Gardez

I got to travel last Sunday and Monday to Gardez, a province south of Kabul. It was a bit overwhelming to travel so soon after getting here, but the trip ended up being great.

I went to see our new Lincoln Center and interview people for the Coordinator position. Lincoln Centers are libraries and cultural centers that we have all over the world. In most places we call them American Corners, but we decided that's not the best idea in Afghanistan. We have a 20,000 volume book collection, computers with Internet and we hold all kinds of classes, workshops, etc. For example, a surgeon from one of the bigger hospitals in Afghanistan just held a 3-hour class for medical students on surgery techniques at one of the Lincoln Centers. I am overseeing all the Lincoln Centers in Afghanistan, hence my trip.

We took a helicopter from Kabul to Gardez. I was as shocked as anyone to be OK in the flight... The ride home was not so good. Let's just say that when the pilot can't get the front end and tail end to balance, the flight is not pleasant.

Pics from the Helicopter


Anyway, we arrived at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and hopped right into the convoy to go to the Governor's compound (where the Lincoln Center is). The convoy was MRAPs (big-ass vehicles designed to not get blown up), and getting into the thing was crazy - it's SO HIGH up. The PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) Commander was awesome, super nice and excited about the Lincoln Center. He is also a giant. Had to be 6'6" and when he shook my hand I felt like a little child. I'm pretty sure his hand actually wrapped around mine. It was pretty clear he wanted to help me up into the MRAP but wasn't sure how to... It would have been faster for everyone if he'd just tossed me in.

The PRT Commander was going to the Governor's compound for the monthly Provincial Development Council with all the big-wigs in the province. Think of a 2 hour meeting full of people who all have stuff that needs to be funded, everyone thinks their project is the most important, and only a few people have any money to do this stuff with. It's like Congress except there's one guy holding the checkbook. You can imagine what that one guy's meeting is like... That's our PRT Commander. I only saw the last part of the meeting, but I have to say it was a lesson in diplomacy watching him handle himself. The rest of the morning I spent inspecting the new building. It's a cute little building with lots of windows, so lots of light, mauve carpet and ceiling tiles that looked like pineapples. Apparently they're pretty standard around here.

Pics of the FOB/Surrounding Countryside







Since I couldn't go anywhere without the convoy, and the PRT Commander had to meet with the Governor, I got to tag along. Nothing super exciting, but we did get lunch out of it and afterwards the Governor gave me a rug. It's about 3'x5', very very nice and currently in my office. We're still trying to decide if it will go in the new Lincoln Center or somewhere else. I think the best part may have been the wrapping - clear plastic with pink hearts and "For You" on it and plastic flowers taped to the outside. Regardless of what happens with the rug, I'm keeping the flowers.

The interviews went well - better than I expected. We found a guy we liked. Hopefully he'll take the job. Far and away the best part of the trip was when one of the translators at the Governor's office came up to me to ask if the library was really opening and really had Internet and was really free for anyone. I told him it is and I hope he'll use it and enjoy it. He was so excited. If I understood him correctly, this will be the first real public library in the province.