Over the mountain peaks

Ahhh...what an amazing ride as we glided along in a Blackhawk from Kabul to Methar Lam!! As our helicopter landed, I felt as if we had dropped into a movie set, the green sloping hills, the snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance, the sun casting a bright light down as we debarked onto the dirt path. And before we knew it, we were clinching to the inside corners of a truck bed, trying to hold on as they drove us on a winding path to the entrance to the base. It was surreal, sensory overload as I tried to take it all in as the picasso landscape moved under our feet. We arrived at the base camp and were welcomed by soldiers who looked like they were preparing for a ZZ Top look a like contest!! Full beards, longer hair and no sense of uniformity with their uniforms b/c they did not wear rank or name tapes. But, these guys do this on purpose I soon discovered and boy can they take care of business...the media we escorted were kept busy with interviews and several of them were captivated by the amount of training space that was available for the Afghan National Police and other trainees. The graduation event we were attending only lasted 1 hour yet we spent time before and afterwards just gazing out at the natural beauty of Eastern Afghanistan. Over 243 Afghans graduated from a 3-week community security training program and most of them, I think, have never seen a woman without her face covered in public! How do I know this...well, let's just say there are about 15 pics on my camera of me and different groups of Afghan soldiers wanting to pose with me. Also, their eyes followed every woman around as if they were a freshly baked chocolate cake. But others did walk around holding hands and hugging (this is a part of their culture-does not always relate to homosexuality). As we said our goodbyes and departed in the white trucks up the bumpy road to the helicopter, we noticed two young boys standing across on a hill about 200 m away. They waved and smiled at us as we closed the helo door and started to lift from the ground. So many people here want to have happiness and prosperity just like you and I. Let's give it to them in whatever way we can. I've added a few photos for you to see the splendor of Methar Lam.
Today is day two of three in our PA Training for the Provincial (state-level) PA reps. The attendees range from extremley modern to wearing the traditional headdressing and man-dress. But, all of them have been very kind and respectful, always asking permission to leave and offering me tea and/or cookies. The best part about this training is that they each have a different perspective and list of aspirations for their part of the country. It is exciting to see Afghanistan move from a centrally powered government that lacks coordination with the lower level communities to a country that understands the need to allow the Provinces to build a relationship with their constituency and with the media in order to increase flow of information and combat insurgent propaganda.
Off to sleep now...teaching tomorrow and planning a long trip very soon!!

Khosh aa ma dein (Welcome)

Salam from Afghanistan. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a primate and seen your own soul, seen a familiar face that you met in high school, felt a sense of connection? Take a look at Hasani, the San Francisco Zoo's newest baby...a beautiful little gorrilla with more personality than most children!! He connects all of us; across ethnicities, religions, cultures and races. Hasani is a symbol of what we could be one day, a world where we put aside our personal prejudices and see each other as brothers and sisters, see each other as human beings who thrive on love, respect and knowledge, and accept each other for the imperfections instead of persecuting each other because of them.

Beyond Hasani, this week I pulled up a photo of an adult chimpanzee who cradled a young white tiger in her arms..at first I thought it was a photoshop trick...how could a chimpanzee care for a soon to be 200+ pound tiger? After a little research, sure enough the chimpanzee was chosen to care for the tiger cub, breastfeeding included the first few weeks, because the tiger cub was rejected by her mother. Well, I instantly fell in love with these two creatures, juxtaposed in a state of bliss. A few clicks later, this image was my desktop background and I had a few Afghans I work with stop by and ask me about the animals. They laughed, thinking I put the photos together magically...but I quickly let them know that this was a real photo, real love reaching across the lines of several species, not to mention a carnivore who could hunt and kill a chimpanzee was finding warmth and comfort in the arm's of its prey...love and compassion in the purest sense see across all barriers. We are all adaptations of the same mold. Maybe we should look towards animals more often when we need to re-set our perception of people around us. That lady who cut you off in traffic, the teenager who chooses his friends based on how much money they make, the police officer who turns away from defending a citizen in need because of their religion, the Afghan who kills another Afghan because he is angry at the world for not making everyone like him. All of these people were once babies, once innocent little beings who didn't know hatred and sadness, who didn't pass judgement, who giggled at the sight of a human face...any human face and who craved the one thing so many of us often forget how to show - love.

