to the other side of the world.

Here we are.....in Kabul, Afghanistan.....again.  It has been two years since we left the first time.  That was March l and bitter cold.  We flew in yesterday morning, March 2...still bitter cold.  Today it is snowing quite steadily.  Jon went out with Mosa to the hospital where some of the resident faculty are working.  It was fun reconnecting with them and Dr. Jerry, who directs the residency at the moment.  He just returned from the US himself.  Jon stayed with him last spring when he came for six weeks.  They enjoy working on the residency together and look forward to more ex-pat leadership arriving in the next few months.  The Afghans really feel valued and encouraged when ex-pats return again, and again.  It says they are  cared about.  And that is why we come.

To backtrack slightly, we left the house and the cat to a good friend to watch on Thursday the 27th, boarded the direct flight to Dubai in the evening and arrived 14+ hours later in the evening.  With a 12-hour time difference, that's a day, more or less.   Sleep has been a bit sporadic...a few hours at a time, but we're catching up.  The day we had in Dubai was  spent walking thru parts of three mega-malls. We had breakfast at Paul's in Diera Mall, near our hotel then we rode the Metro to The Mall of the Emirates where we finally saw the indoor 1500 ft. ski slope.  School-kids were arriving, suiting up and hitting-the-slope, or the slides, etc. After a rest at the hotel we 'metroed' to The Dubai Mall to enjoy the double-level aquarium and dancing fountains. It was too much walking for me and we had to rise at midnight to catch the 3:30 am flight!  So it was a short night........

Thankfully, the airport experience was calmer than usual.....probably because of the early hour?  The cultural shift began then and there as people, mostly men, were garbed in the traditional wear.  I hadn't noticed the traditional garments as much in the malls.  But, it could be not everyone goes to the malls....!  Another characteristic of Afghans is intense discussions of most anything, especially if it's someone else's business.  So, disagreements at check-in or the gate gathers lots of onlookers. We just try to not be the reason for the gathering!
     The view of snowy mountain peaks as far as the eye can see is unparalleled! The Hindu Kush are the western flank of the Himalayas that extend on into China.  They lie above Kabul, which sits in a bowl.  Our descent revealed life far different than the city we had left.  This one is rebuilding, but filled with the destruction of war and the dust of life voided of greenery . I prepared for landing with a long coat and scarf wrapped around my head.
     Our senses were assaulted in the drive to the guest house....I forgot that cars here are small and backseats even smaller...I squeezed in.  Women never get the front seat next to a male driver.  It was rush hour
and drivers here are MAD!  A 'normal' 4 land (or less) road became 6 lanes as vehicles bounced up on what was being used as sidewalks (of dirt) to get around others.  If you want to turn from the middle of the road, just DO IT.  Pedestrians also cross anywhere at anytime. The horn is vital here!  Potholes just add to the 'fun.'  That hour of city driving began my desensitizing to life as I'd known it.  There was more ......
     Electricity is on sometimes these days we're told.  We found our solar-powered flashlights and headlamps....we're ready for the night.   There's a 'buquari' in our bedroom, which the maid lit for us.  It is so nice to meet the drivers and guards we know at the Team House!  K and some others are gone to Bamyan for food distribution in 3-4 country locations.  But D has been so helpful.  And other friends have come to see us.
Jon's favorite driver picked him up  today for the drive to the hospital where he reconnected with some of the resident faculty.  He'll go again tomorrow and I'll go food shopping with D.  I don't think today's snow will be around tomorrow.
      So, our time in Kabul has begun.  We are grateful for a safe trip, for your prayers and
for the opportunity to show Afghans they are loved.