Sylvia's Journal

Today we briefed our funders about what we did, what we do and what, after our project is over, should be done in the future to make sure that all the efforts take root and planted seeds turn into flowers (not the poppy variety of course). The briefing took a good chunk of the day but was probably worth it as none of us wants things to end when our project is over, some 15 months from now.

Via email I followed the travails of our hapless travellers, still stranded in Dubai. The conference starts tomorrow. When we decided, four months ago, to send two of our provincial health advisors to this conference in Geneva it seemed like a good idea. It was supposed to be a reward but now it seems more like punishment.

We are hearing conflicting stories about the European ash cloud and wonder whether our trip to Holland in three weeks might be in jeopardy. Some pessimists say it can be months before things clear up. It’s hard to imagine as here the skies are blue and full of sun. The baby grapes are no longer the size of a pin point, now easily recognizable as mini grapes, the first roses have budded and the birds are chirping as if their life depends on it.

At the office there are painters everywhere, the entire compound is getting a fresh coat of paint. I found my own small office neatly painted in an off-white colour. All the things on the wall that had finally been nailed in (with the biggest nails) had been taken down and so I am starting all over with requests to hang stuff. When your office is being painted all your furniture and stuff is taken outside where it patiently waits until the paint is dry. Bad luck if it rains!

We are getting more details of the raids on alcohol-serving establishments in Kabul, last week. From the survival guide to Kabul we learned that….”In scenes reminiscent of the Taleban, officers armed with AK47 rifles targeted four well-known nightspots on Monday night and Tuesday morning, calling them ‘centres of immorality.’ The French owner of one of Kabul’s best-known bars was also detained. The waitresses, from an upmarket restaurant popular with diplomats, were forced to undergo intrusive medical tests to ascertain whom they might have been sleeping with, police officials said. Friends said that the women, from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, were still in shock last night.”

I guess we will have to create our own entertainment at home for awhile or eat in some of the local restaurants in our area, something we have wanted to do all along, and have a Fanta or Coke with our meal. We can do that.