I have been traveling less lately with the Ambassador since I switched to the Spokesperson role - and I miss it. I don't miss waking up at 5:30 am to get to the airport. I don't miss lugging body armor around or worrying that we aren't getting the right story. But I do miss talking to the journalists and meeting people in the provinces, checking in with friends who are posted at PRTs, and feeling like I am in the game. At the embassy, I am doing a lot and seeing how the policy is made, but I am not in the field working with the Afghans. And being out there, seeing our programs and our efforts to make Afghan lives better is a good reminder of why we came. So I am hoping before my tour ends to get out a few more times..there is so much more to see.
