The flight from Dubai to Kabul was supposed to take 3 hours but our flight managed to take 8 hours before landing in Kabul. What happened was that Kabul International Airport was closed because of a lack of parking space. So we made a stop in Mazar I Sharif. Lots of people based in Kabul were jealous of this because they never had the chance to go outside Kabul while I just arrived and saw another part of Afghanistan.

My first impression while getting of the plane was that it is not that hot. A mild 27 degrees but the sun was burning merciless. Sun block is not a luxury item even if you are exposed to the sun for only half an hour a day.

The security measures outside the airport are drastic. There are checkpoints all around and the military presence was high. No Belgian soldiers as I expected, unless they got very tanned and grew a beard in the time they are present here.

While I was cruising around for the first time in Kabul I couldn’t help thinking I arrived in a normal city in a normal developing country. It even reminded me a bit about Ghana: lots of movement, little shops selling their goods on the street and the chaotic driving style. The only thing that prevented my mind from wandering off to Ghana was the occasional burqa and a lack of music on the streets. One of the first things that I noticed while driving around in Kabul were the differences between the people living here. I had heard about the Hazara population and in the book the Kite Runner they were described as almost Mongolian looking. It’s very easy to pick them out on the street.

As for now I’m staying in a guesthouse with one of my bosses. This is a temporary solution until I find my own place. This guesthouse is a small Russian-speaking community with people from Tadzjikistan, Azerbeidjan and Georgia. And you know what that means. Everybody speaks Russian and everybody drinks Russian. Yesterday we drank vodka, rum and whisky like it was water. But enough about that, otherwise you will think coming to Kabul is all about fun and laughterJ

Yesterday I went to check out another guesthouse. 33 people are living there and I would have to pay around 1100 dollar what is quite expensive. But for this price everything is included: internet, TV, table tennis, attached bathroom. The only thing missing is a gym. Almost every guesthouse here has a gym. In these kind of places it’s important to stay sane in a mental kind of way but also physically. I’m only here for 3 days but I think the main waist of time during the weekend will be: hanging out with people from your guesthouse, visit people in other guesthouses and going to the swimming pool in a hotel or another guesthouse.

Life is kind of easy here. You come home from work (pretty early) and keep yourself busy until the food is ready. Most guesthouses have a cook. Your room is cleaned. In fact you don’t have to do anything yourself. It reminds me a bit of our student life. No worries, everything is taken care of for you. I don’t think I would like to spend my whole life like that. The other day I was talking to the guys from my guesthouse. I was telling them I had a six month contract. They started laughing and said: “Yeah, we started of with a six month contract as well but now I’m entering my sixth year in Afghanistan”. And this wasn’t the only story like this that I heard. My boss said it’s easier in Afghanistan than in any other place to start and make a career in international organisations. You only have to produce some results. My advantage, actually I don’t know if it is really an advantage here, is that I’m still young. And my two bosses can’t help themselves reminding me about that all the time. It’s almost like they feel a personal responsibility for my safety. My contract, which is another kind of contract than theirs, gives me a lot more freedom of movement. But as long as I’m living with one of them they won’t let me enjoy it. And honestly even if I would be allowed I wouldn’t know where to go. The  thing is, you need to know someone with a car or you can forget about going out.

Well that’s all for now, next time I’ll post something, I will talk about the security restrictions.

Take care,

Gijoom

03-07-2009 om 15:44 geschreven door gijoom  

Although Afghanistan had a history of war, bloodshed, drug smuggling and family clans waging war against eachother, much of what is happening now can be traced back to the Cold War and its aftermath. Russia and the US chose Afghanistan as a battleground to fight their war. Russia invaded the country and had an actual presence on the ground while the US fought a proxy-war through arm deliveries to the Mujahedeen fighting the Russians. The constant influx of weapons militarized the society which caused almost total destruction after the Cold War. The Russians pulled out and the Americans took their hands of the country which resulted in a devastating civil war. The decision to turn their back towards this country is thought to be one of the key mistakes that resulted in 9/11. Because in the meanwhile it was the Taliban who conquered most parts of Afghanistan, and eventually Kabul, to bring peace and stability. At first they were welcomed as heroes. But with the peace and stability a costly price had to be paid in return: oppression and religious fundamentalisme. We all remember the broadcasting of the execution of women in the football stadion and the destruction of the Buddha statues in Bamyan.

In the end it was the refusal of the Taliban to give up Bin Laden that caused the US to call for airstrikes and to support the groundtroops of the Northern Alliance. Since then eight years have passed and the country is far from reconstructed not even stabilized. But there is hope. In August presidential elections are coming up and I'm truly grateful I will be in the country for this event. The whole world will be watching Afghanistan. Will the elections finally bring som tranquillity or is a democratic process like this an incentive for religious fundamentalist to cause more suffering. I will try to keep you updated through all the advantages it has to be present in Kabul. If I miss important events or trends please do not hesitate to put me on the right track or to ask me questions about a specific subject.

take care,

Gijoom

03-07-2009 om 11:58 geschreven door gijoom  

I'm a 24 years old and I have been dreaming about working in the field my entire life. Last month I got a phone call that made this dream come true. I was offered the opportunity to work in Kabul, Afghanistan for six months. This blog will keep you updated on everything I experience during my stay here. From my first impressions arriving in the country to deep inside rumours going around in the Afghan and the expat society.

I hope you enjoy it,

Gijoom

03-07-2009 om 11:56 geschreven door gijoom