quenching jade

There was a woman in my ‘developing a resume’ workshop this afternoon.  She had big eyes.  I haven’t been this close to speak to a woman, and I mean close, standing over her while I read her answer to the question “Why are you the best person for the job?” since mid-July.  And I was somewhat unnerved when she appeared 45 minutes later in the toefl class.  The other men seemed to know her and there was friendly banter and that was good, she’s not an outcast in the classroom. 

I’m grateful at least she didn’t come in wearing one of them long medieval burqas.  The last time I spoke to someone through a screen was Fr. Bagley in the seventh grade. 

And I thought strongly today about turning in my 30 day notice and going to Taiwan or Japan. No contact from the bank with a link to access my money, and a hundred little things that ate away at my common sense the way tiny ants chew on the top of my feet. 

No, really, why did you want to turn in your 30 day notice?  I tell ya, if I really have to remain here for a year, I’m gonna need a plenty supply of Mother Nature’s finest medicine all the time. 

For lunch I ate a plate of liver and onions with bread and that actually, was pretty good.  The first and last teacher here couldn’t eat it.  This was cut up in small pieces and sautéed in an oil with onions and salt, I think.  I added more. 

10:30pm

Saffiq called me out of my blue carpeted room after I finished the toefl class, and invited me to come for a special meal so I went and I was glad of it.  A fine meal of sheep legs on top of a restaurant on the first cool evening wearing my khaki shalwar kameez.  Not the best of timings to wear new threads when you need your hands to remove gamey bqq meat from a sheep leg. 

China is considering opening a consulate in Kandahar.  Good news?  Good for Afghans who want to get out.  The ambassador was in town last week to discuss all things commerce.  That’s a good thing, I guess.  Just make sure there is equal compensation for all the precious metals they extract from  your sovereign earth. 

9.6.15

Only two years ago today I was in Rochester, NY.  I like reading some of the blogs, what a place that was to find characters, I guess it was easy to write because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

7.35pm

Saffiq and I went back to the bank this morning in a city taxi, I withdrew most of my salary and on the way back bought a ticket to Dubai around the time of Eid.  My internet banking account is still not up and running and much to Saffiq’s dislike it means I and most likely Saffiq, will have to endure the 30 minute drive.  I won’t mind going every month to get my cash.  I have it, no problem.

After getting my ticket we stopped at the tailor who made my kameezes.  He’s a very nice man, Mr. Hameed, says not a word of English, and there’s a look about him that imagines he operates tailor shops in Queens or Dearborn.  And there are two five or seven year old boys who hang around the shop with the most arresting green eyes.  Like the Nat’l Geo Afghan girl, soft light jade that quenches your thirst they hold something mysterious in those pools.

It would be pretty special to take their photos.  One day, eh?  I’ll buy another kameez.