First Week of School

September 2, 2009
Kabul

Classes started this week. The University (American University of Afghanistan or AUAF) schedules day and evening classes to accommodate the approximately 80% of the student body who work during the day. However, this leads to really full evening classes and under enrolled classes in the day. I am teaching two courses - Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship. My day session in Business has 2 students and the day session of Entrepreneurship only one, however, the evening classes are full. The day classes will probably be canceled which gives me too much unexpected free time during the week which I am trying to fill with some outside consulting work and work on the 10,000 women project (see www.auaf.edu.af).

Ramadan which is on-going through the month of September also presents some logistical challenges. The campus staff leave at 2pm every day and the late afternoon and evening classes are arranged to allow a 45 minute break for Iftar. According to Wikipedia, Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib (sunset) time.

Because sunset and thus Iftar occurs at a slightly different time every day, my classes also start and end at a different time every day! Ramadan ends at the end of September and then the schedule will settle down.

Here are some photos of the campus. It is not large but is great for me to be able to walk around. It is the only place I am able to walk, being out on the street is absolutely forbidden and I (and all other foreigners) am driven everywhere by a driver and an escort. During the election all guest houses were on "lock-down" and nobody was able to leave. I wasn't here yet, but everyone was going absolutely stir crazy. The restrictions are hard for many to get used to.