you broke another one?

The phone numbers for the American Medical Clinic do not work.  The DK-German Medical Clinic has openings to see a dentist on August 9.  Well, I am not in pain now, I guess I can wait.  But for how long?  This tooth on the bottom right and next to an open space near the front was already broken but it is a significant tooth when it comes to eating, I don’t know, I may wind up going to see a local unlicensed man who’ll simply decide pulling it is easier than saving it.

After giving my passport for processing to get a work visa Waheed invited me to lunch.  I assumed we were going to the cafeteria.  “No, this is a special place.”  We walked to the mechanics garage and plates of rice and lamb, fresh Afghani bread, yogurt salad, and a slightly pale green melon awaited us on the ground. Delicious, look I can eat with my right hand though I’m getting rice all over myself and standing up from sitting yoga was comic relief.  Why are my legs so inflexible I don’t know. 

Almost two hours in the bank this morning and I think everything that can be for now is done.  The man doing the endless paperwork asked me what currency I wished to be paid in and I didn’t hear him because I was adrift in fatigue.  The local Afghan-Afghani right now is 60 AFN – 1 USD and it is not convertible outside the country.  What to do. 

Waheed pointed out I came in just as the new cycle started so come next month I should receive a full salary.  And the wait for Kandahar continues.  Maybe in two days, maybe next week.  The director will make the decision and I’m told it would be unwise to travel there without my passport via courier because you know, the roads are off limits.  Well, damn, I guess I’ll return to the guesthouse and take a nap because I am whooped and whipped, and maybe figure out how to use the washing machine. 

6.25pm

A very overcast evening, sitting on the terrace drinking a mug of green tea, my tongue examines the sharp remains of what is left of my tooth.  It is uncomfortable and the visit inevitable.  Should I have had this repaired while I was in Dubai?  Prudent preventative maintenance says yes but there was no discomfort and perhaps like a typical male I did nothing. 

I have one packet of ramen noodles left.  Yesterday after work Kara, an American woman who works in public relations and lives in the building next door with  Erika called the ‘Apollo’ and I walked to a local market after the guards called Qasi, the head of security for the time being, and had our departure from the ‘safe grounds’ okayed.  The shop mostly contains dried goods and the freezer had chicken dogs.  I found a square of cheddar cheese.  The bread in the welcome basket is almost finished and I will have to return to the shop tomorrow.  I bought two small creamers, ‘liquid tea whiteners’, matches, two diet cokes and detergent.  I don’t think I can live like this for very long.  The other teachers don’t speak of restaurants at all and only one ‘safe’ hotel is mentioned, The Serena Hotel, which has a buffet on Fridays.  The security we all live in is stifling.  I know they are looking out for us and it is appreciated but parents have to let their kids walk around.  I have to walk around.

Rain begins.  After sneezing off a few rounds in the office I was asked if I had allergies.  I think it must be a combination of everything, dust, altitude, rain, pollen, my throat is still slightly swollen but it is being managed.  I’ve doubled on the grapefruit seed extract which of course means I’ll run out soon.  Thankfully I bought a bottle of the liquid stuff in Leuven. 

So, I’m glad to have the July 6-13 copy of The New Yorker.  A story about meditation leaves me asking how my own meditation fares.  I’m living alone again.  Once in Kandahar I’ll not only be living alone I’ll be without native English speakers.  How does that sound to you?  It’s sounds pretty quiet.  And the only noise I hear as evening darkens, is the discomfort of another broken tooth.