022512 A routine is good to have and Koran burning update

022512 A routine is good to have and Koran burning update

As a contractor in Afghanistan (and when I was in in Iraq) you tend to do the same things day after day.  This in itself is not a bad thing as it removes a lot of uncertainty in your life.  Little things such as even what to wear are no longer complicated decisions but rather a pattern that you simply follow as well.  Getting to the gym is also worked into the routine that is life here.  Fortunately, going to the gym here is not so much tolerated but encouraged.  I think the reasoning is the powers that be have decided if people work off some excess energy (or frustration or pick any emotion) at the gym, then the less likely he or she will be to find other avenues to work off said excess energy.  So the word has gone out that you may take some time out of your day that is convenient to all to spend at the gym if you simply make up the time later (such a deal!)  Anyway, my time is 5 AM to 6 AM, every day.  Yes, a routine is good to have.
And there have been quite a few demonstrations both violent and non-violent on bases throughout Afghanistan regarding the copies of the Koran that were burned.  Today there were two US Army officers that were shot (http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/25/10504899-gunman-kills-two-us-army-officers-in-afghan-interior-ministry) and shots were fired into the base here so this base went on lockdown and a 100% accountability was conducted.  If I had to travel off base now I'd be a lot more concerned.  But even on base there are quite a few local national workers here.  I suppose it's all part of the job though.
R/Chris

 

 

022112 It's still snowing and falling ice cycles

022112 It's still snowing and falling ice cycles

This was the third weekend in a row where it snowed here in Kabul.  It didn't snow consistently but rather came in bursts.  Last night it was a pretty clear night but when I left the office this morning (I work night shift 8 PM to 8 AM) it was damn near a blizzard out there.  The temperatures are expected to be above 40F all next week so all the snow and ice will probably be gone by then.  With the temperatures above freezing in the day and below freezing at night this produces ideal conditions for ice cycles.  There are camp email messages warning people to stay away from under the building eaves since falling snow/ice can really hurt one.  Where possible the snow and ice is being knocked away but it seems to be a daily task that doesn't get done for every eave.  And you can't tell from the pic but the snow/ice block (in the pic) is a few feet out from the edge of the roof.  As it warms in the day, the block creeps down and away from the roof only to re-freeze at night.  Eventually it'll 'calve away from the glacier' and fall below but until then, they're pretty cool to look at during the day.
R/Chris

021412 And it snowed 'again' this weekend

021412 And it snowed 'again' this weekend.

It snowed again this weekend.  Kabul seems to be getting some of the wintry weather associated with Eastern Europe.  Anyway, here are some pics.  One is me in DeStile garden.  This is the outdoor part of one of the cafes here one base.  Another is of a canvas roof that finally collapsed.  There must have been two feet of snow and ice on top before it finally collapsed.  And another pic is one of the cats.  We're not supposed to feed the cats, but frankly a few look a little too fat and happy for it being the middle of winter here.

R/Chris

021312 Contractors are Everywhere, it is what it is.

021312 Contractors are Everywhere, it is what it is.

When I started as a contractor in Iraq several years ago I really had no idea how many contractors there were overseas or how involved contractors have been in past conflicts.  Doing some rudimentary research I discovered that contractors were even used by the Continental Army under George Washington.  Also while there are rules and regulations that must be followed by the Pentagon regarding military deaths/injuries there are no such rules and regulations for contractors.  But to be fair, the definition of a 'contractor' is quite broad.  A local Afghani citizen paid to do interpretation work may be a contractor just as an American citizen who flies 10,000 miles and who may only stay a few weeks is a contractor.  The attached pics are of an article about contractors during WWII (the Wake 98). I'm pretty sure these guys never thought they'd be on the front lines but the environment of warfare can change at any time.  During the Iraq conflict there were a few (small) camps that got 'overrun'.  What that means is that some of the bad guys made it through the security perimeter and onto the base.  From there the battle becomes a small arms shoot out.  The NY Times article referenced below details the contractor side of the war in Afghanistan much better than I could.  An interesting point is that the number of deaths (and probably injuries too) of contractors in Afghanistan last year exceeded that of the military.   In all likelihood you'll never see this on the evening news as this is part of the dark side of war that goes tacitly unnoticed and ignored.  Nevertheless, it is what it is.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46357483/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

020312 And it's snowing again...

020312 And it's snowing again...

There are a lot of similarities between Kabul, Afghanistan and Colorado Springs, Colorado.  One of which is the weather.  Right now there are snowy and icy conditions in both regions and both cities expect a significant snowfall this weekend.  It started snowing here in Kabul last night and it's still (lightly) snowing today.   There are about 12 inches of new snow on the ground and it's expected to snow off and on until tomorrow night.
In the days it will warm up above freezing and at night it'll drop below freezing.  This produces excellent conditions for ice cycles (as you can see in one of the pics.)  For the most part, this turns an otherwise dreary brown environment into one of white fluffy amusement.
The pic of the Robcorfawad Shop is one of the many shops on base.  They sell, coats, shoes, fake watches, wooden boxes, etc.  There are several of these shops on base and if you want it, they can probably get it for you.  This shop had some great 'fo-lexs' (fake Rolex) watches but he also wanted $180 for the watch.  I've seen the same 'fake-quality' in Kuwait for less than $100 so they were over priced.  But to be fair, the guy did offer me a 100% Customer Guarantee! (LOL).

R/Chris

 

020112 Finally got a haircut...just 11 more to go.

020112  Finally got a haircut...just 11 more to go.

When I got to Kabul in December I got a haircut and for various reasons I didn't get another haircut until recently.  Haircuts and other services (stores, cafe, pizza shop) are offered by locals who come on base and set up a shop.  Gone are the days when there was a 'military barber'.  The Army/Military seems to contract out EVERYTHING now.  Anyway, my logic is that I've got a year to go here in Kabul and if I can wait a month between haircuts I can now countdown my time left.  So...11 haircuts to go.
R/Chris