Qurban

When choosing your Qurban, please take color into consideration. Let's see, do I want a pink sheep or an orange sheep?

Photo courtesy Google Image. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage to take a photo while outside (Kabul's not the best place to appear touristy!)

Eidi Mubarak!

Eidi Mubarak!

It's Eid ul-Qorban time! After some visa issues, it looks like I'll be one of a handful of foreigners staying in the city for the celebration (and bloodshed--mmm...kabob!) It looked like I was going to stay in my ghetto apartment by myself, but my boss was gracious enough to give me a key to her place, where I will have a few expat neighbors to watch movies with (and everything is working here)!

My real neighbors have been awesome, though. When they found out that I would be alone for 10 days, they were shocked! They sent kids out to welcome me home, and made several visits in the past few days. They even invited me to spend the holidays with them, but unfortunately, they are going to some places that are not so secure for foreigners.

I haven't taken many pictures, and I've had an even worse time posting them, but here are some pictures of me and my neighbors. I didn't take any of the women--maybe later ;)

Finally Posting

Due to unstable Internet connection/power, and busyness (teaching full-time), I haven't had the chance to post an update. After 2 1/2 weeks, it seems like I have been here for a long time; yet, when I try to communicate with my neighbors in Persian/Dari/Farsi (there seems to be a sociolinguistic discussion over this terminology), I know that I have not been here for long!

I did, however, survive my first "lockdown day" on Saturday. To be honest, I didn't even realize that a bomb had gone off and shook my building. A few streets over, there was a suicide attack on ISAF that killed 13 people. At the time, I was having a small crisis of my own. After an outing with a neighbor, we came back to an apt. of screaming women. My friend left immediately, as the situation seemed to be an emergency. I was left with the crying women who, like most women here, don't speak English. All I could figure out was that my neighbor's baby was involved...there had been an accident. The baby was missing, presumably taken to the hospital (which was where my friend went).

I want to remember the helplessness I felt, not being able to communicate with these women, not being able to help in any way, and only being able to give hugs as comfort. My neighbors have really taken care of me so far, inviting me over for meals, inviting me over to watch Bollywood with them, treating me as part of their family. I hope to express my appreciation for them (at a level greater than "tashakur") by speaking the local language, whatever stance on the name I choose to take. ;)

Post Script: The baby ended up being okay. He fell on his head, but was patched up and returned home later that day. Aal izz well! :)