Settling In

Yesterday I was so tired that it's amazing I managed to write a coherent blog at all. Much better today, although I woke at 4 am and just decided to get on with my day so I journaled, checked my email - so much faster at that time of the morning! - did my obligatory crossword puzzle and sudoku plus some reading all before breakfast. My low carb diet is sure gone right out of the window. Breakfast was french toast and nan (Afghani bread). Supper last night was leftovers because the cook was not well, but consisted of leftover spaghetti from Saturday night, potatoes in tomato sauce from Sunday noon, rice, and macaroni in tomato sauce. Covered the carbs as though they were the entire food group spectrum. Fresh fruit though, tashakkor.

One would not know we're in a war zone. I can hear birds singing, some children playing next door who sound like children all over the world, a rooster who crows hourly from about 1:30 am on (reminds me of San Bernardino). The streets are full of people just going about their business. No real sidewalks on the main thoroughfares so people walk on the roads, along with the occasional herd of sheep. In the more commercial areas there are sidewalks or dirt paths. There is a new effort to deal with trash so big metal containers have been placed strategically along the streets. It is not as obvious who is to collect them and how often, so they are surrounded by mounds of trash that no longer fits in. In some places you see quite a few police in their blue-gray uniforms. Only at the City Center Mall yesterday did I see one with a visible weapon.

The shops seem to be arranged in groups by trade: one street will have various medical offices and pharmacies, another tailors and fabric stores. The appliance store we were at yesterday was surrounded by sports stores. Apparently an Afghani won a bronze medal at the last Summer Olympics and became an instant national hero. Bodybuilding is very big here.

Then there are the food stores. The produce shops look like our farmer's markets, but even in the barrios of East LA one doesn't see meat hanging out in the open. You might see the chickens in cages in the barrios though! I asked whether they eat rabbit but apparently they are sometimes pets.

The University of Kabul is right on our way home. Yesterday noon when we came by there were hundreds of students out on the street walking, waiting for buses. There are quite a few medical clinics and hospitals along our journey too, some quite good apparently.

Late this afternoon we are going to sit in on the Institute for Leadership Development class for U of Kabul students and have the opportunity to meet the director.

Tomorrow we leave after breakfast with Dr. Rafik to visit the community centers at Lalander and Tangi Saidan, and may have the opportunity to eat lunch with a local family.

Ken just stopped by with a wad of 500 Af notes for me. They're worth just over $11 each. Ooh, now I can go shopping!

Well, I think I'm going to try to get a nap in before lunch as the afternoon is pretty booked and I've been up a long time.