May your Spring be fruitful and the path ahead be filled with unimaginable happiness.
Salam

Salam Aleikum (Peace be to Allah)

Two words down, hundreds to go!! Tashakor means "Thank You", and Lutfan means "Please". After teaching three 2-hour classes, I am finally picking up a few words in Farsi. Our translator has offered to give us lessons in reading, speaking and writing Farsi so hopefully I can pick it up quickly!! Our media and public relations classes have been well received and we are now being asked to provide classes four days a week to meet the needs of the different Ministries who want their employees to attend. Wow!! We never estimated having over 70 interested participants or having the Gov. Media Info Center as our second work place. But, I am honored to help in whatever way possible. Some of our classroom discussions have even focused on ways to respond and support the public during crisis situations and how to build the governments credibility.
Other than teaching, my days have been filled with absorbing all of the new "joint" doctrine and preparing a few projects having to do with increasing Afghan government communications across the country. At this time, the number one form of communication with the public are local and regional radio stations. The fantastic thing about radios is that they do not require a power source. The unfortunate thing about radio stations is that they are not strong enough to broadcast the same message across the whole country. My hope is to help the Afghan media and government find a cost efficient way to communicate to the farthest regions of this country and to help the people see that "giving peace a chance" by not harboring terrorists, by listening to their local elected officials, by finding ways to provide an education for their children, will bring them from fear to hope.
I've attached a few pictures: Three wonderful Afghan women I work with at GMIC and I; Lt. Adam Clampit and I having lunch with Afghans working at our base...we ate something that was delish but I don't know what it was!!
Good day for now.

Tired...but happy

It's been a long day and today marks 1 month in Kabul, Afghanistan. My average day begins at 0530 as I throw on a pair of bike shorts, a tank top, jacket, running shoes and head over to the gym. Three days a week I put myself through torture in Spin class - stationary bike but everything is moving fast- and the other days of the week I run on the treadmill or outside and pick up big things and put them down!! Once I finish my workout, time for a quick shower and off to work. Some of you may catch me for a minute or two before work b/c most of you are on your way to bed. My work environment is very similar to the mission control center you see in NASA except our operations center tracks all the ground, aviation and support forces across Afghanistan. Can't go into too much detail but let's just say I KNOW what's going on in every region, province, district and city. Since we are short on staff, some of us also alternate as drivers a few days a week. What fun to drive around in a country that does not have traffic laws, street signs, or sidewalks...hmm can you spell crazy? Other than monitoring operations and reporting events to public affairs as needed, I usually break for lunch and dinner. Not loads of fun but this base is one of the most luxurious I have ever seen. When I'm working in ops, I usually make it in to my room by 2100 and am off to sleep by midnight.

So what makes today such a great day? Well, I am honored to say that I provided training to 25 Afghan Spokespersons and enjoyed every second of it. Everyone was respectful and courteous during the seminar and one trainee who had to depart early even asked my permission to leave. But, the most amazing part of the training was that the Afghans began to collaborate on ideas and I even realized that we are so much alike. They react to crisis situations just like we do and many of them even look at the media with a suspicious eye. I can't wait until our next class.

Other than work and the gym, I made it to an Italian dinner on base and to a Mardi Gras party at the US Embassy. The Italians were very kind and kept offering us more and more food. See photos. The Mardi Gras party was thrown by the US Aid Program and boy are they creative. They made four floats on top of four wheelers, had beads and candy to throw. See pics. Yes I did have jello but I didn't taste anything in it...:) Need to put the pics in later..computer is not cooperating today.

Make every moment count and savor them like it was your last...you never know when it will be.

Tigers and Zebras and Hogs, oh dear!

