Friday, August 19, 2011:
It’s been about three weeks since my arrival in Kabul. I’m starting to wonder if my permanent duty will be riding shotgun in the convoys that primarily shuttle people back and forth to the airports. Aside from not knowing what my assignment will be, the next most disturbing aspect of being here is the food. While the meals are freshly made, the menu doesn’t change much. In addition, most of it seems to be overcooked, with the exception of the chicken, which tends to be a little too pink or bloody for my taste. Moreover, the thoughts of the parasite that plagued the camp prior to our arrival linger on (I use the pre-packaged plastic utensils instead of the silverware). Also related to the food, but perhaps most bothersome to many, is the lack of ventilation in the dining facility (DFAC). During mealtimes, the odors of the kitchen attach themselves to our clothing. When we’ve finished eating, the smells of the food and the facility cling to everyone, follow us around, and eventually make their way back to our rooms. Even walking around outside in the bad air does nothing to shake the odor. Being that the menu seldom changes, it’s the same smell that diminishes the appetite on a daily basis. According to the scale in the gym, I lost about 15 lbs. since leaving home; and after being here for almost a month, there’s no sign of gaining it back. If we wished, we could eat all we wanted, but due to the combination of the bland taste and sickening aroma, the meals had become less of a priority. I really longed for some familiar food with taste.
It’s been about three weeks since my arrival in Kabul. I’m starting to wonder if my permanent duty will be riding shotgun in the convoys that primarily shuttle people back and forth to the airports. Aside from not knowing what my assignment will be, the next most disturbing aspect of being here is the food. While the meals are freshly made, the menu doesn’t change much. In addition, most of it seems to be overcooked, with the exception of the chicken, which tends to be a little too pink or bloody for my taste. Moreover, the thoughts of the parasite that plagued the camp prior to our arrival linger on (I use the pre-packaged plastic utensils instead of the silverware). Also related to the food, but perhaps most bothersome to many, is the lack of ventilation in the dining facility (DFAC). During mealtimes, the odors of the kitchen attach themselves to our clothing. When we’ve finished eating, the smells of the food and the facility cling to everyone, follow us around, and eventually make their way back to our rooms. Even walking around outside in the bad air does nothing to shake the odor. Being that the menu seldom changes, it’s the same smell that diminishes the appetite on a daily basis. According to the scale in the gym, I lost about 15 lbs. since leaving home; and after being here for almost a month, there’s no sign of gaining it back. If we wished, we could eat all we wanted, but due to the combination of the bland taste and sickening aroma, the meals had become less of a priority. I really longed for some familiar food with taste.
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