Terms picked up along the way:
ISAF - International Security Assistance Force is what the US-led NATO coalition forces are called in Afghanistan.
CommVoid — of as in, “Sorry, I didn’t hang up, we got CommVoid!” Â Because many IEDs are triggered by cellphone, ISAF and UN convoys frequently travel with cellphone jammers creating a communication void in their vicinity. Â As I have been informed by people who have experience with such things, the most dangerous place to drive is at the boundary of such a jammer bubble. Â If the cellphone is being used to trigger an IED in the road, once the convoy passes, it goes boom.
Money is Expired — as in, “sorry, this money (old style 20$ bill) is expired. Â We can only exchange it for 700 rather than 900 Afs (short for Afghanis, the local currency).”
Eye in the Sky — A high-tech surveillance balloon that flies in the skys of Kabul. Â It is frequently down for repairs (as frequently as it is shot at.) Â Locals believe it’s peering eye can see them inside their homes. Â Who knows, maybe it can?
The Wire — as in “Outside the Wire, Inside the Loop” the tagline of an informative blog about Afghanistan by Tim Lynch, a frequent guest at the Taj. The Wire refers to the barbed wire that surrounds bases where soldiers operate and classified information dominates. It serves as much to protect those within as it does to prevent them from accurately seeing the situation outside. Â Ironically, it’s own kind of veil and many inside the wire feel restricted and cooped up.
Pornology — as in what you are not supposed to be browsing on the internet.
Music Party — as in, if we have a first born boy, we’ll have a music party and many people will come. Â If it’s a girl, we’ll have just a food party and not invite as many people. Â Maybe you are the kind of people that will have a music party even if it’s a girl?
The Eye in the Sky is the large white object in this photo:
It’s dusty here, and late. I’m going to use a Neti Pot to clear out my sinuses and try to catch some sleep.
