Every Friday from 10 – 4, local Afghan venders are permitted to set up shop in one of our parking lots to sell their wares. Afghanistan is most famous for their rugs, scarfs, gems, and lapis, a blue stone that is carved into just about anything.
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You know how I say that every day is Tuesday? Well, Fridays are actually more like Wednesday, in that they are not as bad as Tuesday. The contractors and the local nationals that work with me are off, so the office is fairly quiet. We use the day to catch up on things in the office and take it a bit easier. Another thing we do on Fridays is attend the weekly Afghan Bazaar. Every Friday from 10 – 4, local Afghan venders are permitted to set up shop in one of our parking lots to sell their wares. Afghanistan is most famous for their rugs, scarfs, gems, and lapis, a blue stone that is carved into just about anything. However, the busiest vendors are the ones selling DVDs and software. You can pick up any movie (even the ones still in the theaters) for 100 Afghanis a piece (about $2.00). Box sets of TV shows sell for 50 Afghanis ($1) a disc. I picked up NCIS seasons 1 – 7, a 41-disc set, for $40. Amazon is currently selling it for $160. Yeah, they are bootlegs, but so far the only issue I’ve found is that disc 4 of season one is really disc 5 and disc 5 is really disc 4…not too bad for 75% off the retail price. The hardest part of the bazaar is the haggling. The price that they tell you isn’t the lowest price you can pay, so you haggle. It is known that the vendors are actually knowledgeable about the military rank structure, so the final price depends on what rank they see you are wearing. Being a Major they don’t give me the best deals, however I know that I am always paying too much anyway since I’m not good at this bargaining game. I could really use my sister Jodie here for her expert shopping skills! The bottom line is the bazaar allows me time away from my desk and makes Fridays a bit more bearable. This alone is worth paying 250 Afghanis instead of 150 Afghanis for a bracelet due to my awful negotiation skills.
9 Comments
Timmy
12/14/2011 07:41:07 am
Maybe you can find a counterfeit ticket home at a good price.
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layla
12/14/2011 08:52:06 am
I like timmys idea
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Cathy
12/14/2011 09:20:44 am
Shopping is always the answer!
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Jodie
12/14/2011 01:44:58 pm
Well said Cathy.
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Hoot
12/14/2011 05:28:08 pm
I must have one of those "keep the change" patches in the last photo. I will be thinking of you, I am only about 48 hrs from being on American soil. Keep your head down! Love ya!
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12/15/2011 09:32:40 am
I still have some old bootleg cassettes from back in the day from Dubai, Bahrain,....I just remember them sayin' when you come back, don't get caught with multiple copies of the same material. Variety is the spice of life and will keep you out of the 'revenuers' wrath! Dateline ABC News had a spot about us leavin' Iraq and Afghanistan isn't too far behind. They almost always carry at least a quick story about our war which I like about them--that news group doesn't forget we're still there. Just think, you almost missed your chance to go over there before we return that God Forsaken place to local management.
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Pamela Vineyard Boucher
12/25/2011 03:54:37 am
Happy Holidays, Gerri! You are never far from our thoughts and we wish you a safe, peaceful, and Joyous New Year. Loved the autographed laptop - way cool, but... Hello Kitty? Thanks for posting photos and sharing your story. Every day, you are one day closer to coming home!!!
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mama mia mack
12/27/2011 03:03:22 am
just ate at dinkys. tim had a beer for you. we're at your favorite library. you friend isnt here. it's snowing.
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m l mack
1/17/2012 03:10:36 am
I like your purple room. Looks like the "Ritz".
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GerriI'm a Major in the Air Force with 18 years of active duty service. I found out that I will be deploying to Afghanistan for 1 year starting Sept 11. Archives
January 2012
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