The gentleman seated is Doc.
My team enjoying our meal.
My team enjoying our meal.The last couple days have really ramped up and we’ve had more exposure to the cultural items and events. On Wednesday we had our first staged meeting with Afghan natives. The meeting has a prearranged agenda and it gives us a chance to use our Dari and work through an interpreter. This will be a skill that will be very valuable in a couple months. Working through the interpreter we all agreed we would do some hunting…of Taliban and do some fishing with some RPGs. We had some laughs and drank some tea. It went well for our first meeting and I look forward to our future engagements.
The next night we were in for a treat. We got to experience a native meal and the company of the many good people that prepared it. It was kind of hard for an old guy like me to sit on the floor. The hardest part by far was eating without silverware. But boy was the food good and it was even better talking to our hosts. The more I talk to them and learn about them the more I understand them. Some of them are included in the photos I’ve posted.
One of favorite natives is a guy we call Doc. We call him this for a couple reasons. First, his real name is too hard for us to pronounce and secondly, he is actually a doctor. He was a practicing physician in Afghanistan and he made more as an interpreter.
Today we did a two mile team march in field gear. We averaged 20 min/mile which isn’t terrible. Our goal is to get in the 15 min/mile range. Our first company field march will be next week and I wanted to see where everyone was at. The PT is paying off and the 1st Sgt will have to make someone else cry. I like the way that sounds.
The next night we were in for a treat. We got to experience a native meal and the company of the many good people that prepared it. It was kind of hard for an old guy like me to sit on the floor. The hardest part by far was eating without silverware. But boy was the food good and it was even better talking to our hosts. The more I talk to them and learn about them the more I understand them. Some of them are included in the photos I’ve posted.
One of favorite natives is a guy we call Doc. We call him this for a couple reasons. First, his real name is too hard for us to pronounce and secondly, he is actually a doctor. He was a practicing physician in Afghanistan and he made more as an interpreter.
Today we did a two mile team march in field gear. We averaged 20 min/mile which isn’t terrible. Our goal is to get in the 15 min/mile range. Our first company field march will be next week and I wanted to see where everyone was at. The PT is paying off and the 1st Sgt will have to make someone else cry. I like the way that sounds.
That's so cool that you had an authentic meal. We're jealous. What an experience you're having. Keep up the good work. The 1st Sgt will just have to pick on everyone else.
ReplyDeleteSitting on the floor is a true teller of age! You'll enjoy your recliner that much more when you get home. I can't imagine that changes you will see over there compared to the US. Stay tough you old bird, lol.
ReplyDeleteJust think, if people in our government had done this with others overseas to begin with, you wouldn't have to do this at all...
ReplyDeleteCindy