Walking in a War Zone

Darulaman Palace from the new campus

Kabul, 10 October 2009

The University was given 45 acres of land on which to build a campus. Since my arrival I have heard that it was the only place to go for a walk here, since walking for exercise on the streets is strictly forbidden for Westerners. So this morning P and I decided to check it out. We accompanied two others who were planning to jog, a driver, an escort and an armed guard to the property. All along I had been imaging a park - lush with green grass, tropical plants, nice graveled paths. Well that was wishful thinking born of a desperate need to see a color beyond brown!

But, there was a soccer field carefully tended and newly mowed and after some exploration in the dust we spent 45 minutes walking vigorously around and around the field. The property is near Darulaman Palace which you can see in the photo and eventually it will be a spectacular campus. Right now it is mostly dirt which puffed up in a cloud around my feet as I walked. It was until recently full of land mines and we could see evidence of the de-mining activity. We have been assured that they are all gone now - the last two were discovered and removed in the spring.

The pile of white stones in the foreground indicates a mine has been removed from that spot. You can see the soccer field and then the palace in the background.

Standing next to an overturned burned Soviet tank which presumably will be removed before the campus is built!

Posing with our guard in front of an exploded mine - seems inappropriate that I have a big grin on my face. The guard, who was very vigilant and nice to have along was hamming it up and striking poses before the photo was taken.