My home in Kabul-One and 1/2 years...

I have left Kabul for home and finally time to update my journal. At over the year and 1/2 mark Norm and I marvel at our adjustments and we finally feel at home. A lot of questions from friends...security? The current situation was all predicted by experts at the time we initiated the Iraq war. I have a great faith in the Afghan people and in fact my own. The unfairness of behind medias focus on the war is that it paints a one-dimensional picture of a very complex country and serves to make the rest of the world feel that Afghanistan is a lost cause and not worth investment. I feel that there is little good in trying to predict the future...only work to focus on at hand.

Currently, I feel most at risk from Kabul's electricians and "Wanna be" electricians such as our operations manager, Gulam Ali. Dawn recently had an unpleasant shock when she tried to take a shower one morning and the electric current passed through the shower water from one of Gulam's (our operation manager) fixes. His three day electrical revamp of our home resulted in the destruction of our entire city blocks power access. I love Gulam but I am now prohibiting him from even changing light bulbs now. He is the master of resourcefulness, short cuts and low cost electircal fixes....I am retiring him in this capacity. I consider it a serious security measure.

I love my home. It was built in the 1940's from adobe mud and with beautiful wood ceilings. Aisha- our head widow in our sewing room and designer has helped me furnish it with Afghan style furniture (floor pillows). Immediate peace for me when I walk in my door.