Placid Island of Ignorance in the Midst of Black Seas of Infinity

"Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education."

-Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 - 1910)

"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."

-H.P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

I got lucky today. Dr. Mossaud came by one last time to say goodbye to everyone before he leaves for the states. He was able to find me to give me some more of his pictures one last time. What I love about his pictures is they are a little slice of the real Kabul. I can only take pictures from my vehicle driving 30mph. He is able to get up close and personal. The title pic is just great. It is a small business owner serving up some simple kabobs out of his little shop. He is talking with the little kid that is with him. They just seem like they are having a great time.

Here is inside Kabul University. I will be uploading all of his pictures into a photobook. Kabul University looks just like every other university that you would find in the states.

Here are 2 guys pulling a heavy load.

You visit with this gentleman for two reasons. He is able to take away any spells that have been placed on you or he can place a spell on someone if you like. He writes the spell on a piece of paper and you are suppose to carry it or wear it on a necklace.

This wheelchair has been converted into a little shop. They can be so resourceful.

Here they are selling fish. Adam said that it looks like a baby's mobile.

Here they are selling chickens. I think I will stick to purchasing rotisserie chickens at Sam's Club.

Here is another small business owner. He is a cobbler. There is not a lot of overhead for this shop.

Here is a site that you will not find in the states. A shop dedicated to selling burqas.

Carrots on the back of a cart.

Today at the clinic we did some trauma training during the Morning Report- CPR, intubation, needle decompression for tension pneumothorax, treatment of sucking chest wounds, tourniquets, c-spine immobilization, etc. I think it went pretty well. I tried to encourage hands-on participation.

We did an EKG on a General that came into the ER. He was having chest pain. It looked like he was having a heart attack according to the EKG. You are sort of limited on what you can do over here. He also had uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes. He was sent upstairs to be seen by the Internal Medicine doctor.

I am still working with the nurses trying to get them break a number of their bad habits. I am trying to reinforce the use of gloves, trying to get them to not throw away needles in the trash, and I am encouraging frequent hand washing. They have this habit of injecting medicine right into the vein with a needle. It is a hard habit to break especially when the nurse has been doing it this way for 20 years.

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There was a funny moment when Dr. Peters was showing someone how to do an EKG. The nurse said to me, "Look, he is not wearing any gloves." I had to tell him that it was not necessary for him to wear gloves when doing an EKG. I can sympathize with the nurse. Imagine having to change a habit that you had been doing everyday for over 20 years. It is like someone telling you that you had to wear shoes on your hands instead of your feet.

I have to do some damage control. Apparently one of the students that writes to me is upset that I never mention her in my letters. I recently sent them a men's hat and scarf and a blue burqa. Here is her letter.

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Hello Stephanie. Thanks for writing. I am glad that I am helping you to learn about different cultures. I have also enjoyed learning about Afghanistan. Say hello to everyone for me.

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Take Care.