Our replacements have arrived. Holy Shit. I feel like I've been out here for a lifetime. While the drama hasn't ceased for a moment since I arrived, I've begun to feel disconnected from the real world. Despite the encouraging packages and emails and good vibes from everyone, it's so difficult to stay connected with reality...So, today - my replacement arrived. Wet behind the ears, fresh from a week-long drinking binge, and exhausted from 4 days of travelling from the other side of the world. And so begins a "3-day-turnover" where I teach this guy how to do this job, and how to live with yourself seeing dead bodies coming off of those helicopters. His name is Duane, and he's from Nebraska. Seems like a sharp kid, and will be fine out here.
I have a few silly tokens of wisdom having acquired some good knowlege to share with him coming straight off of 4 months in a hostile environment. I'll run them by you before I share them with him:
Afghanistan pot is not the same as we get in the US. Don't smoke it. It will fuck. you. up. Some of the Marines have gotten into some serious trouble for smoking pot right off the ground. Same goes for the opium. Make friends with the "bearded men" in uniform. Get to know them, befreind them, and learn from them. I have found them to be my best asset for information and help during my stay here. These guys are the special ops guys, and the most likely the most experienced and capable of taking care of you if the shit ever hits the fan.
Don't drink the water. Under any circumstances. From a medical standpoint, it's better to just go thirsty until you can get a bottle of anything than to drink whatever filthy sweage they drink there. Coke, hadji coke, box of sugary juice...anything is better than the water - seriously, you could die from it.
My last piece of advice, is to despite all of the poverty, the unexplainable misery and pain that these people are going through and whatever their reality is - that it is not YOUR reality. You can quit this shit and go home any time, and find yourself. While you will go through huge emotional changes in the next few months, realize that Afghanistan is not your real life. You're away on business, and when you get home, you can pick up where you left off. Oh, and wear sunscreen. You may be spending a lot of time outside.
This is just shit that I wish people told me when I first got here. Post thoughts and additional pieces of advice to comments.
bh.
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