The helicopter ride turned out to be fine. I sat next to the "armed" guard and was able to look out the window quite a bit of the time. The landscape is just so different from New Hampshire. Jalalabad was fun. It's a pretty city although I wasn't really allowed to walk around outside. We spent time with Dennis' director and stayed at their headquarters, an old Russian compound. The real adventure happened on the next day when we returned to Kabul, by car. Dennis and I both wore traditional Afghan clothes so as not to be conspicuous. We went through 3 mountain passes and drove over several sites where tankers had been bombed/set on fire. Drivers in Afghanistan tend to drive offensively so even though Dennis told me not to, I was "driving" with the driver the whole time. (Is that the true definition of a backseat driver?) When he passed a car, that was passing a truck, I was cringing!! And many of the turns were hairpin turns, tunnels, etc. (Look closely in the center of the picture - you'll see the tunnel that we are headed for.) It was beautiful but I must admit that I was totally exhausted upon our safe arrival in Kabul and had to immediately take a nap!

On Friday, it was very nice to meet an American couple working in Kabul. They are working for Shelter for Life, an agency that helps refugees. After talking with them, we went to another house to meet with Dennis' project directors and his wife was able to loan me quite a few "appropriate" clothes.

Today I visited the IFHope school. It was fun. I visited a math class and two English classes. In the Math class, although I didn't understand a word that was said, I knew exactly what math was being taught. It was fun.


In the English classes I told them about myself and answered questions. In math class, I observed that they are teaching the same concepts that we are. I'll go to the school again tomorrow and for the next two days after that. Dennis has business to attend to here and there so I will wait for him here in Kabul.

He was supposed to go somewhere today but the flight was cancelled. So, his plans have completely changed. That happens a lot. He's very good with that. I'm still learning...