Kabul Remnants Part 1

Upon returning from Kabul I find that I have some interesting/cool/uncool? photos that I feel need to be shared. This information must get out. I have a grandmother, parents, friends and people I haven't even met before that are waiting with baited/bated (unsure of spelling-please someone write me back and let me know) breath for more Afghani info. and pictures that only I can give. I am somewhat worried that this perceived self importance will end when I get home leaving me with an empty void of previously filled self centeredness. Probably, Shannon will just keep me busy with preojects and my dad will help me realize I am not as important as I think I am. With that drawn out tangent over, here are the pics.

Me and a "Frenchy", as the Scarlet Pimpernel would say, representing. His other rifle in my hands, I try to give a "tough face". I guess he rolls around like Rambo with two rifles blazing. Not so cloak and dagger. Not very effective either, if you ask me, but Hollywood would love this guy.

They were building a new tent in Kabul. I just thought this picture looked cool. Almost glorifying the dirt and filth.

The only ATM on one of the bases. It is located in this very large, abandoned building, way at the back. We all thought it was ironic that the only ATM was in a very unsecure, out of the way place. Perfect to get stolen but that is Afghanistan for you.

One very crazy thing is that despite its otherwise deplorable conditions we found a very clean and delicious restaurant on base. Seriously, a waiter and everything. I could have had this Thai food in Oceanside. It was quite surreal. And the Pad Thai was to Thai for.

Gifts from Sweeden

This is a formal proclaimation of gratitude to the Koch Family, Ryan and Laura. I received two boxes yesterday, filled with sweet confections from Scandinavia. They are currently living in Sweeden and were kind enough to send me some morale boosters. The Marines call this stuff fat pills but they eat it anyway. I call it delicious. Here are some of the treats below. I am especially looking forward to the chili flavored dark chocolate and the Citrus cookies.

The chocolate is thick and plentiful in these boxes.

And by the way, I enjoyed the Bilar. It reminded me of something I had eaten before. I don't remember when or where but it was good. Thanks for everything.

Some Random pics

I will shortly be departing Kabul to go back to Leatherneck for a brief respite. Here are some pics that didn't make the blog previously but should have.

Below is gun enthusiast Capt. Smith. Look at the pure joy on his face while holding this Russian AK 47. Tears were shed.

Two ANA soldiers holding hands. The Afghan's idea of PDA for males is far different than Marines'.

Sgt loving his new Russian inspired hat. He went on all night talking in a Russian accent, we all just fell out. Hilarity, nothing less.

So this is called a Hind. This is a better picture than the one I showed previous. Rambo killed it with a tank I believe, I will have to consult with the historical documents.

Christmas Dessert Challenge

Christmas is often a time for being together with family and friends. I am happy my family doesn't have to be here in Afghanistan but to help enjoy the time together some of the Marines and myself got to gether for a friendly dessert eating challenge. Here are some pics below. The rules were basically, every person got to pick a dessert and everyone had to finish it. If you couldn't, then you were eliminated. There was a time limit in the form of: the the last person had 5 minutes to finish the dessert in hand after the first to last person was done. Time wasn't an issue, intestinal fortitude was.

CPl's Roche and Bowling enjoying round 5-Ice Cream

Roche not enjoying round 4 - 2 Cookies

Sgt Cruzado thoroughly enjoying round 1 Pudding (2 big scoops)

Round 2. Chocolate Cake was rich and dense. The desserts never made me so full, it was the richness I just couldn't handle.

More round one. Things to be noted: 1. We all ate dinner first, except for Cpl Phillips (bottom right.) He tied for 7 desserts completed with Roche but due to not eating dinner he gets second place and an asterisk. He is not very happy about that either. 2. the rounds were Pudding, chocolate cake, Pumpkin pie, 2 Cookies, 2 scoops ice cream, orange jello with fruit (I finished sixth earning me third place overall. 8 of us participated) and round 7 was an ice cream bar. The Final two agreed to tie at seven, though I explained that Roche won. We all felt sick afterwards. Some threw up but all of us gained weight and gave our pancreases a terrible insult. Tis the season.

Christmas

Here I am holding a British issue rifle. Note the magazine is posterior to the trigger. It is an odd design (at least by american standards) but I thought the folks at home would find it interesting. You are right, it has little to do with Christmas; unless I took it home, then somebody would be having a really good Christmas.

Me and Lt Bruce marvelling at the Christmas Decor in the dining facility. Amazing Ice Sculptures. The food was quite good that day.

Incredible trees of candy and frosting!

There are small contingencies of soldiers here at this base. Germans, Romanians, a few British and the French. The French were in fine spirits on Christmas eve. They went around the whole camp singing Christmas carols. Here a French soldier dressed up as Santa poses with me and a corporal. The French are allowed to drink out here and had certainly opened the wine before they went out carolling.

What I got for Christmas. Some DVD's I wanted, a CD and a Cardinals Tee. Thanks Mom, Dad, Jay, Yvonne, Shannon and Santa.

Training day

O.k. so the other day we got trained on how to use the ANA weapons. While some of them will have our American rifles and sidearms, others will have the old Russian ones. Below are some pics. Also, some other random pics. These weapons were all nonfunctioning by the way.

Rocket propelled granade launchers.

Me holding a very light German rifle.

The A.K. 47. Awesome

The RPG launcher. Nuff said.

Afghani Bakery

We went to an Afghani Bakery here on the ANA side of the base. It was kinda like a little field trip. It has certainly been the highlight of my whole deployment. Seriously. Is that a surprise to anybody; food being the focal point of my favorite Afghani adventure? I loaded these pictures backwards apparently. Anyway you might want to start from the bottom and move up.

The finished, delicious product.

Me and the Baker. He was a crazy guy. Very kind, especially since we had money to spend and gave him a gift of two jars of honey. It was in the Christmas spirit, but we didn't tell him.

A worker carrying wood for the fire. The oven, in the background. They stick the dough against the walls on the inside of the oven/kiln/whatever it is called.

A young worker, probably a son, preparing the dough. They put some cool design on it.

The largest mass of dough ever. The journey begins.