The one suitcase I had some worries about, the one I paid 200 dollars for to ship along to Dubai, failed me indeed. When it did not turn up on the belt a Delta representative told me that it had opened during the journey and the police was checking it to make sure it was OK to return to me. Delta was so kind to wrap the whole thing in a large sturdy plastic bag.
At the hotel I repacked everything and gifted the suitcase to Mr. Sheen, an Indian gentleman who works in the hotel and fetched my luggage. He was quite happy with the suitcase even though I told him the locks did not work all that well (but apparently well enough for him).
I was 40 kg over the weight limit when I checked in with Safi Airways and was charged a hefty 250 dollars to transport everything to Kabul; that brings the total cost of moving my affairs to Kabul to 450 dollars. Axel was probably right that sending a shipment might have been worth it after all.
At Dubai airport I did something I have never done here before: I bought a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of gin. I expect these to last us for awhile. The Afghan customs official did not blink, if he noticed at all. I am sure they are used to foreigners bringing in alcohol.
It’s dinner time now in the guesthouse but everything across the yard in the other house is dark. It is a bit lonely as my housemate Steve is in Pakistan. It is also weekend so it’s ‘help-yourself’ dinner; I haven’t surveyed the refrigerators yet but I am sure there are some interesting leftovers.
The suitcases are unpacked and internet connection established. I am ready to tackle my first assignment: reviewing one more time the work plan for project years 4 and 5 before retiring for the night.
Sylvia's Journal 
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