Today was a bit of a stressful day in class. My students were particularly rowdy and the class was a bit too long and the subject complicated . Every ten seconds or so it seemed, one student or another would raise his hand to ask a question about something that I would cover in the next segment or so. It gets to be a bit taxing. But it's still fun and I enjoy the give and take of the class that I am privileged to instruct. It's not rocket science that I instruct. It's simple policy and procedure simplified and distilled for a society that has yet to enter the information age.Oftentimes, I think it would be simpler to launch them into automated systems rather than these dumbed down manual systems that we emplace. But...I'm not one of the big dogs who make these decisions. So I roll with it. After class ends for the day and I've said Khoda Hafez. And after the few loitering Officers have made their final exit for the day, Shoab (my interpretor) and I walk out of the Regional Police Headquarters (RHQ) and head back over to the Regional Police Training Center (RTC) where I bunk down each night. As we are walking out the gate to the RHQ, Shoaib asks me if I mind waiting a bit. There's a small shop outside the gate and he wants to grab a pack of smokes. I tell Shoaib that I don't mind, but, I'm not waiting. I'm going with him.He shrugs his shoulders as if to say suit yourself. We walk out the gate and around the HESCO barriers. Outside there is a small mud brick shack about the size of a small closet in a house in the states or one of those stalls on Sukhumvit Road that sell t-shirts and boot leg DVDs. We walk towards it and I'm expecting to see some old toothless Afghan fella inside peddling smokes, warm Pepsi and assorted other small goods. Instead, I'm greeted by two of the cutest, most adorable little children that I've seen in Afghanistan. Jalil and Narihabi. We walk in and Shoaib asks for a pack of smokes. Seven Stars. A Japanese brand. Narihabi, the little girl, hands him a pack. When Shoaib tries to pay, the little gal refuses payment. Later Shoaib asks if I noticed her refusal of payment. I said that I had. Shoaib tells me that it was a courtesy aimed towards me. Little things like that happen all the time. There are some wonderful people here in Afghanistan. All the while this transaction is occurring, the little boy, Jalil, is murmuring over and over again. I think that he's shyly speaking Dari to me. I can't make it out. But he's a cute little bubba and I give him the attention that he is craving. Afterwards, I ask Shoaib what little Jalil was saying. Turns out he was saying; "Hello! Fine, Thank you!" over and over again. lol I was listening for Dari and completely missed the English words.

I can't remember how to spell it but I ask his sister and him their names and I tell them that I am "Dawood Khan." I ask them how they are and a few other things. Each time asking  Shoaibjan how to say it as I invariably screw up pronunciation. I've been lazy over here and haven't put the effort into learning the language. So while, often times, I can understand a conversation. I most often can not reply correctly.We grab our smokes. I trade the little girl a 20 Af note for about 16 Afs in change because I want the coins to send home to my nieces and nephews. Then...I remember that I have my camera with me. I ask the girl if she minds if I take their pictures. They're so adorable, courteous and polite that I want to share the experience with family and friends. She grants me permission and I snap off a few shots. We all shake hands and giggle and smile a bit over our little encounter. Finally, Shoaib and I depart with wishes of good health and the always stated khoda hafez (God protect you.)As we are walking away, I ask Shoaib if their father would mind if they had pictures of themselves. He says that he thinks it would be ok. So we make plans to print a couple of pics. Those will probably be the only pictures that the family will ever have of their children. So it's something that I definitely will make happen.Shoaib and I head to lunch. In the Dining Facility, there are chocolate chip cookies and peaches and oranges. I think of the kids. After we finish eating, I ask how often an average Afghan eats fruit and cookies and the like. Shoaib tells me that the kids probably get fruit once a week and probably have never had a chocolate chip cookie. I walk back into the Dining Facility and pocket a few pieces of fruit and a couple of Chocolate Chip Cookies.I make a pretense of needing to see the Regional Commander and walk back over to the RHQ. On the way, I drop the fruit and cookies off to the kids. Jalil quickly accepts my offerings. Naraihabi at first demures out of politeness. But, after a bit of insistence, she smiles and accepts. The kids tell us tashakor and all the while little Jalil is saying; "Fine, Thank you. Hello...." Cutest thing on earth.I actually did need to see the Commander and got certificates signed for my terps--Shoaib, Wahid and Farhad. Certificates of Appreciation signed by the Regional Commander Major General Akrummuddeen. General AK is probably the 3rd most powerful dude in Western Afghanistan. And he's cool. Always with the smirky smile and an offer of a cup of tea and a chair on a long worn out day. He's a Hajji as he's made the pilgrimage to Mekkah. And he's rightfully proud of this. And as a Muslim, he should be. Dude will sign damn near anything I put in front of him. lol I've had pics taken with him and he signed it to my mother and my uncle who's a cop. Always takes time for old Dawood. haha So the day went well. We got through our class. I met two adorable little kids. And I was able to get much deserved recognition for my terps that we will present to them at the next graduation ceremony. They're all three great guys who bust their asses and make things happen for my team.All in all a great day.Below are pics of adorable little Narihabi and her little brother Jalil with their infectious little smiles...sometimes I love this place.

They are adorable...and they sound like a lovely people over there.

Yes, they look really adorable. According to their hospitality and how they look like I would guess they are from Meymaneh or the region around Meymaneh.

btw.. nice to see that you aren't the "American" I thought you would be.

is that peps at the shopi? i like the first pic look good, nice & cute

They're Heratis. I'd have adopted them if I could have. lol

Dude, I love everyone. I love to mess with people just as much. When people like Hobbes throw their stereotypes at me, I throw them right back. You just happened to jump in the middle of it. Sometimes...better to step back and watch.

yeap, Afghans seem to be Pepsi folks. Mountain Dew in there as well.

Tomas -- hahaha....I told my gf that I would get that reaction. Told her people would accuse her of ghost writing. lol

Usually I step back and watch.. but you insulted all Germans with you posts. I was never interested to participate the "religion" part.

America gets insulted every third thread on TF...lol

Nice story and nice pics there Jackdaniels. Nice to see a part of the world depicted abit differently than the mainstream input we get from Afghanistan. Heard about their hospitallity, that it really should be out of this world.

You don't get it ;-)

There's is a difference between insuling the politics or the residents of a country.

But it's okay.

btw.. looks like PeBsi. A local fake Coca Cola/ Pepsi Coke.

Try Mirinda it's awesome.. tastes like the Israeli Fanta.

such a lovely story . They both look so cute. I can bet that lil gal.she must be really beautiful girl when she grow up. She has a really cute face.and the boy also.

Mmmmm... I wanna try peBsi....lol...

I have had some friends working over there and they have nothing but good things to say about the Afghans. Good luck and God bless.

nice story i am over here also. the children are the best hope for the afghanistan. great pics

richar1, yes they are. The youth must overcome the conservative ideology and resistance to change of the older generations. God willing, they'll persevere and Afghanistan will see a better day.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

and the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp,

and the weaned child shall put a hand on the adder?s den.

They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain:

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea [isa. 11:6, 8-9].

wow, so great, i have a shop too, but looks different to them, hope they are doing all right there :-)

very cute

hate the sand box

not really a sandbox up here...lots of green. lots of sand, mountains, forests, rivers, greenery....we've got it all.