During Nowruz, the Persian New Year, soldiers patrolled and slept on the rooftops in the center of Mazar-i-SharifAs an independent contractor, Partensky traveled freely around Afghanistan with credentials that allowed him access to U.S. Army bases, but he also "had the local garb and faithful friends" to guide him around the interior of the country.

 

Partensky agreed to share snapshots of his life in Afghanistan with Business Insider and if nothing else, they're a reminder that Afghanistan is almost impossible to define.

 

 

As an independent contractor, Partensky traveled freely around Afghanistan with credentials that allowed him access to U.S. Army bases, but he also "had the local garb and faithful friends" to guide him around the interior of the country.

Partensky agreed to share snapshots of his life in Afghanistan with Business Insider and if nothing else, they're a reminder that Afghanistan is almost impossible to define.

 

 

No weapons are allowed in the hospital, but many places have lockers where you can check them in

No weapons are allowed in the hospital, but many places have lockers where you can check them in{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Kids become comfortable with guns at an early age — here they are with Afghan soldiers, who are guarding a populated intersection in Mazar-i-Sharif during the Persian New Year

Kids become comfortable with guns at an early age — here they are with Afghan soldiers, who are guarding a populated intersection in Mazar-i-Sharif during the Persian New Year{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

During Nowruz, the Persian New Year, soldiers patrolled and slept on the rooftops in the center of Mazar-i-Sharif

During Nowruz, the Persian New Year, soldiers patrolled and slept on the rooftops in the center of Mazar-i-Sharif{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

This is the son of a gun shop owner who sells mostly Soviet made shotguns — they're happy to take you behind the counter to show you more if you ask

This is the son of a gun shop owner who sells mostly Soviet made shotguns — they're happy to take you behind the counter to show you more if you ask{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Bigger Afghan cities tend to have underground "Bush Markets" where stuff that "falls off the back of the truck" like these MREs intended for American troops are sold for as little as 20 cents

Bigger Afghan cities tend to have underground "Bush Markets" where stuff that "falls off the back of the truck" like these MREs intended for American troops are sold for as little as 20 cents{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

You can get anything at the "Bush Markets," though ISAF has cracked down on the sales of Army uniforms — this is a body builder's stall in the Kabul market

You can get anything at the "Bush Markets," though ISAF has cracked down on the sales of Army uniforms — this is a body builder's stall in the Kabul market{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

I bought army boots from this Bush Mar­ket stall — I smelled hashish when we walked in, but I didn't expect the shop ­keeper to take a break from bargaining to toke on an apple core bowl

I bought army boots from this Bush Mar­ket stall — I smelled hashish when we walked in, but I didn't expect the shop ­keeper to take a break from bargaining to toke on an apple core bowl{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

This rug shop, which accepts American Express, is located in the old quarter of Herat

This rug shop, which accepts American Express, is located in the old quarter of Herat{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

This beggar in Herat suffers from elephantiasis, which afflicts over 120 million people, primarily in Africa and South-East Asia

This beggar in Herat suffers from elephantiasis, which afflicts over 120 million people, primarily in Africa and South-East Asia{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

During a picnic at the walls of the ancient city of Balkh, "Sheikh" (center right) unfurled the red carpet and served us fatty lamb, flat bread, sugary tea and Coca Cola

During a picnic at the walls of the ancient city of Balkh, "Sheikh" (center right) unfurled the red carpet and served us fatty lamb, flat bread, sugary tea and Coca Cola{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

You can get a haircut on the street for $1 — this one involved a straight razor

You can get a haircut on the street for $1 — this one involved a straight razor{{all}}

Hameed Tasal

For my second haircut, I got a full treatment at a salon allegedly run by a gay hairdresser, which involved 13 beauty products and tonics. The guy in the yellow tarp remarked that the amount of vanity I have to indulge in this service is "shameful even for a woman"!

For my second haircut, I got a full treatment at a salon allegedly run by a gay hairdresser, which involved 13 beauty products and tonics. The guy in the yellow tarp remarked that the amount of vanity I have to indulge in this service is "shameful even for a woman"!{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

View north from the roof of our home in Jalalabad: green fields, the Kabul river (hidden), golden hills and then the beginning of the Hindu Kush

View north from the roof of our home in Jalalabad: green fields, the Kabul river (hidden), golden hills and then the beginning of the Hindu Kush{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

To cross the river, you have to take a "ferry" — the passenger is one of the guards from our compound who came along for a hike

To cross the river, you have to take a "ferry" — the passenger is one of the guards from our compound who came along for a hike{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

The guard on the right had just finished trimming his mustache with this razor — Our guards were paid $200 a month, of which $50 went directly to the strongman who had brokered their hire

The guard on the right had just finished trimming his mustache with this razor — Our guards were paid $200 a month, of which $50 went directly to the strongman who had brokered their hire{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Our guest house manager, Mehrab said that cotton gin operators were frequently mis-identified as militants with large weapons and were blasted from Soviet helicopters

Our guest house manager, Mehrab said that cotton gin operators were frequently mis-identified as militants with large weapons and were blasted from Soviet helicopters{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Instead of an iPod, workers in the field bring their song birds to entertain them through the day

Instead of an iPod, workers in the field bring their song birds to entertain them through the day{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

There aren't enough schools, so much of the learning happens outdoors on "carpet classrooms"

There aren't enough schools, so much of the learning happens outdoors on "carpet classrooms"{{all}}

Louisa Bukiet

Pre-game prayer huddle — I coached a team from Jalalabad to a national tournament in Kabul

Pre-game prayer huddle — I coached a team from Jalalabad to a national tournament in Kabul {{all}}

Peretz Partensky

My Afghan translator Haji Najib Bismil, who had grown up as an Afghan orphan in the Soviet Union, goes for a layup at a PRT base

My Afghan translator Haji Najib Bismil, who had grown up as an Afghan orphan in the Soviet Union, goes for a layup at a PRT base{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

This is the Jalalabad-Kabul Highway — this section has been called "the most dangerous road in the world"

This is the Jalalabad-Kabul Highway — this section has been called "the most dangerous road in the world"{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Ornate "Jingle Trucks" from Pakistan are among the most common vehicles on the road

Ornate "Jingle Trucks" from Pakistan are among the most common vehicles on the road{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Along the road vendors sell freshly caught Kabul river fish or scavenged mountain flora

Along the road vendors sell freshly caught Kabul river fish or scavenged mountain flora{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

View of the hills of Kabul from TV mountain — since Kabul is among the world's highest capitals, the winters are bitter and snowy

View of the hills of Kabul from TV mountain — since Kabul is among the world's highest capitals, the winters are bitter and snowy{{all}}

Peretz Partensky

Downed Soviet Mi-8 helicopter — decades old war debris is commonplace in the countryside, especially the Panjshir Valley

Downed Soviet Mi-8 helicopter — decades old war debris is commonplace in the countryside, especially the Panjshir Valley{{all}}