Reflections

Today marks one month living and teaching in Kabul! Incidentally, today was also "Teachers Day," a school-wide event honoring the ANIM faculty. I arrived in the morning to find my room decorated with streamers and little paper flowers. Throughout the morning, the faculty was led from room to room where feasts had been prepared and laid out by the students. There was cake, dancing, music, speeches, gift-giving and more. It was quite touching as students came up to me to shake my hand and to congratulate me on being a teacher. What better way to celebrate one month in Afghanistan!

Teachers Day cake

I thought I would reflect on this anniversary by traveling back in time and revisiting the events that led me up to this moment. When I first heard about the opportunity to teach in Kabul, I knew deep down that I had no choice but to go. Something drew me to it. I applied for the job without really thinking it through completely. But when I was actually offered the position, I had to really take a step back and give it some serious thought. Even after making the decision to take the job, it took me almost three months to fully accept the fact that I was actually going. Some days I would be thrilled and excited, and other days I would be deeply, profoundly anxious.

A banana merchant

Nothing would prepare me for my last days in New York before my departure. I wanted to savor every moment of my familiar life before it all vanished. At the same time, I was extremely restless and subject to sudden waves of panic and emotion. Then, just a few days before leaving, my Grandmother passed away. We had been expecting it for awhile, but the news was still shocking and tragic. It was a hard time. My Mom had decided to take a job in New Jersey, leaving my Dad to look after the house in Virginia. She was struggling with the fact that she would be living in a new place by herself and having me move halfway across the world. My girlfriend, while ever-supportive, was nervous for me and afraid, as I was, about the impending year of long-distance. The mixture of excitement and anxiety was overwhelming.

Kabul

After a devastatingly difficult farewell to my girlfriend at the airport a few days later, I finally stepped on to the plane bound for Kabul. At that moment I was struck by the oddest feeling of profound relief. The hardest part was the waiting. When I felt the airplane take off I knew that this was it, a new chapter of my life had begun.