Next we walked to the other warehouse to see the rice, beans, salt and chai...of course there were a few mattresses stuck in here for a rainy day. Like that's not normal :) I don't know why they didn't just stack them to the ceiling? Surely they could stack them 75 or more high :) This is just a small portion of the mattresses we have...there are over 2,000. A lot of the units don't want to issue them because the soldiers will steal them and take them home, so we just keep getting more and more and issuing very few. Our boss now knows we don't really need mattresses.
Next we took her to see the collection of Russian weapons...I knew everyone would find it very interesting and they did. Everyone got to pose for a picture holding a rocket launcher, sniper rifle, or anything they could pick up. They had a good time with it and so did the Afghans.
Of course today it was 109F/43C and pretty dusty/windy out. I'm getting used to the heat, because it didn't feel that bad today.
When the team headed back to the base for lunch, we were greeted by a line that stretched out the door. We were told the line had been that way for 45 minutes, so some of the team decided to eat something in their room and I went to eat with the interpreters in their dining facility. It wasn't too bad, but I was worried I'd get sick. Their health standards are not the same...when you come in the door, there's a sink to wash (rinse) your hands, but no soap. I guess my body has gotten used to the bacteria here. They make flatbread called naan and it's good...no enriched flour here, so it's better for you. I had beans/onions, beef, and a little rice. I wanted to strangle my interpreter because he saw me eating the onions on my beans and after half way through the meal I asked if they ever got sick here and he said "yes, from the onions...that's why I don't eat them." So don't tell me they don't wash the onions until after I ask about getting sick...I laughed on the outside, but was a little upset he didn't tell me before I started eating them. Oh well, I didn't get sick so all is well. Here's the food...
My plate...see the onions :)
After lunch, we had to go pay the person for the washing machines. It's funny to see the stacks of Afghan cash we give out. We don't normally get to handle cash for the government, but whoever came up with that idea is a genius. We've been able to accomplish 20 times more, since we have access to immediate cash in our safe. Of course we have to manage it carefully and use it correctly, but it really helps speed things along. Anyway, we now have 10 washing machines all hooked up on the concrete pad. They all have locks on them and each hut is assigned a washer...with two for transients...they're all very happy. They went from 2 washers for all of them to 0 washers when they broke for a week to 10 washers...all because we can use cash. If we had ordered them in the supply system, they might not show up until November or later...for some peculiar reason, washers aren't a high priority :)
After taking care of the payment, we drove over to see the US Navy Seabees...they're a construction unit for those that don't know. They arrived a few days ago to start building this adjacent base. Here are some pics of them doing their thing.
First, here's me standing in the lunar like moon dust. It is seriously like talcum powder.
Now the Seabees.
Now here are the 1960 era photos from Afghanistan....
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