The Pit

Within the walls of the U.S. Embassy compound in Kabul is a secret society of civil servants that congregate on weekends around a roaring fire that burns in "The Pit". Due to the elevation of Kabul, the temperature drops quite a bit from its daytime high and the fire makes the outdoor party bearable. In the three Thursday nights since I arrived the crowd around "The Pit" has hovered around the 50 - 60 attendee mark. A pretty significant crowd at any fiesta, but remarkable here in Kabul.

There are always the same familiar faces (which I think mine is becoming one of them) that attend religously each week and then there are the - "just stopping in for a beer" crowd or the "just arrived from such and such TDY" group. Regardless, the conversation is always jovial and morale is high. The one common joke that is heard throughout the compound is: "It could be worse, we could be in Iraq".

Sometimes there is food, sometimes there isn't. The only thing that really runs strong is the comraderie and the ability to start a conversation with anyone around "The Pit". The conversation normally starts like this: "How long have you been here?" Once the determination of whose been in country longer (a sort of invisible higherarchy to this bacchanalian society) and where each person works - the conversation continues with simple small talk (i.e. where are you from in the states? are you married? children?). Sharing of a cold beverage is mandatory and very few around "The Pit" are consuming beverages of the softer variation since you know those folks can't be trusted. At least that's what we believe in the Attache world. Beers or your favorite mix are sold for $2.00 a pop and the fire is kept roaring by a whole host of volunteers. Wood is normally "acquired" from the various construction projects going on around teh compound or from the daily arrival of crates containing one's household effects.

I imagine I'll be a regular to "The Pit" since our compound doesn't have a bar or rec center that is open all the time and I am a true socialite, even in the austere conditions of Afghanistan :). Thursday remember is the end to the normal work week so beers and stories go on until the wee hours of the morning and as it gets later, it gets colder and the fire gets bigger. I think we had flames shooting out of the top of the chimney (a good 20 feet in the air) the first Thursday I was here. This is truly a great way to unwind after the normal 16 hour days all week long and it reminds me of my youth when we'd celebrate to the rough life of high school on a dirt road with massive bonfires. If only I knew then what I know now, the stories sure would have been better. - until the next installment, keep on keepin on.