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halfway through my first shift
06.18.04 (2:30 am) [edit]
Wow 6 hours goes by fast when you're locked in a room with no windows!! I have 6 hours left, and then I will be done for the day. The Marine LT I'm working for has already given me a project involving databases, so that is keeping me quite busy. Most everyone in here seems kewl so far, but only time will tell. I'm the only female on this shift, except for a NIMA contractor that is my roommate( TOTAL SLOB).
I went to the bazaar today between the gates, and it was amazing. There's some great stuff to buy here, and I will be sending some gift packages home once in a while for people. Just shout to me what you want and I will try to find it. I got 3 DVD's today, sex in the city season 5 set, Underworld, and Kill Bill vol.1. Usually stuff that's been out on DVD for a while is safe to buy, but they have movies on DVD here that are in the theatres at home....but I'll wait to buy those, as they are usually poor quality...
It's been a complete eye-opening experience coming here. I knew how bad it was here, and I knew the way people lived here, but it didn't hit me until I saw it with my own eyes. Yes I have a toilet in my room, but the water that it flushes with is recycled sewage, and the toilet leaks all over the floor, so the floor is unsanitary. We cannot drink the water, only bathe in it, but luckily they are good about having bottled water everywhere.
It's odd. On the compound where I work, we have air conditioning, good power, but porta johns.... At the safe house where I live, we do not have air conditioning, the power goes off and flickers, but we have an indoor bathroom and shower..... odd, isn't it?
Every morning and every night to get back and forth between compounds I play chicken with the locals in their cars and bikes. There are 3 little boys that stand on the side and beg for money, food, for me to buy gum from them. The first time I saw them, and I said no, they said, "but you promised". Even tho I hadn't met them, and I knew I hadn't, I felt so bad for them. We've been told not to give in because it will be 10 times worse later, and I haven't yet, but it's very hard.
This morning I talked with a local man who is a guard of our safe house. He knows a little english, so he was teaching me some greetings. He was also wanting some batteries for his small radio, the only connection he has to news. I will give him some when I come back to the house.
The ride down here from Bagram was crazy. You drive about 85 on paved roads with HUGE potholes in them. There are no driving rules here, so people drive wherever and pass on both sides. Most of the vehicles aren't good so they move slow up hills. We can't stop, so we had to drive all over the place. In the middle of nowhere you will see a child with a leg missing or an arm, just sitting on the side of the road. There are lots of nomads the roam around and harvest wheat to live off of. We passed a huge minefield where the locals are sitting, with sticks, just moving inch by inch, looking for mines and hoping they don't set one off. There are approx. 11 MILLION mines all over this country, they have only found about 5 million and unfortunately, some the hard way.
Well more to come, I'm doing ok, hanging in, but VERY HOMESICK.

posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 06.18.04 (2:38 am)

I'm the only woman in my dept too - but I s'pose my corporate environment is a little different! ;o) HANG IN THERE....


posted by: brenna (reply)
post date: 06.18.04 (4:49 am)

hang in there at least you have work to keep you will keep you busy. and all of us to send you care packages!!

ill email as much as i can;) adn ill post pics of the two girls;)

love you amd miss you


posted by: ScarlettGKPi (reply)
post date: 06.18.04 (7:32 am)

Hang in there Kendra. The involvement or lack of with children is the hardest part. I will warn you about that.


posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 06.18.04 (7:44 am)

Good Morning Kid!
I know it's going to be tough for awhile, getting used to the new environment. It's great that you've already made the aquaintance of someone who can teach you a bit of the language. You may find you have a real gift for it!! We'll start workin on your wish list and get the stuff out soon!
Love, Mom