concept of Americans and our allies. Imagine, people from half way across the world leaving their families to help people they do not even know, sometimes sacrificing their own lives toward that cause. As I've told you before, the good ones (Afghans) are just a kind and generous people; unfortunately, only the bad ones seem to get the press.

Asa is off for the next few days to attend her sister's wedding. She promises to bring some pictures in upon her return, but I'm not allowed to share these pictures with you because men are not allowed to look at pictures of women. Oh well, too bad for you. :-}.

This blog hug is a no brainer.... my beautiful Sister Mauria and of course my equally beautiful niece Jillian xxxooo