My Sister's Project

Many people ask me , "What does your sister do in Afghanistan, is she in the military?" My sister, Leah April, works for BearPoint Management & Technowledgy Consultants. BearingPoint received a $218 million contract from USAID for capacity building in key public and private sectors in Afghanistan. BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE: BE) is one of the world's largest providers of management and technology consulting services to Global 2000 companies and government organizations in 60 countries worldwide. Based in McLean, Va., the firm has over 17,000 employees and major practice areas focusing on the Public Services, Financial Services and Commercial Services markets.

Leah is heading up the Public Sector portion of the USAID Capacity Building Progrm. The Public Sector component is dedicated to developing competencies and capabilities in the ministries, agencies and employees of the Government of Afghanistan that will lead to sustained and self-generating improvement of the services they provide to all citizens.

Leah has been in and out of Afghanistan for about three years.

News Isn't Good

Summer is the fighting season and attacks by the Taliban are picking up in the south and eastern areas. Taliban tactics have changed according to the Supreme NATO commander. They are targeting westerners and civilians by way of suicide bombings and roadside bombs.

My plan is to see what the next month brings. I'll make an assessment when I get to Dubai. At that point if things are unstable in Kabul, then I will stay in Dubai and use it as a base to go elsewhere.

Received My VISA

My VISA cam from the Afghan Embassy. It only took three days.

Booked My Flights

Wow, that really hurt my pocket book! I ordered my tickets. I fly from Philadelphia to Atlanta to Dubai to Kabul. Thr return trip is Kabul to Dubai to Paris to Philadelphia.

Preparations

On June 4, I received my immunization shots which included: Hepatitis A & B, Tetanus, and Typhoid Fever. I also completed my VISA application and mailed it off to the Afghan Embassy in Washington.