Day 103: First Day on the Job

One of the most difficult days of any job is probably the first day. Now it isn’t difficult because you do much. Typically there are orientation meetings, paperwork to fill out, people to meet and tours of your new workspace. It is difficult only in the sense that you are thrown into a completely new environment, with new people, and a job you don’t really know how to do.

That was my experience today. Not only am I starting a new job, but I am doing something completely different from anything I have done before. My job is to mentor members of the Afghan National Police medical force. I will be ordering supplies, helping determine what equipment to buy, figuring out how a clinic should be designed--all stuff I never learned in residency. No longer will I be taking care of patients, but instead I will be advising “doctors” (a lot of the doctors aren’t really doctors apparently) how to fix their broken healthcare system. Hence, today was a day filled with questions, confusion, more questions, and of course more confusion. The real problem was that I didn’t know to whom I could address any of my questions. My predecessor is gone and the rest of the guys in the office do “real Army” stuff.

So I spent the day calling random people, sifting through piles of paper, and searching on our work computer for clues about what I am here to do. Oh well, at least the first day is over--it can only get easier from here (I think?).

Here is a picture of my new living accommodations. I have my own room--well sort of. I live in a long building call a B-hut. The rooms consist of plywood partitions that separate one living area from the next. It’s not the Ritz Carlton but at least I finally have a little space to call my own.