My Mission to Afghanistan 2010: November 2010

I struggle from time to time with missing my family. To help alleviate this pain, I decided to grow a mustach. That and a mustach helps with Afghan relations. I didn't plan on taking it this far, but a few Afghans have called me a "hero," and that is all the encouragment I needed to go all the way. Now I have a 3 week project that annoys me and encourages my resolve every minute. I have been busy with developing a curriculum in the finance school and preparing for a long cross country trip to inspect several Afghan financial operations. I have come to love my job and all of its opportunities. Not many people can say they helped develop the retirement pension fund for an entire Service. I hope to go throughout sooner than later so I can pay visits to the many firends I have scattered around this war torn country.

On my way out for a mission to Eastern Kabul.

This is Gator Alley... The "main" strip on Camp eggers, Laundry, Food, work, etc...

Finance School Graduation. None of the Afghan students had any family to see this great occasion. I was slightly perplexed at seeing this. All I could think about was "Jackie would KILL me if I didn't send her an invite to a graduation."

Stash Day 3!

Our Goat. He/she lived a wonderful FULL circle of life.

Governmental grounds... I had to verify they had cows.... for taxes of course....

Bathrooms behind me..... they forgot the doors... and running water..... awww hell, I just need a hole!

Thanks for the Reno glasses babe! I am a star here on Camp now. My new nickname is Reno!!!

Stash 1-2 weeks.... I look like a porn star!!!!

On Thanksgiving, NBC was here filming... I couldn't squeeze on that vehicle. Yes, there is a vehicle that all those people are standing on.

I have a hodge podge of pictures below. I must say my Mission so far has been extremely rewarding. I have a heated room FULL of great guys. I have good food three times a day. I even have cable TV in my office. The efforts here from all the NATO countries are amazing. I work in the finance reform office. I conduct pay, taxes, and contract audits all over the country. I have to work with the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Government to improve the financal system across the country. This means I travel all the time. I am on missions everyday and I spend half my time all across the country. My time here is going by fast and I have developed a great routine. Eat, work, gym, work, sleep. Everyday is a bit of the same. I start Trig in Janualry so I will have to find out where to fit that in my schedule. I work atleast 12 hours a day. It gets exhausting... and from time to time to just sleep right after work to refuel. There is weekly market an Afghan vendors come on the base to sell various junk. Glasses, wathes, jewerly, rugs, knives, movies, guns, pottery...etc... I am only interested in the 1800 English Muskets (pics below). I am still trying to find out if they are real. If I can verify they are real I will buy atleast two of them. I can use the internet at work, and wait in line for a few hours at night to contact my family. I have been gone for 2 months already (1 month of training), and I will be home in less than 6 months! I have much work to do, so I hope I can make signficant progress in the next 6 months. I am also helping improve a financial curriculum for the afghan officers. A process that is extrememly challenging. I work with the French military is this regard. I supply all the hard work, and they supply the cheese. An even swap in my books.

I miss my family more and more everyday, but our bond also strengthens everyday. I am truely lucky to have such a supportive family. I see other guys here who struggle back home and I feel so bad for them. The weather here is fair. Not too cold yet, but the air quality is horrble. Lots of construction, dust, and smog from trash burning. I have a medical assessment letter about the air quality for the VA since most people leave here with chronic respiratory conditions. Many people wear masks all day. I have recently come down with my second upper respiratory illness. Luckily I am off traveling to other parts of the country and I hope the air quality is improved.