Kabul Kite Wars

August 29, 2009
Kabul

From the roof of Peach House (right)I have 360 degree views of Kabul. The building with the blue trim is an orphanage across the dirt road from the house. The boys in the orphanage and the boys who live on my side of the street are warring kites. The victor slices his opponent's kite. Then when the adults in the orphanage are otherwise occupied the losers scale the wall either into or out of the orphanage to retrieve their grounded kite! If you look carefully you can see three kites in one of these photos. My little camera can't pick them up very well. Also notice how high the orphanage walls are. Kite flying is not for the faint of heart!

It continues to be dry and hot with dust everywhere, coating every surface. The roads are dirt with the exception being the major routes through the city. The dust coupled with car exhaust obscures the mountains in a haze. The traffic is unbelievable - today was as congested as I have ever seen it. Like bumper cars at the fair going every which way and no lanes. Roundabouts can't even keep the drivers moving in the same direction. Yet, it seems to work in its own fashion - accidents don't seem to be a huge problem, and people get to where they need to go!

Friday August 28, 2009
Kabul

Arrived yesterday to a brand new airport which looks like a real airport and not a quonset hut - which was my memory from 2006. Kabul appears at first blush to be more pulled together - less rubble and more new construction. More guns too - trucks and SUV/tanks with men and guns at many intersections. Today at the grocery store there was a sentry on a raised platform across the street. Out my window I see yards of razor wire protecting our compound, and armed guards at our front gate (which was also the case in 06). The pictures above are from my bedroom window and the front balcony - you can see the razor wire in one and the courtyard in the other.

Friday and Saturday are weekend days so it is our opportunity to shop, rest and in my case prepare frantically for the first day of classes on Sunday. I have never taught Entrepreneurship before so am hoping to be at least one class ahead of my students! (Mike - if you are reading this I need you!) The other class is Principles of Business which is much more familiar to me.

My house is one of three faculty and staff guest houses. Mine is called Peach House - which was explained as we drove up and I saw the color. I'll send a picture of the front in the next post. There are three floors, with a total of 8 bedrooms, two kitchens and numerous bathrooms. My colleagues are mostly American - one Canadian and a woman from Kyrgyzstan. All are here for one year - some are on their second assignments. I am quite happy knowing I will be returning home in December for already I am missing all my favorite people.

August 27, 2009
Dubai

Arrived last night at 7:30 Dubai time - very easy entry. If you hold a US passport you don't need a visa, and after my passport was stamped I didn't even have to offer up my luggage for inspection. No one seemed concerned about what I was bringing into the country. This morning I arrived at the airport at 9 am to catch my 11:30 flight to Kabul only to discover that it has been delayed 2 hours. Be thankful, a fellow passenger told me, that it wasn't canceled - something that happens on a regular basis.

I am eager to get to Kabul and stop traveling. I am also eager to meet my colleagues, visit the campus and get a sense of the student body.

It is hot and humid in Dubai and I expect only slightly cooler weather in Kabul. Hard on this westerner used to wearing sleeveless tops, capris and sandals to put on long sleeves, long pants and a head scarf!

The photos were taken from my hotel room at 6 this morning. Dubai, from what I could see during my cab rides to and from the airport is all new construction in the desert. An amazing contrast from New Dehli - my transfer point in 06 when donkeys, cows and dogs roamed between the terminal buildings. Here in Dubai there is no live stock in sight - only cement, cars and luxury hotels.

pre departure

This is a test run of the blog. I have never used one before. I am leaving Tuesday evening and will be in Kabul on the 27th. Kabul is 8 1/2 hours ahead of Vermont so it will be tricky to coordinate Skype visits and phone calls. This blog will hopefully be a good way for me to stay in contact with everyone.