One picture shows the first clouds I've seen since landing in Kyrgyzstan on August 29. Otherwise, it has been cloudless and very sunny. You tan and burn very quickly at this altitude (3500 feet), especially taking an antibiotic that sensitizes the skin to sunshine. I will keep taking the antibiotic while I'm here as a protection against malaria. They get a bit of rain and snow in the winter, but not much. The coldest days of winter will have lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's. Shirt sleeve weather for Michiganders.
One shot shows the effort to add a bit of green around here. Local workers spend each day planting new bushes and trees. The picture also shows the old style of gravity irrigation with long trenches connecting each plant.
Next is my own personal living space in our hootch, aka B hut. I get about a 8x9 area. I paid for the closet on the left to be built by locals, $30 materials and labor. It has a new mattress and I use the top bunk for storage. My space is half of one of 8 rooms in our 65x20 hut.
Finally, is the local version of a WC. It is what it looks like, a porcelin hole in the ground for squatting and a hose nearby for "flushing". Fortunately, we have the standard American style on our camp. Our facilities are quite clean and comfy; just have to go outside to get to them since they are in conexes (like shipping containers) and not attached to the B huts.
3 comments:
The squatter "toilet". I've seen them all over Asia, even in the rich developed parts. Imagine using one on a moving train. I've happily managed to not use one in many years.
Out of curiosity - are the locals Shia or Sunni? I always thought Afghans were Sunni, but you did mention Iran has some influence over the area where you are.
As for football: glad you've got OSU guys to make fun of. The Big Ten does look like the weakest major conference this year, though.
My aim got pretty good after a summer in Pakistan with such facilities. In the village we were in, the pastor we stayed with had the only septic tank in the village - so we felt blessed to have even this much accommodation.
A good nickname would be squatty-potty.
I believe most Afghans are Sunni with a 20% minority of Shia. Not sure locally since Iran is close by and heavily Shia. The soldiers are intentionally a mixed group from all over the country to prevent clan, ethnic and religious problems. They are all observing Ramadan.
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