Sylvia's Journal

This morning we met with US and Afghan government officials to discuss what the ministry wants to do with our US tax dollars to improve health. It was an interesting negotiation process to observe – I had not been directly involved until now.

Much of the shift in US policy requires behavior change from all parties. I observed how easily we all slide back into default behaviors – doing things for people who have gotten used to it; expecting more than advice.

There is a lot of hurry to complete the negotiations, get things formalized, write and sign a memorandum of understanding between the governmental parties and start spending the money.

When someone suggested we move slowly and try a ‘pilot’ to see how this momentous transition from assistance agencies like MSH to the Afghan government will work, the reply was a tense and terse, ‘we have no time to learn.’ I don’t think the person who uttered those words realized what such a message conveyed. It is worrisome. We are all in for a bumpy ride.

Today was another balmy spring day. The heap of snow in the corner of our garden is melting rapidly and will be gone tomorrow – exactly when the first tree blossom will burst open.

In contrast to the hurry of governments we had a leisurely evening with some of my pharmaceutical colleagues, the ones we affectionally call ‘the druggies.’ For the first time in months we sat outside on our terrace drinking Kriek and GTs, compliments of Paul and Andy, while finishing the last of the Italian anchovies antipasto which was bought some months ago in the bombed Finest supermarket – a treat no longer available.