The last seven days have been a whirlwind of meetings, discussions about PA strategy, and learning new faces. Imagine working in an office where the people only held their jobs for 6 months and then someone new came in to take their place!! It usually takes a few months, if not 6 months to become settled in your new work environment and by the time you have a routine in place, relationships established and your favorite quote hung near your computer, it's time to pack your bags and go back to the United States. Talk about being flexible and patient... C'est la vie here in Kabul, Afghanistan and in other regions across the country. So, how does this change the way people interact? Here's a quick reference to the attitudes, work ethics and personalities that exist within the 6-12 month rotation cycle. I'll use animals to create a stronger word picture:
1. Rats - people who are seeking the cheese underneath their bosses ass and will do whatever it takes, including nibbling through others to get to it!!
2. Slothes - people who see others brushing by at lightening speed while they are still working on a project that has already been completed. They usually seek out squirrels in hopes of slowing them down, too b/c who wants to be behind the game all by themselves?
3. Zebras - people who where the uniform but stick out like a sore thumb, often making themselves stand out too much and often more concerned about keeping their stripes clean rather than using their speed and beauty to influence others.
4. Tigers - people who study the lay of the land, choose their victims based upon survival and stepping up in the food chain and often leave the remains of their catch strewn across for all to see in dispair and fear.
5. Elephants - Wise and loyal, this group takes the time to learn personalities, help others to succeed and are extremely faithful to the cause. They are often hunted by the Tiger because of their knowledge and instincts. This is a rare breed.
6. Squirrels - Always trying to find a nut, these people work 14-18 hours helping others complete their larger tasks and seeking out ways to improve processes. This person often carries the work load of 2 or 3 because of their speed and positive personality.
7. Eagles - people who soar above the clouds, seeing the bigger strategic picture but having a hard time understanding that work has to be done NOW, not after the 40 or 50 people arrive to save the day. They speak at a post-graduate level and want others to follow them without fear.
8. Hogs - These people play dirty to get their heads deep in the food trough and are often seen eating all of the care package items other lay out to share. A little on the simplistic side, they follow orders quite well but are constantly scheming to snatch the prized red apple from someone else's desk.
9. Dolphins - This group brings life to the office place because of their kindness, grace and since of respect towards all. They often forgive others for their mistakes, are able to navigate through rough waters because of their thick skin and will protect those who cannot protect themselves. Playful and athletic, these people build relationships quickly and can see both the big and little picture.

Some of you that know me well can probably pick out which animal matches up with my personality.

This week I met up with a very strong and caring Afghan woman named Jamila at the Government Media Info Center. She is an advocate for helping the people of Afghanistan have a safer and cleaner place to co-exist. During my visit, we talked about life in Afghanistan and what her daily routine was. She basically travels to work and then back home, watches a little news, has dinner and then off to bed. No extracurricular activities, no book club, no girl's night out, no walking on the mountain trails for miles. She is a former professor at a local university yet she is afraid of leaving her home. I can't talk about too many details b/c her assistance to the government makes her a target but she is a direct representative of the state of fear and dispair that many of the Afghans feel. She also introduced me to her two other female co-workers who were very kind and worked with me on learning how to pronounce a few Dari phrases.

If a highly educated woman living in the most developed part of Afghanistan feels fearful for her life b/c of the violence, how to the millions of others feel around the country who know only the basics of survival view the condition of this country? There's hope here to create peace but it must start with the individuals at the lowest levels. Their support is vital to pushing out the insurgents from their towns, reporting crimes to the Afghan National Police and seeking out ways to make a living that does not include selling poppies to drug dealers.

This is the life they live and for now, I endure with them.

One month in...

