Cultural Differences

Cultural differences are such an interesting concept and one of the joys of traveling and exploring the world. They also can be a huge pain in the ass.

I have already learned so much about Afghanistan, its people, the language, the food, and the way of life since living here. It has been a very enlightening experience. Today though, I had an experience that drove me absolutely insane…

Routinely we have to go to the different Ministry offices around Kabul in which we work with. This is part of one of the cool experiences I have while working in this job. I meet new people, see different parts of the city, partake in shaping of a nation, and most importantly, I get out of the compound for a bit. On the other hand, it is dangerous to drive across the city, we get stuck in traffic, we are easy targets, it takes time and security to get us there for the meetings. In my mind these meetings should be left for hella important activities and only when necessary.

We are currently in the process of transferring all of the raw data we have collected over the last 4 years to the relevant Ministries. This allows them to save and use the data for whatever they want for in the future and allows them record keeping of past activities. I know what you are thinking; why in the hell wasn’t this done from day 1? I wonder that as well. Welcome to development work 😉

Anyway, we get to the Ministry, which sits on the side of the hill in the city and has very cool views and begin our conversation. The meeting is to discuss that this data we have collected needs to be transferred to the Ministry (Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in this case) so that they can have it because our contract is up August 31st, with no guarantee to be extended.

We begin at around 10:15 (were supposed to start at 10), this idea is explained, the Ministry folk agree and are excited to have all the raw data for the future. Boom meeting should be finished and it is 10:20. First off, why in the hell did we need to have a meeting for this? This really could have been explained in an email. The real meeting will be later when the two technical teams of developers and GIS people meet to discuss the concurrent fields and data that actually is useable and needs to be transferred. There was absolutely no reason to drive all the way across town and literally putting people in danger to discuss this. Mind Blown.

Next the meeting continues for another 40-45 mins, talking about the same main points in more detail, for what reason I am still not sure, until we have come to the same conclusion that we had in the first five minutes; yes there is data the Ministry wants, they have the capacity to take it, the technical teams need to sit down and do their thing.

Afghans are interesting people. I am not sure if the conversation took so long because everyone was speaking in English, where at a table there were 9 of us and only I spoke English as my first language, or if it was that Afghans just enjoy the process. Enjoying the process is my way of combining slow and the need to do things face-to-face. Everything here just seems so drawn out and inefficient, but that is part of the culture here. You need to say and do things in person, no matter how miniscule, which really might not be all that bad. I have plenty of coworkers that I couldn’t even put a face to back in the US, but here I know everyone’s name and what they look like. It’s just a different style and one that is going to take a little bit to get used to I suppose.

A Reminder…

I am lucky. My friends are lucky. My family is lucky. Most of the people I know are lucky. The people in the developing world are not lucky.

I know the U.S. has issues and it is far from perfect, but Americans are lucky to be born there. I have known I have had a good, blessed, and pretty easy life, but talking with coworkers here is a constant reminder that life is far from easy for many other people. It really puts into perspective the work and drive some people in these areas have to be able to lift themselves up from the lowest of lows.

Today I was talking with one of our computer programmer guys and we were talking about my upcoming trip to India. He had been there for schooling and said he fell in love with a girl he was “willing to marry” there, but could not. Because of social issues, caste issues, and he being Afghan and her being Indian, it wouldn’t work. He talked about how he was very limited in his social options here and what he could do in general and is always trying to figure out a way to get out of Kabul. That is truly sad.

I sit here, planning trips to India, Israel, Ireland, and back to the U.S. all within the next 4 months with the freedom to do what I please. I have the “magic blue book” as the U.S. passport is so often referred to and can flit around as I please. I can be in love with who I want and marry who I want.

American’s are privileged and I think that has become lost on many people and has now festered into entitlement.

Not every day out here is easy for me, but I have something to look forward to. I get to travel, see my loving girlfriend, family and friends, and eventually leave for good. It isn’t as simple for some.

Easter Sunday

Easter, doesn’t get much love around here, though I am not entirely sure why…. Who doesn’t love a good ham, some deviled eggs, mac & cheese, wine, and friends? Even though it was very hard to come by, I managed to score a sweet ham for only $75 USD, a bargain really if you think about it….. The thing fed like 12 people and we had tons left over. Dinner was awesome and the company was great. Bummed I couldn’t be at home to see Mason and Aubrey do their Easter egg hunt, and because Napa is always gorgeous in the early Spring. Hopefully next year I can make that one happen. I hope everyone else out there had a good Easter and got to enjoy it with their friends and family.

Also! Big news, booked my travel for my Regional Rest Break (RRB). Going to Israel and Ireland. Very excited to go to Tel Aviv to see my friend Tamir who I haven’t seen in years. Also excited to see my friends Ben and Mayan whom I met while traveling in Peru, also been years. From there, going to Ireland to see my lovely girlfriend Caitlin and travel around with her family. Will be a great little adventure and a fun time to explore new places!

Just a little bit of home….

Today is April 1st… or April Fool’s Day as it is more commonly known in the US, and apparently in Afghanistan as well. I have never been much of a prankster, could never come up with good enough pranks that weren’t just downright mean, but today I got pranked.

After lunch got called into one of the manager’s offices as “I was needed by the Ministry for something very important” and it was urgent. I get up and head to Noor’s office and he asks me to please come in and sit at the desk to answer the Skype call with the Ministry… I sit down to a blanks screen that says “Happy April 1st, this special day” hahaha

It was pretty funny and I got a good laugh out of it, especially because I had no idea what the Ministry would actually want to talk to me about anyway… Jatender on the other hand got the same trick pulled on him and was much more concerned as he had thought something was wrong at the Ministry and he was in trouble or something… Maybe I should be more worried about future imminent calls from the Ministry?

Also, today I realized that Sunday is Easter! I am far from a religious person, as most know, but I do love me a good Easter Dinner. I have made it my mission, and by that I mean I have asked Umesh (our equivalent to Red from The Shawshank Redemption; a man who is known to locate things from time to time) to try and find us a ham so that I can put together a traditional Easter Dinner. Pork is hard to come by in this country, go figure, so I need someone to help me out. I have also put together a menu, which includes mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and some rolls or bread. Also there will be a shrimp scampi dish for our vegetarian/pescetarian diners (there are 3 out of 7 of us). So hopefully this works, cause I want some ham and just a little bit of home.