Imagine driving in a large city with a LOT of traffic and every driver has the attitude that his/her destination is the most important.  Yesterday Zabi took me to meet his mother and his sister, across town.  And every driver is focused on his destination, honking and passing whenever or wherever he needs to.  Zabi even chose to drive on a stretch of road in the wrong direction at one point when that side of the road had less traffic.  Needless to say, I was biting my nails and observing as much as possible.  It was an unforgettable event.  As he drove across town, I saw many cars, taxis, rickshaws driven by scooters, scooters, pedestrians, donkeys, sheep, vendors pushing large carts full of tomatoes or grapes, cows, beggars and all kinds of shops!  It is amazing to me to find, for example, all of the jewelry shops in the same location, lined up next to each other.  And when we went to purchase a glass pitcher, we went to the “dishes” section of shops, all next to each other and all selling virtually the same things but will negotiate the price. 

 

The women of different cities dress differently – sigh.  I was very thankful to Awagul for bringing me the traditional dress of Jalalabad.  I was especially glad that it fit me.  The women here are very small.  Yesterday I bought the traditional covering for women of Herat.  And while in Kabul, I should be okay to just wear a scarf over my head.    

Please consider this a "status update" as I cannot access Facebook right now.  I keep getting a message that the server can't be found.  Sigh... This is Afghanistan.  Things are going well - more later.

Buying groceries

The Afghani people buy local and fresh!  In fact, before each meal, Hekmat asks me what I need and he goes out to get it.  Fresh milk, yogurt, meat and veggies at my fingertips.  The shops are all very close and the food is fresh each day.  There is also a shop where they sell "foreign" types of food.  So, yesterday, when I needed just a few things from the shops, we asked Zabi to go for us because Hekmat was out at a picnic for the day.  I wrote my list and then Zabi confirmed with me what the items were and rewrote them in Dari!  

Yesterday we went shopping!  The driver first stopped to change US$ to Afghani - with a man on the street.  I was surprised that he didn't go into a bank.  Then we went to a sort of shopping mall where there are stores for men and stores for women, usually not the same store.  In fact, most of the stores are very content specific.  I bought a shirt that is "more appropriate" for me to be seen in when we are out in public.  Next, we went to a grocery store where I found Olive Oil, cocoa powder and salami!  I wonder how salami will taste on pizza.  We then went in search of baking pans because I want to make Moussaka, brownies, and other casseroles.  They don't have many but I did find some glass dishes that can be used.  Finally, we bought a bath towel.  

Last night we ate outside on the veranda, like a picnic.  We sat on a mat with cushions brought from inside.  Hekmat cooked chicken pilau and rice.  It was delicious!!  See the photo of him serving it up in the kitchen to bring to the "table".  I was surprised to see him using the floor as a countertop!

I'm preparing to spend a week, October 3 - 7, working in the school located in Kabul and operated by IFHope, the organization that Dennis works for.  (The week begins on Saturday and ends on Thursday) I'm not sure what I will do there but it is a school for students up through grade 10.  I am also working on a seminar for mathematics that is used in Agriculture.  I will present that to the students at the University of Herat.  I'm glad that I will be able to to something.  I might also work with students who need help with English - can a math teacher also teach English??  

My Great Adventure began last Spring when my school granted me a leave of absence for the first semester of this school year.  I decided that I wanted to join my husband for three months in Afghanistan, where he has been working for nearly 3 years.  I arrived last Saturday in Kabul and on Sunday we flew to Herat, where he resides in a very nice house.  Here are some of my first impressions.

September 18, 2009

Sights and sounds of Kabul, Afghanistan

-         call to prayer

-         homeless camps

-         walled compounds

-         women wearing all sorts of head coverings, including the burkha

-         clay

-         CRAZY drivers!!

-         few stop lights

-         kites! 

-         fruit for sale on the roadside:  pomegranates, grapes and melons

-         mountains/hills surround the city

-         new structures and very old buildings

-         homes built on the hillside

 

We left Acworth on Wednesday at around 11:00 AM.  Rachelle took us to New London where we caught the bus to Boston Logan airport.  We traveled through Paris to Istanbul.  We spent an overnight in Istanbul and then traveled back to the airport, using public transport, to wait for our evening flight.  It seems crazy to me but we actually departed at 1:00 AM from Istanbul.  We made a stop in Ankara, the capital of Turkey and then moved on.  However, after about an hour, we were surprised to be landing – back in Istanbul!  Technical difficulties!  After another hour, we departed – again – to Kabul.  We arrived at around noon on Saturday, 3 hours later than expected.  I’m so sleepy tonight – most of my sleep being in an airplane seat during the last 24 hours.  We leave in the morning for our last leg of the long journey – to Herat. 

September 22, 2009

Sights and sounds of Herat City, Afghanistan

It’s Tuesday – although I’m finding it difficult to keep up with the days and the dates.  Once again, it’s sunny and very warm.  All the warmer because I must wear long pants and long sleeves.  I’m glad to be here but am surely experiencing real culture shock.  As a woman, I must cover my head whenever I go out.  And really, except inside our home, I must not be “seen”.  That’s hard.  I suppose it’s more difficult because I don’t really understand the reasons.  I couldn’t go to the shop with Dennis yesterday because I don’t really have the right kind of covering.  Sigh...  All of the homes are built inside of walls.  When you look from the streets, you only see walls with doors built into them.  You ring a bell and a doorman opens for you to lovely homes and gardens. 

Herat has many beautiful, large pine trees lining their streets.  It is an old city.  Dennis and the two students who stay here have been at home because of Eid.  They will return to the University tomorrow when classes resume.  I will stay here until Dennis sees that it is safe and acceptable for me to go there. 

I baked bread yesterday – they don’t eat yeast bread here, only flat bread, so I baked some for Dennis and I to enjoy.  And I cooked spaghetti and greens.  It was good.

Started the Royal Canadian Airforce exercise routine today – can’t go out for a long walk!  And I need to get more exercise!!

Last evening, before dusk, we looked up in the sky to see many kites flying.  There was some sort of competition.  It was beautiful to watch. 

What I would do for a few Mason jars!  The milk is sold in plastic bags.  Dennis has saved jars whenever he can so we transfer it.  Also, the flour, etc., is in bags.

Last night, before bed, we were served apricot juice.  It was prepared by soaking dried apricots for several hours.  That’s it!  It was so sweet and delicious, no sugar added.  I was amazed.

I didn’t know that green tea also has a good amount of caffeine in it.  I found out by drinking it the other night before bed.  I could NOT get to sleep.  Last night was better – no tea, just apricot juice.  :)

September 23, 2009

Dennis has gone back to work.  So, I cleaned the bathroom and washed a load of clothes – by hand!  It reminded me of the many times that I did so in Swaziland and Zululand.  I hope that the purchase of a simple washing machine is imminent.  I don’t mind washing but ringing out kills my hands! 

Zabi, the one who is the gatekeeper and takes care of the yard, just came to ask me how to start the lawnmower.  LOL  So I put on a head covering and showed him.  However, there is not enough petrol for the machine to get going so he will buy some and mow the very little bit of grass in the garden.  I'm thinking of all the mowing that we do in Acworth and laughing that he even needs a machine.

 That's all for now.  Stay tuned ...