Today I have decided to skip studying and devote this time to write a blog. I have been very busy studying and keeping up with my chores here in Afghanistan. All the time management classes I have attended, it seems like I never have enough time, and applying what I have learned is not working for me. How do I balance working, studying and everything else? Anyways, today is different, I am not exercising because it is a rest day and I will not work on my reports nor study for my stripe, and the only thing I want to do is write about my division.
For over three months now, I have worked with awesome Afghans. They made my stay here feel like home but of course there are times I feel home sick because there is no place like home, no matter how much it is duplicated. Every time am at the Afghan National Army (ANA) base I feel safe. No matter what happen, in my heart I know that my Afghan counterparts will always protect me. The hospitality of the afghans cannot be matched, it reminds me when I lived in the philippines, people here are very friendly and caring.
They constantly remind me how much I look like an Afghan. My facial features resemble a tribe in Afghanistan which are known as "Hazar". They always invite me to go outside the base and assure me that I can blend in (of course in civilian clothing) and I have to explain that I could not. I have to keep reminding them that I could only travel to and from Camp Pheonix to ANA base. Anyways, the reason I wrote this blog is to introduce my Afghan family to my real family, and what best way is to post it on my blog. My family and friends has been reading my blog and it is the fastest way to tell them my story rather than calling each and everyone.
My Afghan family starts with Lt Col (Dagarman) Azim Rasuli, who is the commodity manager for the Electronic and Communication Division, whom I mentor. Then Major Motabar Safi-second in command. Then my brother Captain Gahish Daud, whom everyone says looks like me, because he too is from the Hazar tribe. Of course I cannot forget my Interpreter, who helps me communicate with my counterparts, Ahmad Sha. In the division we have one Zabet or Sergeant and his name is Taleb and his not a taliban-- is the famous joke that is told when we introduce him to an American mentor visitor. However, he has the white beard to show his wisdom yet he is a young man, with very young children.
Electronic and Comm Division Clerks
The division has three wonderful clerk: Khetab Mohamad, Hamid Ullah and Farad Azim. Khetab practice his English words by conversing with me, so does Hamid but Farad speaks to me in Pashtu or Dari. Everyday I am expected to have learned more Phrases in Pashtu. I am getting more confused with so many different words in my head, to the point am mixing Dari and Pashtu words in a sentences, how funny is that?
Col Azim will often joke with me and tell my interpreter that he was going to the bazar and buy me more Dari words so I would not need an interpreter soon. Anyone who hear me speak Pashtu are very impressed and then they start talking to me in Pashtu then am lost when they start talking so fast.
My Pashtu is getting better I think, but I love telling Col Azim, "Za saba ta Kar ta na razam" which translate I am not coming to work tomorrow and he is tickled when I tell him this because he says, "Wali-Wali" with a laugh and then ask the question, "Wali-Wali" which means Why-Why. Then I can no longer respond back, but one day I learned how to say I have duty at the dinning facility and he liked that. Yup, once a month I have to sit at the dinning facility (DFAC) to count personnel entering the DFAC, it is like an augmentation as a "Services" personnel and it is a boring augmentation. I rather mentor and hang out with my Afghan counterparts.
Another Afghan personnel is Natasjan, whom is the cleaning lady and she makes tea for the division. She is a very sweet lady, always giving me tea and when she is not around or absent, I sure miss her because we run out chai or tea, because the men do not like making tea and yet forbid if I tried cleaning or making tea they all panic because I am not suppose to do such as thing. I guess there is an advantage of being an American woman---the benefit of being a guest.
Overall I enjoy each and everyone in my division and will not trade them for anything else. Everyone wants to go home with me to the US and if I could take them I would, is what I always tell them.
I know when I leave, even it is a happy moment, some part of me knows that I will truly miss my Afghan family.
