Problog

Hello and welcome to my blog. It is a blog about an Air Force Physician that was reluctantly deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan for 6 months.

I have to admit, I did not exactly volunteer for the deployment, and I was a little anxious about how it would all turn out. I ended up making the best of it, and surprisingly, I actually had a pleasant, life changing, experience.

I decided to keep the blog up and running because I kept on hearing, "Why is it that you only hear the bad news coming from Iraq and Afghanistan." I figured that I was helping spread a positive message about what we are doing over. Even more important, I wanted to continue to spread the word about the plight of the Afghan people, 99.9% of which are the most incredibly friendly people that you will ever meet. The title picture is a great example of that. I have never encountered such genuinely warm and friendly people. It was so strange to see so many people with so little material objects, yet at the same time, filled with so much of the joy that comes with close family ties, abundant friends, and a close knit community. We could definetly learn a lot from them.

You may notice, as you read the blog in its entirety, my arc. I shift from focusing on myself and my personal comforts, to shifting my focus on the Afghan cause. It is very easy to get distracted by the hustle of daily life and the comforts that the U.S. provides. It is really a challenge to awake from that coma and to start to care and think about the welfare of other people unrelated to you. I think it really took me about 4 or 5 months before I really opened my eyes and became personally affected by what I was experiencing. I hope I was able to recreate it.

I have tried to keep the blog squeaky clean so as to not offend anyone (or get me in trouble-I am still in the military). Even though I am a political junky with very strong personal opinions I have been steadfast in keeping this site free of any politics. I was called to do a job and I tried to do it to the best of my ability regardless of my political stance.

I recreated the blog to read more like a book, or should I say blook (get used to the corniness it only gets worse from here) just to make it an easier read. I have removed some names and pictures just to keep it more anonymous. I hope that it helps in making it less about me and more about the cause.

Lastly, in the spirit of the blog, I decided to include the Chipin Widget that I used to raise money for Nazia. If I get any additional money I will send the funds to The Women of Hope Project and someone over in Kabul will discretely give it to her (unless I hear otherwise). You can also contribute directly to the Women of Hope Project website. They are a wonderful cause. If you enjoy this blog then feel free to contribute. I am sure that once you read her story you will be very moved.

So kick back. Get ready to hopefully laugh and definitely cry.
If you like what you read then post a comment. I will be continuously editing this site in an attempt to improve it. Who knows maybe one day it will become a book!

Enjoy. Thanks for reading.

-Shazdoc

Today Show Clip

Chipin Widget

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Ha Ha Ha

"You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll be left with nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering."

-Meredith Willson, The Music Man

It was actually a pretty productive day, unfortunately, most of it involved office work that is not very interesting so I will spare you the details.
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I received an iTunes gift card from my wife and I was able to download some new music. While I was on iTunes I also downloaded the latest episode of This American Life. When I was back home it was the highlight of my drive to listen to it on the way to work. They allow you to download a free podcast every week. You have to pay for older episodes. You can click on the logo to go to their website.



This weeks episode is a good example of how the show can make you both laugh and almost cry in the same episode. Take a listen. I promise you will be addicted. It is like nothing you have ever heard.

I received a whole box of Christmas stockings. I will bring them to the office party that will be happening soon.


A good friend of mine sent me a harmonica. It will be so fun to learn how to play.



I was also sent 2 new books. I think that I am the only person over here that has not yet read them. I plan to start with the Kite Runner first.


The wonderful kids from the Gaffney, South Carolina 8th grade class left me a great comment on yesterday's blog. I also received a bunch of letters and poems from them. I find it so funny that they are no longer able to say Ho, Ho, Ho and that it has been replaced by Ha, Ha, Ha.

It is so funny because I have a picture of the students and I bet that I could match their comments with their picture, especially !!!X!DREW!X!!! (")(-_-)("). He reminds me of myself when I was his age.
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Here is one of their poems.
-
Here Comes Christmas
-
Christmas is coming
and everybody wants a lot of gifts
but that is not what Christmas is about
Christmas is for the love of Christmas.
-
It's just right around the corner
and no one can wait
it seems like Christmas is gonna be late
but the birth of Christ is not too late.
-
I wish you a Merry Christmas
and the best of luck, never give up hope,
Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas
to you and all.
-
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
-
Thanks for reading

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Kite Runner is one of my favorite books. I expect you will especially enjoy it -- considering where you are reading it. - Dani

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