Letter from India

By Greenfields - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Friday, June 23, 2006

Gifts of Love

Yesterday, as I was going up the stairs to my office, a student in my reproductive health class stopped me in the corridor. He held out two mini sized musk melons to me. For you and your friend, he said. Is it from Helmand I asked? Yes, he said. I was touched. Tasha kor, I said, putting my right... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Found in Translation

Today, in my Dealing with Drugs class, I asked the students to go around the table and describe the most important learning from the field trip yesterday. Half way through the class, while Fanoos translated back and forth, a rather animated discussion broke out. Let me explain. I teach in English.... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

A Kilim is Forever

I love kilims. Whenever I see one, the blood rushes to my temples. I get goose pimples. And, if I like it, I want to own it. Immediately. In my travels I have collected kilims from Tunisia, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are many countries in which kilims are produced, and their designs and... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Goings and Comings II

It was time for me to leave Kabul after being here for three months. I was to take a two week break in Delhi, where I have a beautiful home, a great husband, a fabulous teenage son, a dog called Aloe, and two full time staff that take care of us and the home. I have sisters, friends and colleagues.... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

A Matter of Nails

The air of Kabul is dry. When I moved here at the end of February, it was cold, dry, and dusty. Delhi is dry and dusty too, but not like Kabul. Within a week, my skin was looking and feeling like a crocodiles', and I began to worry that my three-month supply of facial cream, moisturizer, and body... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Comings and Goings of Expatriates

An expatriate is one who is a resident of another country. In Afghanistan I am an expatriate. I live with five other expatriates in a shared home, and work with two. In my professional and social settings, I come across many other expatriates. The first questions - after introductions and greetings... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, June 9, 2006

In Search of a Haircut

Four weeks into my stay in Kabul, I started asking around for a place and person to cut hair. My hair is short and needs a trim every four weeks. Jan suggested B's. How much do they charge, I asked? Thirty dollars she said. I gulped. In Delhi, at the beauty parlour I have been frequenting for the... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Healing a Nation

It's been over a week since the rioting and looting in Kabul. During this time, I asked almost everyone I met what they thought about what had happened on that fateful Monday, and why. Most Afghans feel that Americans behave in an arrogant way, driving their vehicles through the city, pushing... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, June 2, 2006

The calm after the storm

Today is the fourth day after the rioting, looting, burning and destruction in Kabul. It is also Juma, as Friday is known in Dari. It's the Sunday of Muslims, a day when they generally go to the masjid or the mosque. Over the last few days there has been a great deal of speculation as to what what... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

The Day after the Violence

Today I stayed home. It was a beautiful morning - crisp air, blue sky, and very sunny. I sat in the garden with my morning tea of ginger and cardamom, and watched the birds and butterflies flying around the garden, chasing each other. It's good they don't know violence, I thought. Everything was... 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.

Blogs

Headlines (What is this?)