Day 5 started out with a bang and I mean literally. I heard a loud noise that sounded odd and wondered if it was a bomb explosion. When Jim arrived to pick me up, he told me about the bombing and that it was on a road that we drove down on Friday. These are the things that worry you here. If you are at the wrong place at the wrong time, you are in trouble. One of the faculty members that I work with, had just driven past the spot of the explosion when it exploded and he saw it in the rear view. I asked him if he stopped to help and he said no, he took off as quickly as he could.
The GIS class went well today except that the power went out about two-thirds way through the class period so we had to stop. The students asked if we could start class early tomorrow to make up for today so tomorrow will be a longer teaching day. In addition, we were not supposed to have class on Thursday or Friday but they would like to continue the class on Thursday. Friday is the normal day off in Afghanistan so there won’t be any classes but the advance class will begin on Saturday and run until Wednesday.
Once Jim picked me up, we headed back to the guesthouse. The traffic seemed heavier than normal but we made it back without incident.
The news and discussion between everyone is about the bombing. 41 dead and 141 injured and the images from that area look horrible. The bomb destroyed that whole area. It is scary stuff.
Sheep Eating Garbage
The sheep around Kabul eat the garbage.
Kabul Fried Chicken
They have a KFC here but it means Kabul Fried Chicken but still has Colonel Sanders Picture
Kabul University GIS Lab
Lunch with Faculty
Having lunch with the faculty at Kabul Polytechnic Unversity
Beggars Row
The beggars sit in the dirt road and beg as cars drive on both sides of them. They are covered in dirt from the passing cars.
More Beggars
My New Residence
This the hotel that I am now staying in.
TV Hill
The mountain is known as TV Hill because of the number of TV/Cell towers. My last residence was on the other side of this mountain.
New Security Gear
Now that I have been pulled under the BearingPoint security umbrella, I have been assigned a security pack.
Entrance to Kabul Polytechnic University
This is where I teach each day.
Kabul Flower
These are called Kabul Flowers. They are what is left of the light poles after they were shot.
Another Kabul Flower
Taking It Easy
This is the relaxing way to travel through Kabul.
Traffic Jam
Another obstacle....nothing like a donkey and some sheep to slow you down.
Lecturing in the Classroom
I will explain the content and then the translator will translate it for me.
GIS Classroom
Working with the students is always fun.
Electric Pole Damage
Here is another electric pole that was shot.
Electric Pole Damage
During the civil war, these electric poles where shot to remove them.
Guesthouse Security
This is the road that my guesthouse is on. As you can see, it is blocked off and guarded.
GIS Class
Here are my students and my translator.
View from my Guesthouse
This is the view from the front of my guesthouse.
Wedding Food
You see how much food is served at an Afghanis wedding.
War Damage
You see structures like this around town that are riddled with bullet holes.
IT Center
This is the IT Center at Kabul Polytechnic University that I am teaching in.
Road Side Shops
This are typical road side shops
Water Run
Since the house on the hills do not have water or sewer, they have to go down the mountain to get water
Bagh-E Babur Garden
View from Cannons
Notice the dust across the valley
View from Cannons
The Cannons and Jim
You can also see the valley in the background.
Cannon Memorial
This is where we drove to see the valley.
Dinner at Sofi's House
Notice all the food
Driving Through Kabul
My Room at the Guest House
My Room
Afghanis Wedding Party
Afghanis Wedding Party
1 comment:
Do stay safe, Carl!
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