Good Strangers and Terrorists

Here are some random and unconnected thoughts about the place I now live.  Today I was riding my bike along a trail at the base of the Margala Hills.  OK, yes I was riding alone again.  Not that it matters.  Anyway I had been riding for over an hour and probably looked pretty crappy given the 108 degree temp.  So along I ride on a flat section of trail and I notice 50 meters ahead a local collecting fire wood.  He had several stacks of 2 to 3 in diameter by 3 ft long branches.  These were laying at the edge of the trail.  His motorcycle was on the trail and another bundle was already placed behind the seat.  I was unclipping because I figured I’d have to walk my bike to get past him.  When he saw me, first he moved the bundles from the trail, and then he removed the bundle from his bike so I could make it past.  I thanked him as I rode by.  He was so polite and cared about not inconveniencing as total stranger.  It is small encounters like that that make me appreciate my neighbors. 

But, this is still not the safest of places for Americans.  There are standing threats from the TTP.  Terrorist acts happen every day in Pakistan.  Luckily they generally don’t take place in Islamabad.  So when we travel on official business to nearby cities it is with military escorts carrying H&K G3 battle rifles.  We move about on official business in up armored Chevy Suburbans.  They tend to stand out, unfortunately.  Around town we drive locally leased vehicles, low profile = safe.  Still whenever I pull onto our street I scan the parked cars for anything that looks out of place.  It’s a rather odd habit and it still catches me off guard when I do so.