Two of the five foreigners in our project our back – they are trickling back in. I was the first one; yesterday Douglas came back from a trip through China and a month at his home on the West Coast. At the beginning of next week two more will return. It is only after October 2 that we will all be back, converging on Afghanistan from Sierra Leone, Australia, US/East Coast and US/West Coast via China and India.
We started the new month, post Ramadan, with an Eid breakfast that reminded me of the first work day after New Year: there was much embracing, smiles, stories about the holidays and good wishes every which way. The only difference was that there was no hugging across gender lines and the weather was beautiful and warm.
Chairs and tables were set out under a bright blue sky. Breakfast consisted of sweet milky tea (reserved for special occasions), green grapes and cake. The only sour note was that all the women were missing. A few of them were pulled in halfway through the breakfast and after the words of thanks from our chief. The women received large boxes of cookies for their offices (no one else seemed to have received such gifts). Sometimes I don’t understand a thing.
The first day was much too long for a first day because of a – for us – late phone call with Boston. By then I was yawning so much that my participation was all but useless. I am jet lagged and responding to the thick layer of dust in the air with an allergic reaction that has left me sneezing and itchy-eyed. “It’s good to be back home” only applies partially to our life in Kabul.
Sylvia's Journal 
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