{"id":669,"date":"2010-10-19T00:41:07","date_gmt":"2010-10-18T23:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moore-images.com\/blog\/?p=669"},"modified":"2010-10-19T00:41:07","modified_gmt":"2010-10-18T23:41:07","slug":"my-afghan-experience-part-3-of-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.moore-images.com\/blog\/2010\/10\/my-afghan-experience-part-3-of-3\/","title":{"rendered":"My Afghan Experience, Part 3 of 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Working as a contractor even in Afghanistan, you can make a lot of money and further your career.\u00a0 However, most of the people on bases are not here for the money and it\u2019s not a matter of career positioning.\u00a0 We were reminded of that reality after we returned to work from dinner.\u00a0 Our Italian sponsored looked upset.\u00a0 We immediately recognized it and asked him, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d\u00a0 He stated that something was not good.\u00a0 His English is limited so when we asked him what happened, he declined to explain it.\u00a0 The next morning we heard their fellow soldier(s) lost their lives.\u00a0 We\u2019re not certain how many. \u00a0Yet, the impact on the base was profound.\u00a0 A ceremony for one of their fallen soldiers took place and we attended to pay our respects.<\/p>\n

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The next morning, Justin and I prepared for yet another flight to another base.\u00a0 This one was even more remote.\u00a0 When we landed, all we saw was dust from the rear of the plane.\u00a0 After a moment or two, we saw more mountains and we were greeted by occasional loud bursts.\u00a0 Thankfully, there weren\u2019t incoming shots, but tanks firing shots in the distance.\u00a0 After a week of travel, we returned to our home base no worse for wear.<\/p>\n

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My last week in Afghanistan was uneventful.\u00a0 I met more engaging people doing great work and who are very sharp.\u00a0 The lifestyle is not ideal.\u00a0 Yet, the work is important and the pay is good.\u00a0 I would\u2019ve never considered working here previously.\u00a0 Yet, my experience here has brought the phrase, \u201cNever say never\u201d to the forefront again.<\/p>\n

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The day of my departure was long.\u00a0 I woke up at 4:40 AM to prepare for my 5:30 drive to the airport.\u00a0 With my colleague missing his flight a week earlier, my co-workers and I checked and re-checked the departure time.\u00a0 I arrived at the airport at 6:00 AM and waited for the 8:30 departure.\u00a0 We flew into Trabzon Turkey to refuel.\u00a0 Our time there lasted less than one hour and we were back on the plane to Copenhagen.\u00a0 We arrived in Denmark and I was already tired and I had reservations at a nearby hotel.\u00a0 However, I felt I was close to home and I didn\u2019t want to stay away another night.\u00a0 I went to the ticket counter and inquired about a flight to London.\u00a0 After checking the schedule, the agent told me I could take an 8:20 PM flight.\u00a0 With the clock approaching 4:00 PM, it would be no problem passing the time.<\/p>\n

Later that day, I boarded the flight and we arrived in London shortly after 9:20 PM.\u00a0 Now, I had to get my luggage, work my way through customs and grab a train from Heathrow to London, then from London to Huntingdon.\u00a0 Each train ride is an hour.\u00a0 So, I knew it would be another two hours and some change before I arrived at home.\u00a0 Yet, when I bought my ticket going from Heathrow Airport to downtown, it was after 10:30 and the ticket agent wasn\u2019t certain I could catch the second train to Huntingdon.\u00a0 He thought they may have concluded for the day.\u00a0 I prayed there would be trains running because an hour long taxi ride would not be cheap.\u00a0 I arrived at downtown London shortly after 11:30 PM.\u00a0 Fortunately, there was another train to Huntingdon, but it wasn\u2019t leaving until 12:36 AM, more waiting.\u00a0 I got on the train and had to fight the urge to contain my excitement at approaching home and not falling asleep thereby missing my stop.\u00a0 Twenty minutes from my stop I called a taxi so I could have a ride home.\u00a0 When I got off the train, the guy was waiting for me and it wasn\u2019t a moment too soon because a fellow passenger was eyeing my ride.\u00a0 I live less than two miles from the station but the ride seemed much longer.\u00a0 However, I arrived at home shortly after 1:30 AM and I shortly afterwards I answered the bed that was calling me every since I arrived at Denmark.<\/p>\n

I had an enlightening experience in Afghanistan.\u00a0 I met many people and gained some new friends.\u00a0 I thank God for the opportunity and hope and pray this war comes to a peaceful resolution.\u00a0 God Bless and Keep Shooting\u2014pictures, that is!<\/p>\n

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Working as a contractor even in Afghanistan, you can make a lot of money and further your career.\u00a0 However, most of the people on bases are not here for the money and it\u2019s not a matter of career positioning.\u00a0 We were reminded of that reality after we returned to work from dinner.\u00a0 Our Italian sponsored […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t