The Workshop

As mentioned previously, the ASMED project training site is located at Shar-i-Now, Chicken Street in the Shams Market. Mr. Haji Mohamed Gul is the Director of Afghan Emerald Co. and head of the Association partnering with DAI. The association has provided space on the 4th floor of the market. The four rooms are secured for one year which concludes in 2012. The training area is actually quite spacious by Afghan standards. Any of you metalheads would be thrilled to have the square footage. Maybe not by the accomodations. It's woefully underpowered and largely unlit. There are a half dozen low-watt CFL bulbs dangling by wires from the ceiling. Power outtages are common. Of course it not being the U.S. the electricity is 220 volts so all our "made in America" electronics don't match up. More about that later. It's also stiflingly hot with little ventilation. There is no water, in or out . The toilet is one floor up and , well, it's Afghanistan...We'll use dry-sink protocol and make-do.

The jewelry room is wired with a dozen outlets, some of which are 6 to 8 feet from the benches. We must use extension cords and surge protector/power strips to reach. We will also be required to use step-down power converters (read: The Arrival). Two curious portable A/C units mysteriously appeared during the second week of design training. They require a special three-prong outlet. There being none available, copper wire was stripped of insulation and wrapped "hot wire" around the prongs. The other wire ends were merely shoved into the outlet. Field conditions! At least the unit moved some "cooler" air. Now if we can get the second one going...

Last Wednesday the equipment finally arrived. The best day yet! We spent several hours checking inventory against the manifest; lo and behold, it was all there. That is, everything that was ordered arrived. Of course I forgot a few things. None all that critical or season ending. We'll make adjustments.

Jim over-exerted a little on Wednesday so we took it easy as he rested up. The environment is so dry and it is at 6,000 ft. above sea level, so it's easy to become dehydrated without warning. On the down day I worked on refining my lesson plans. After the Friday holy day/day off we hit it again and got the unpacking nearly completed. Still much to do before a jewelry session can take place. Details are too numerous to list here but they will all be crossed off. Monday, August 1st is another Holy Day, First Day of Ramazan (as it's said in Dari). There will be no training. Hopefully, enough of the rough spots in the work space will be smoothed over and training can begin in earnest on Tuesday.

Due to the religious restrictions of the Holy Month (August), during which nothing may be consumed fom before sunrise until after sunset, our training periods will be shortened. We'll have only two hours each morning from 9 to 11 a.m. with alternating groups of 10 over a six day week. I am hopeful, as the students are all experienced makers, that the time will be enough to learn new and more advanced techniques. We can only do what we can do. Inshalla.

Next : Shopping trip--Camels on my Feet