Sylvia's Journal

I was supposed to have flown today to and from Badakhshan in a US (civilian) helicopter, with several people from the ministry, including Her Excellency, several people from USAID, UNICEF and a camera man. One of my staff had flown ahead on Wednesday to set thing up for this one day whirlwind visit. US planes and helicopters have to be back on base before the sun sets, so getting up early was critical to get in as much of a day as was possible, given a two hour flight each way.

A colleague from UNICEF was early at the US airport, which is separate from the regular airport, and I got to wait in her armored (hard skin) car. I sent my car back to the office and moved in with her to bide the time. I noticed that slamming the car door shut is not easy when the ‘skin’ is tough like that. With my still weak right arm it was nearly impossible.

We chatted until the US team arrived to let us further into the heavily guarded part of the airport and then the wait began. Over the next three hours the weather started to deteriorate and the clouds moved in over Kabul and over the Salang Pass. When you fly in a helicopter this is a problem. And so, after three hours of waiting the flight was cancelled and we each went our way again.

But for me the wait was not a waste of time. Although the surroundings were less than comfortable (at least there were chairs), we essentially waited in a container. I got to practice my Dari with some random people who were also waiting – we tackled the list of opposite nouns, like hot-cold, good-bad, light-heavy, etc. My new teachers learned how to pronounce the words in English and I got to memorize the Dari adjective pairs. At times everyone got in on the act and so it was great fun.

We also talked about family planning and the role of the mullahs, after an article in the English language newspaper that had been picked off the wire and told a surprised world that Afghan couples will use family planning if the mullah says it is OK and if given the chance. Family planning remains one of the most effective and inexpensive public health interventions: a child not wanted and not born cannot get sick and cause problems for its mother.

We were all disappointed that the trip got cancelled. There was talk of postponing it to next week but then I will be in Beirut. The cancellation was particularly disappointng to the team up in Badakhshan who had been preparing the scene for this high-powered visit. The only good thing is that I was able to go to my Dari class with Axel and prepare mousse au chocolat from Russian dark chocolate, and watch Julie pack.