Letter from India

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Thursday, July 20, 2006

Last Day in Kabul

My last day in Kabul was perfect. I had tea in the garden, coffee with Aliaxey (who returned from Belarus two nights ago), and we walked to the office. I chatted with staff, we had lunch together, and during Mujeeb's farewell speech, I broke down. A gift of amethyst pendant and bracelet was placed... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Upset and Apologies

I am upset because someone is upset with me. It is Shamla, the ex-assistant who recently got married. At the request of an Afghan colleague, I uploaded and circulated to all my colleagues Shamla's wedding photograph. Apparently this was not to be done. I heard it in the corridors of the office over... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

The Gift for Shamla

I finally got the gift. On Friday at 10 am, I asked Zia to take me to the Parisian Store, where there is crockery, cutlery, aluminium, plastic and ceramic (besides canned and dried food). There are washing machines and rice cookers. I was tempted by the ceramic, but not the design. I liked the... Sign in to see full entry.

A Dinner Party

In the old days, growing up in India, we had parties - tea parties, dinner parties, and cocktails (drinks with snacks, no dinner). I like the idea of parties, except that it's not a part of my vocabulary anymore. It's get togethers, drop in, dinner or just drinks. On Thursday, I invited four people... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

The Nature of Friendship

I first met Mary on May 3, at a World Press Freedom Day function my organisation was co-hosting. She was standing by a table that housed cups and what looked like coffee. I went up and introduced myself. Hi, I said. Hello, she said, I'm Mary. We shook hands. It's difficult to miss Mary. She's tall,... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, July 10, 2006

An Afternoon Debriefing

Two days ago, I was part of a debriefing session. Facilitated by Eileen Summers, a professional counselor/therapist practising in Kabul, eight of us (7 expats and one Afghan) gathered in our shared house sitting room. Three people who were supposed to be with us, were missing. Two were out of town... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Nejat - Rehabilitating Drug Addicts

In Kabul city, if you go south on Darulaman Street towards Parliament, behind the well known Habibia High School is the Nejat Centre, an Afghan NGO working with drug addicts. As you enter, the first thing you see is the garden. Roses are in bloom. To the right is a reception room and behind it,... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, July 8, 2006

Leonard Cohen

I often buy music like I buy wine or a book - by it's cover. So it was with Leonard Cohen. About four years ago, at the music shop in Khan Market in Delhi, I found Cohen's Ten New Songs in my hands. I went home and played it. Again, and again, and again. Sitting in Kabul, as I write this, I am still... Sign in to see full entry.

Rice and Spinach for the Soul

Good food is nourishment for the body and the soul. I would like to share two recipes that make me feel really good to put together, share with friends, and eat by myself. Ingredients need to be fresh, if possible, the mind calm as you cook and serving dishes equally attractive. Nuts over rice Like... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, July 7, 2006

The Wedding of Shamla III

It's the day of the wedding, Tuesday. It's agreed, by all those going (and who is going is not clear), that we will reach the marriage hall by 7 pm. And dinner, I asked? From my experience of Indian weddings, I felt we may want to give it a miss. Maybe we could eat out? No answer. At 5.45 Agathe,... Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

I started this blog in mid-March 2006 when I moved to Kabul, Afghanistan, for a four-month assignment. In mid-July I moved back to India, and am continuing the blog.

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