Three more days in Yukon

Remembrance Day

I really notice now how I am appreciating almost everything; food, family, trees, mountains, snow, time with my dog on the trails, the cold on my face, etc. I have been biking and now walking to work, enjoying the freedom to walk, because in Kabul, I may not be able to walk more than 100 m. I am getting nervous and anxious with days to go. For the first time I have become emotional about leaving my wife and kids for a long time. I have been so wrapped up by getting ready that I have not given time to reflect. I am going to miss them all so much... their day to day happenings, ups and downs. This is going to be very hard for me. I am going to miss the family dinners on Sunday and their banter, going to miss biking with my dog Chango, going to miss my friends and the gym at Peak Fitness. This morning, I ran into a CDN soldier at Tim Horton's and while waiting in line asked him if he had been to Afghanistan and like most of all the Canadian soldiers, "yes", he replied. I mentioned, I was about to go over and do humanitarian aid work with an international NGO. He was surprised and asked who was providing the military support for me. I replied, there was no military support, as the optics of military association and humanitarian aid was not a good mix. "Keep your head down and good luck", he replied.

On the eve of leaving, I miss having the late Dr. Paz Buttedahl of Royal Roads University available to chat with. She was a big influence for me. In the days remaining, trying to catch up with friends and final packing.

Three more days in my government office and then it's time to experience the world of an international non-government organization.