Postcard from Afghanistan
Posted October 29, 2009
Hello Norfolk District,
On Oct. 11, I arrived in Afghanistan. I got over jet lag early last week, which has thus far proven to be the most challenging thing about being in Afghanistan. My first couple of days here, I averaged only about 2-3 hours of sleep per night. After that, I gained an additional hour each night.
I'm responsible for all current and future construction projects on the compound I am staying at, as well as for maintenance and repair contracts outside the scope of logistics. I'm also the project manager for construction, maintenance and repair contracts for all Afghanistan engineer district field sites.
After a five-day transition with the outgoing project manager, I'm hitting the ground running. The work is challenging and rewarding. The accommodations are good – my room has a college atmosphere, including a telephone with a local Stateside exchange number, and a desktop computer with internet access. We can call our families every day. The food in the dining facility is good and plentiful so I hit the gym every morning. I am confident that this experience will be a great one.
Herman J. Wine, PMP
Qalaa House Program Manager
Updated: 02-Nov-2009