Almost 7 months since I left San Diego and now, it's time to decompress for a while....white beaches, pina coladas, the smell of coconut suntan lotion, no flack jackets, kevlars, 9 mil on my hip or bunkers....just the warmth of my daughters smile and the hand of my soulmate!
As I look back over the first half of my deployment in Afghanistan, there are a few key images and thoughts that come to mind:
1. As we drove in to Kabul for the first time, there was an Afghan man in a deserted field praying to Allah on a small, tattered rug...with a look of pure peace and contentment.
2. The wavering flags of 40 countries around the world who serve across Afghanistan...all in a circle in front of the HQ building on the ISAF Compound.
3. Buying my first hand-made bracelet from a 6 year old on the street and wondering how he learned English so well...
4. Seeing a cream-colored dog with his tail tucked lying on the road and realizing it was still alive although many Afghans would rather them not be.
5. Gathering at the Afghan Government Media Information Center (GMIC) to teach my first Public Relations class to over 38 Afghan Ministry trainees...this was the day I knew my relationship with Afghanistan would be for a lifetime.
6. Lifting off in a Blackhawk bound for Methar Lam, absorbing the beauty of the Afghan mountainscape, studying the mud homes that stretched for miles and miles, and capturing the smiles and wonderment of the 3 Afghan media experiencing a helicopter ride for the first time:)
7. Wonderful Afghan cuisine served every day at GMIC - jasmine rice, fresh chopped tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cabbage, and jalepenios; naan (flat bread but better), and always a group to eat with.
8. Seeing 6 large construction boxes with Satellite Antenna equipment inside and wondering how on earth will we be able to put this together...on the 3rd day, after a day of snow and an attack in the city of Kabul, a 2.4m Satellite Antenna was ready for action. Willpower and plenty of optimism will go a long way on the road to success!!
9. Walking in to a home filled with orphans, beautiful children living in poverty and without a family...learning new Dari words from them as they learned English from me, showing them a video camera for the first time, laughing as they took turns jump roping and counting - yak, do, sei, char, panj..., knowing that one day I want to be a mom to a child who doesn't have one.
10. Sitting in a focus group session with Afghan women and letting the tears glide down as they shared part of their lives, troubled, oppressed lives, with me. Eyes of despair yet tough as nails; hearts full of sorrow yet ready to give love; and hands aged and battered yet always there to provide to her children and husband.
As I take my leave and spend 2 weeks with my family, I want to share pictures and video and my words with as many people as possible. My work with the Afghan Ministries is developing and I want others to know the progress and feel the hope that I and many others feel.
Mahalo and Salam Aleikum
