This morning I picked up an interpreter for his 9am appointment to get his badge. Yesterday I asked him to leave me his paperwork, so I could make copies. He said he'd make copies on his printer in his room. I don't know if I need to clarify, but all the interpreters I work with are from Afghanistan. Anyway, he shows up this morning and I asked him about his copies...he said "My printer was out of ink." Now I'm scrambling to make 35 or so copies of docs by using a scanner...emailing it to myself...then printing it. We were late for the first guy.
The next guy had his appointment at 10am and I picked him up at a little after 9am, since I was late from the first guy. His paperwork was straight and he told me he wanted to take his downtown to make copies. This morning he said he didn't take them downtown, so here we go again...he didn't understand we had to provide copies. We were late on this one too. They understand English, but sometimes just don't understand what you're saying. I gave it my all to grin and bear it, but it's frustrating.
As soon as I dropped him off for his interview, I received a call that there was a visitor at the logistics depot asking if I could come out. I jumped in the vehicle and drove straight out. The Australian was looking for food for one of the outlying units. I guess their running low and need 20 tons of rice and beans. We resolved the issue, then I received a call that the new heavy duty washers had come in and were at the gate. I called one of the guys by the gate to escort them in, but then received a call back about 10 minutes later saying they refused entry to the truck and that they had to hand load the washers onto the US truck...frustrating. We want to fix their things and don't get any help from SOME of the Afghans.
Now, I explained it clearly several times (can't rely on once) that there are only four outlets and we need four surge protectors, so each surge protector could have two washers on it. I showed up and the electric guy (not calling him an electrician) is plugging four into one surge protector...they don't understand overloading the lines. I think sometimes they stare at you and just say they understand. Below are the washers. The weirdest things too, they don't fill up with water...you have to use a hose or bucket to put water in them, but they do have a drain pipe on the back. Never seen one quite like that, but they say it's normal in Afghanistan. I guess if you don't have running water, what do you hook it to? They also come with a 12 year warranty...I don't think the company will be around that long, but they do seem pretty sturdy.
We ended up purchasing two more washers after discussing what to do for transient interpreters. They come tomorrow and we'll be done with washers.
We're also putting up a fence around the interpreters camp to keep the wrong people from destroying the toilets, showers and sinks as well as eating at their dining facility. The US pays for it, so we need to ensure the right people are eating there.
These guys working on the fence really remind me of Indiana Jones. These guys work hard and it's 111F/44C today.
When I was taking them out to the gate...first I have to say, I parked my car and ran into one of the huts for two minutes. I left the engine running with the A/C, because it get's so hot and never cools down...these guys were no where in sight...when I came out there were 9 guys squeezed into my vehicle like a clown car in the circus....insane. Two people in the passenger seat, five in the back seat and two sitting in the rear of SUV...pretty funny! It's even funnier that they think it's normal.
On my way to drop these 9 off at the gate, I saw these guys enjoying a swim in the river.
I went back to my office to wrap up some paper work and received a phone call from my boss. She's still at main base Kandahar and wants to come over tomorrow morning. We're meeting early for a tour and then she has to be back by 11am for another meeting.
Okay, I know you've been waiting to get your 1960s Afghanistan fix...so here are the pics.
This is my favorite of the day. The first guy with a rifle. Neat pic...still wish I knew who took these to give them credit.
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