Photos: The Satellite we put together...Stewart should be proud!! / Bright shiny building in the city of Kabul...used for weddings and a sign of progress/Screaming Cat that keeps Marines up at night!!/Aghan Press Conference





Well, it's been a full month since I departed San Diego and here are the things I have discovered:

1. Television is extremely overrated...especially when you have about 1 hour of free time at night to choose between talking to family, checking out the news online and preparing for the next day.
2. Food in the states is too easy to come by. Being here is almost like going to a Weight Watchers clinic b/c you only get 3 times a day to eat and the food is predominantly healthy choices like baked or stewed meats, steamed or boiled veggies and water/soda/juice/tea to drink.
3. Buying without a purpose or shopping for useless items that collect dust is a bad American habit that I wish more people could move away from. Afghans buy to subsist; they buy to ensure they have a warm tent or hut to live in; they buy to fill their children's stomachs; and maybe they buy when they can to offer a meal to a kind soldier who helped them re-build a road or school. If each person could just sit down and write a list of what they REALLY need to ensure they stay healthy, I think you would see savings accounts increase and bad debt decrease. It isn't an easy task to turn away from our glitzy Consumer Marketing and Advertisement in the States because they study how and why we decide to buy things!! But, I think it is a challenge that many can commit themselves to if they just remember how lucky they really are to have everything in the world at their fingertips.
4. Personalities and attitudes are the biggest predictors of a person's ability to succeed in the workplace. I have first-hand knowledge of this as most of you do as well. Working with different branches of service, Army, Navy and Air Force has required me to bite my lip several times and try to understand how they go about business. Working with the foreign military members from Australia, Canada (great), Britain, Italy, France, Macedonia, Singapore, Germany, and others has been fun and extremely educational so far. Most are anxious to share info about their country and so far they have all been very welcoming.
5. Afghanistan cats have the loudest damn meow I have ever heard. These aren't the domestic cats that you find roaming the streets of New York City or even the wild ones you see locked up at the local pound. Nooo...these cats are hunters, they are thick in the belly and they want your food and love. What happens if they don't get it? You hear a loud, almost woman screaming type of sound coming out of their mouthes. It is a high pitched meow that can be heard across the whole base from one of the dozens that live here to chase and eat the resident rodents.

My latest adventure was to help set up a Satellite at a Government Communications Facility that does Afghan Press Conferences. Two of us started off with 4 large crates of iron, metal and fiberglass pieces and by the end of the day, believe it or not, we put together a dish the side of a small car!! Today we will attach the electrical wiring and hopefully test out the dish to ensure it can send and receive live video and send live broadcasts around the world. The purpose of the U.S. military buying this and enstalling it for the Afghans is to give them a means to communicate with the different regions across Afghanistan and to receive information as quickly as possible when significant media events take place. I'm honored to work with the Afghans and State Dept. to increase their communication capabilities.

Another project in the works is to teach local Afghan Spokespersons and media on how to respond to crisis events, how to report their findings to the public and how to better understand how the enemy uses media to get their message out to the public. If all goes well, myself and two others will begin teaching Public Relations classes at the Government Comm Facility within the next few weeks.

Well, I hope all is well at home. So long from Afghanistan for now.

A look at my journey so far...

I've finally added pictures to the site!! Today was a wonderful day in Afghanistan!! I met with several Afghan Military Officers, soldiers and recruits. They were all very cordial and respectful to me, even as a woman. I had my first cup of tea during a meeting with the Kabul Military Training Center Chief of Staff and other military PAO staff. As I watched the recruits marching during practice today, I started to feel a bit unsettled knowing that they are not respected as we as US military members are. A recent suicide bomb at a Southern Afghanistan Afghan Police Station is a telling sign that the Afghan National Police are targeted by insurgents. Over 22 Afghan Nat. Soldiers lost their lives in the attack and each life lost means a child, son, or father will not return home or be there to support his family. Despite their obstacles, these recruits are smiling, they are astute and when it's time to defend their city or country, I believe they will do what is good and just. Inshallah!

The second part of my day was as interesting as the first with a trip to Camp Eggers (500 meters) down the road. I drove from our compound there and I didn't run into any road barricades or guard rails!! Cpl. Unruh and I drove to Camp Eggers to have dinner with other Marines in the area and to meet the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Amos. To my surprise, MGen Terry Robling, the Third Marine Air Wing Commanding General, was there with him! I just left San Diego after working as the PAO for MGen Robling. He said hi and stopped for a quick picture.

Well, after having such a full day, I'm off to rest my eyes. Always remember...

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off of you. --By Maya Angelou