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I have missed this place.
Jul. 25th, 2006 08:29 pmNot Asadabad specifically. Or even Eastern Afghanistan in general - it's not the nicest part of the country by a long shot. I'd so much rather be in the north - Balkh or Jowzjan. (That may be because I prefer friendly Uzbeks to hyper-aggressive Taliban-loving Pashtuns. I may possibly be prejudiced.)
But I've missed this part of the world. I think back and I've spent a lot of time in one 'Stan or another, with Mistra or with the Pack. I know the cultures. I've got a solid handle on the languages - or at least, anything related to Russian or Farsi. I know its history. I've climbed entirely too many of its mountains.
I don't feel comfortable right here and now in Asadabad, but I suspect that's a function of the broken arm and the broken powers. But I do feel right here.
I'm not really American, whatever the legal passport I finally have says. I've spent most of my life outside the country, and I don't remember growing up in Alaska. Even when I was going to university in New Mexico twenty years ago between Mistra missions and pretending to fit in, I didn't feel like a part of the culture around me, not really. Mistra's fault, I suppose. They trained me to be someone who could move between cultures easily and pass for a native where my appearance permitted. I was very good at it. In a lot of places.
But over here was the first part of the world where I didn't feel like I was just playing a role. Funny how that sort of realization sneaks up on you.
But I've missed this part of the world. I think back and I've spent a lot of time in one 'Stan or another, with Mistra or with the Pack. I know the cultures. I've got a solid handle on the languages - or at least, anything related to Russian or Farsi. I know its history. I've climbed entirely too many of its mountains.
I don't feel comfortable right here and now in Asadabad, but I suspect that's a function of the broken arm and the broken powers. But I do feel right here.
I'm not really American, whatever the legal passport I finally have says. I've spent most of my life outside the country, and I don't remember growing up in Alaska. Even when I was going to university in New Mexico twenty years ago between Mistra missions and pretending to fit in, I didn't feel like a part of the culture around me, not really. Mistra's fault, I suppose. They trained me to be someone who could move between cultures easily and pass for a native where my appearance permitted. I was very good at it. In a lot of places.
But over here was the first part of the world where I didn't feel like I was just playing a role. Funny how that sort of realization sneaks up on you.
