Day 13: A quiet Friday

Temperatures reached 100 degrees here; it was a dry heat though, so it wasn't too bad.

There were no events to speak of from insurgents. And yesterday's gate explosion was, in fact, a self detonation by security troops who discovered a car parked in the wrong area for too long. You can never be too careful.

I see that the Lakers are headed back to the finals ... being from the East Coast, I'll have to pull for the Celtics. I'd like to see KG win a ring, he's been a class act his entire career and deserves it.

Laundry in this heat isn't fun, but it does tend to get dry quick. I did the entire set in an hour.

In the distance I could finally hear prayers over the loud speakers. I'm used to that having spent two years in Turkey. At the time, my dog would sit and stare off into the distance towards the mineretts and howl ... as if he were praying along.

My diet is a challenge as I'm taking in what I would consider "junk" food -- there's no salmon, brown rice, wheat pastas etc. So I make due with what's left and try to watch the calories.

Tonight I'm working my abs at the gym. I can feel they need work.

And I'm back on my green tea and protein shake ritual; and it would be great if I could ad some red fruits to the mix. That will have to wait though and I gry to get a little more settled here.

I find myself wiping dirt from my face quite often as it tends to swirl about here. I even bought seven or eight scarvs from vendors. That way I can wrap them around my head like locals to keep such mess out of my eyes and mouth. Or at least try.

Day 10-12: Coordinated attack day (Day 12)

Hey, the Internet here was down for a couple of days so I'll catch up quick. Tuesday and Wednesday (days 10 and 11) were uneventful.

Thursday (day 12) was the day one Army sergeant warned me about: "Coordinated attack day."

We had three IEDs/suicide attacks all within a short driving distance of our compound ... and at least two of the areas I've visited several times over the last 12 days.

There's a saying that goes around here: "When it's your time, it's your time." So the idea is not to think about the danger much and go on about life, while keeping both eyes and ears open. In this particular case or cases, the bombers managed to kill or wound many God fearing Afghans --- and little else. They seem bent on indiscriminate killing of men, women and children. Their means are to what ends I don't know. I'm quite certain that as a typical man, I wouldn't be swayed to their side of the fence via similar tactics. Maybe scared into keeping quiet and low key, but never really on their side.

And it's a proven fact that you'll never, ever succeed in assimilating a culture or at least enjoying them as an ally unless you earn their trust and hearts. And that, my friends, isn't easy. But we have to stay focused. This isn't a sprint to the finish, it's a marathon. I hope the coalition has the strength of will to see it through.

Update: A fourth explosion took place following the initial posting; I have yet to receive any further information, but the location was the entrance to "Paradise East." My affectionate name for home base.

Day 9: It's the little things

It's the little things that make an austere environment habitable. For me, that's waking up to four or five freshly brewed cups of Japanese green tea (not the tea bag version mind you).

It's the protein shake I chug down before breakfast, specific type of body cream I use and the ability to check on scores of the Philly sports teams.

The mornings are cold, cold enough that your breath emits that foggy exhale. The days are a sneaky hot. You don't realize it most times, but there you are, sweating -- the middle of your t-shirt or back of it outlined in a salty excretion. It's a dry heat though, so I find it quite nice.

The sun rises well before I do, and I get up between 4:30-5 p.m. It's bright, the birds who make their little homes above my little home chirp throughout the day. The night comes just as quickly, darkness settles over the area by 7 p.m.

I live in what they call "Lego Land," a sarcastic description of the previously mentioned 9x10 crates many of us call home. Again, they're made out of old shipping containers -- even the Afghans have found such containers useful to house businesses on the side of the roadways or as family "homes."

For us, there's little privacy as the genius of using shipping containers doesn't provide for sound proofing, so it's like living in a Japanese home with the thin walls.

This weekend we plan to embark on a humanitarian mission, visiting a local school to deliver supplies and clothing. It's those little things that make it worth while.

Reminder of a hasty retreat

The countryside is littered with the remnants of tanks, half tracks, utility vehicles, and heavy guns left by the Russian army as it made its hasty retreat from Afghanistan back in May 1988. This particular relic was found not far from base and not far from several lines of Russian made tanks that were in various forms of disrepair. (Photo by G. A. Volb)

Day 8: Memorial Day

Memorial Day means a tad bit more when you're serving overseas, especially in a danger zone. There's a kinship with those you're honoring. And there's a special type of camaraderie that develops between those in such a situation.

There's little in the way of daily entertainment; you can't travel and enjoy the local sights, clubs, cultural centers or sports events. Instead, you bide your time working, sleeping, eating and repeating the process daily.

The day or so that you have off lets you pause for just enough time to realize you "might as well be working."

My situation isn't as bad as many, as I have a gym to occupy some time. And I find myself eating more than I would back home ... because it's one of the amenities offered here.

While my diet has made a 180, I'm doing my best to ensure those extra calories end up in the right places. We'll see how that works out, but I'm guessing I'll be adding an extra 10-15 pounds.

The Village Malik

The Malik, or elder of the village, speaks with members of the civil affairs team May 24 in Khowjagher. Khan Mohamed told the team his village is in dire need of a school house, new well and medical clinic. The team is going to try and get him the well and school house by year's end. (Photo by G. A. Volb)

Khowjagher Village ruins

Mud and bricks are the primary building materials in this area. The landscape is littered with the remains of previous homes. These are in the town of Khowjagher, but only feet from these are new homes being built by the villagers. Now they're looking to add another well and school house for the children. (Photo by G. A. Volb)