Unexpected sights and events

I've been to Kabul and back.  While in Kabul, the tragedy at the UN guesthouse took place.  I knew that something had happened as I heard a lot of action in the skies:  mostly helicopters circling around.  On that day, schools were closed and people were encouraged to stay put - which I did.  On Friday we went shopping at a lovely shop run by an Afghanistan NGO (non-government organization).  The NGO is made up of 1500 women from all over Afghanistan, many who are refugees, others village women.  They make, by hand, beautiful clothing and linens, as well as other accessories.  I was very happy to have heard about it and to be able to find it.  Everything in the shop is made in Afghanistan.  While riding to the shop, we entered a traffic jam in the center of Kabul - not an unusual event.  However, for me, the cause of this one was unusual!  (See the picture.)

Since returning to Herat, the government has closed all public schools and universities due to an H1N1 scare.  There are many cases of the virus in Kabul, which is a very congested city.  There were also 6 confirmed cases in Herat.  The schools are closed now until next year, probably March, since they don't attend in winter - too cold and there is no heat in their schools.  Isn't that crazy?  I suppose it's one way to cut the budget!

 It was cold in Kabul - this is what I saw on the flight back to Herat.  It's still pretty warm here but cools off at night.  I'm enjoying the ability to still work outside in the garden.  Yesterday I thinned the carrots and last night I cooked some turnips.  Today I picked baby spinach which I will have with our lettuce in a salad for lunch.  It's hard to think that it's November!