It’s supposed to get colder tonight, tomorrow, tomorrow
night, but right now I sit with the space heater in waiting mode. In our last conversation class everyone
talked well on subjects everyone was interested in getting their word in and I
made sure the quiet ones were grilled on issues that need attention: Abdul, is your wife going to wear the blue
burqa? An emphatic yes. Oh, he speaks Dari he’s different and the
commotion went up a decibel and I looked at this kid with jewish curls of hair
under his ears and I don’t believe it.
There are Muslims here who believe Pashtunwali has more
merit than Islam.
And it is understood in a room full of college
graduates and present students that the blue burqa is an import from Rajastan
and its merry maharajah’s who practiced purdah.
They are women on purdah and there’s nothing in the
Koran that condones it. And you look at
him and he is poker face with a tad bit of concern because I am looking at him
like a psychiatrist with a hand saw I guess, ha ha.
But I’m glad this class has
finished. Good day to you all.
8:08pm—The power has gone off and
I should go for tea. And maybe a slice
of old pound cake if it’s still ok.
The Day After
Monday Dec. 8-1941
Feast of The Immaculate Conception.
Dear Charles,
Well the radio is humming and
newspaper extra’s on the street.
This being a holiday
Richard and I went down to 6-15 mass, as he had to go to school. I stayed for 7 oclock for you, I do hope your
well, not getting any mail does make one anxious.
Again I beg God to be good to our Men in service. God be with you and keep you always.
Love Mother
12/8/41 20th day out—Things have really started to pop
to-day when news was received of Japan attacking Honolulu and the island of
Guam, and on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, oil tanks and hangers of the U.S.
airfield were hit and destroyed by Jap bombers.
It has been reported that Jap parachutes have landed in the
Philippines.—The U.S. forces have already accounted for six planes, four subs,
and an air craft carrier according to a radio report.—Our position this morning
was 38 degrees S and 21 degrees E—We received our pay to-day, I had $18 coming
but I only drew $5, for I don’t believe I’ll need it very badly.—I would feel a
lot better if we get in to-morrow for there are rumors of subs following us and
besides everyone seems to be getting restless.—I have the 2400 to 0400 watch
to-night. Lights out.
12.9.15
The eternal bowl smolders on this coldest of mornings
and the sun emerges from behind the wall and warmth encourages life to
move.
One week to go, ha ha, the hardest class is in the
rear, what do I have to do I have to write religiously for the next week. A professional statement of sorts to justify
why this venerable institution should let this crazy sod enter it’s hallowed
halls and make noise like an undeserving eunuch.
Peanuts Christmas is in the background at eight this
morning, I have tests to grade, lessons to plan for this afternoon and, that’s
it al humda’allah.
Ѡ
This morning’s fresh curd was delicious but my stomach
says something else. Is it the cold,
perhaps, was it an early morning headache, maybe, was it news that the airport
was attacked last night? Why would that
bother me? They got a week to make it
safer than usual.
Ѡ
9:05pm—If
there is no flight to Dubai I would have to scramble.
What options? Go to Kabul. If there are no flights? Hello.
Dude, I’m stranded unless I could get to Quetta but I’d need a visa.
Can I write like an
academic? I don’t know. My motivation letter is quite unhealthy. I have to write it again this week. I also have to complete a lot of paperwork in
the next week, please do as much as you can in the next two days of which
you’ve got only one class, ok? Time to
reach out. The room tomorrow morning is
going to be dead cold and I really don’t need to get up before seven which
means I’ve still got more than an hour with the space heater.
This is helpful.
12.10.15
Razzaq and Fezel helped me
set up the food on a table in tonight’s last class. Thermoses of green tea and hot water for 3-1
Turkish coffee packets, boxed juices, Pakistani biscuits, Turkish chocolates
and for 900 afs a one kilo bag of slightly salty, slightly sweet pine nuts in
their very dark brown but easily opened shells.
Said Wali persuaded me the students would like these more than the pistachios, almonds or dried mulberries.
They are addictive, indeed.
I have been reassured the
airport will be open. Confident but
unsure if you ask me.
My students and two
visitors enjoyed the first 45 minutes of Witness and then the film broke
down. A bad copy I reckon. Ezra to my right said the Amish look like
Muslims. And if only they lived like
Amish, my friend.
10.29pm
Paddington was fun to
watch in Buraimi but it kind of sucked in Kandahar. The three stooges and Curly were far more
entertaining. Younnis just gave me a
wool blanket, thanks dude, he is as cold as I am. I appreciate it. Ya, good night.
12.11.15
Younnis brought in a
thermos of tea and a bowl of last night’s uneaten biscuits and chocolates. I left the eight cans of coke and pepsi in
the kitchen and explained these were for him.
Why is he being so nice, it’s Friday the guards don’t really have much
to do unless it’s keeping the electricity going and it isn’t going today.
What am I going to do
today. Read, write, sleep.
and dream with open
eyes
under the clear
and cool
brilliantly
blue
skies
happiness
in its relative
state
for a minute
I am happy
I am happy
as a clam
on someone else's plate
Why did you stop writing blog
ReplyDeletebecause I didn't travel with my laptop. But I've been reunited with this thing. Happy new year!
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