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July 28, 2011
The news you get is full of the war, gangster style assassinations, and perhaps even news of how Afghanistan has been tagged as the worst place in the world to be a mother (State of the World’s Mothers 2011 report, published bySave the Children). Meanwhile the children of AFCECO orphanages are thriving. This juxtaposition, which I do frequently, hopefully reinforces everyone's belief that this thing run by Andeisha is something that works, when all else fails. Two more days of exams, and then for the younger children Ramadan vacation time. After a short break the older children will start their programs again at the New Learning Center, as well as their sports programs. I will start up a new semester of Leadership Workshop, along with all my other humanities / language classes. I have been working on my Dari, reading, and filling my own cup these past few weeks while not teaching. Jamshid entered the room one day and out of the blue asked, “What about that book you were going to write?” We talked for quite a while about it. I believe I have over 500 pages of journal material, but I have made many false starts at writing “the book”. Two problems: every westerner and their uncle is writing a book about Afghanistan, many “experts” who have only seen one isolated dimension of this country or others who came here for a month and are suddenly experts. I did not want to write a book that falls into either category. Other problem is letting go of all that raw material, starting fresh, from scratch. What would I say, what would be the thread? It came to me and I began. In addition to these projects, I wrote a new song, which I posted. It is intended to be an anthem for AFCECO children. Last night I attended a concert we hosted at the NLC. I had not seen the children for two weeks. Alone I descended the stairs into the basement performance hall and there they were, 200 of them. They all looked up, saw me and spontaneously erupted into an applause. It was so unexpected and impulsive, and it so matched the applause in my heart for them. The feeling that filled my heart was so overwhelming this cup will be overflowing for quite some time. I often talk about relationship, what it is, especially in regards to the teacher and student. It is important to understand the relationship that has grown, as I have watched these children grow, is building strength, not dependency, but every once in a while the love and appreciation is right there at the fore, and as much as they give I deflect and try my best to give it right back, because I am truly the luckier recipient. I went around the room and shook hands with everyone and checked in. Most are happy with how exams have gone, except for Islamic Studies, which I understand to be quite difficult. A classical Afghan vocalist and classically trained opera singer performed, accompanied by rebob and tabla. The woman’s father was one of the most famous of Afghan singers, and she is carrying on. The room was electric. One of the youngest children, Mercel who is daughter to Ahmad Shaw who works for AFCECO got up and danced, then a music professor, master violinist got up and danced. Everyone clapped to the popular traditional songs. It was a celebration of Afghanistan, and of AFCECO, and I think a great letting go as exam time is almost finished. I realized this would be the time to share my new anthem, and asked Jamshid if this was appropriate. “Of course, why not?” he said in typical Afghan fashion. He translated as I recited the lyrics. Most of the children there were capable of understanding the English, but there were many younger ones as well as guests. I sang the anthem as Shogufa held the microphone. When I got to the final line, I let myself look into the eyes of one of my students. It was Khalida, from Nuristan. She is in my 9th grade class that studied The Miracle Worker, who is the keeper on the football team. “After the darkness, there is a light.” When I get the opportunity to show my respect and admiration and love for these people, I am fulfilled. Gifting that anthem to them was just such an occasion, and the response was tremendous. They already started singing the refrain, as the children informed me they will learn it and we will all sing it together. I met with a large group of activists from the U.S. who came to Kabul to get information. We talked for over two hours. We covered many of the usual topics, should the troops stay or go, what about making deals with Taliban, and what about the plight of women and their rights… Two of the activists are veterans of the two wars, and are doing amazing things to push for peace. I wish I had invited them to the concert. It was a terrible shortfall not to. If only we could open ten more AFCECO orphanages, I swear that the light will once again return to this country.
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