I had lunch with the Afghans today.

Because of the remoteness of our work location, MPRI pays to have lunch catered for our drivers and interpreters. Once in a while, I like to walk behind the warehouse to one of the two buildings in which they eat, and join them. I think this helps foster a good working environment, but more importantly, I am able to test the quality of food being served and illustrate to the vendor that I’m watching.

Typically, it is delicious, although I have had a few reports of bad meat.

Today we had the standard naan bread and Afghan rice with carrots, raisins, french fries, and meat. There was beef kabobs, fresh vegetables, yogurt, fruit, and soft drinks.

Interesting side note. There is a TV in the small room where the drivers stay during the day and eat their lunch. After we finished eating, the news came on. It was in Dari so I don’t know what was being said, but they flashed pictures of Palin, McCain, and Obama. A small political discussion ensued with me and a roomful of Afghans. Keep in mind that the future of their country rides on this election. They were avid supporters of McCain, even though his running mate is female and they think Obama is a Muslim. Hmm…

One of our contractors, David Bremer, is going home. Today GEN Azizuddin, the ANA G-4, arranged a lunch for him. It was delicious.

The stuff wrapped in newspaper is lamb chunks in a piece of flat bread called na'an. There's more na'an, kinda ribbed looking, on plates around the table. There is mantu, which is sort of a meat-filled dumpling covered in yogurt that is wonderful. There was another meat dish that I couldn't identify. On two of the larger platters are a bunch of vegetables, along with a sort of meatball with a hard-boiled egg in the center. The three dishes with a white, yellow, and red something is a thick and sweet pudding.

Not visible are three huge dishes of rice with shredded carrots and raisins.

Dinner was followed by fresh fruit: apples, oranges, and bananas.

Before and after the meal we had the mandatory hot tea called chai.

Out.