"The Road Less Traveled"

" THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED "

Nabi and I arrived in Kabul on Friday only to discover that there had been an attack the previous day on the road we travel to reach our hotel. It turns out the road leading to Jalalabad is notoriously "bad" and riskier than others. Why? Because military vehicles frequently travel along this road to and from Kabul. Imagine having to plan your day around troop and insurgent movements, neither of which can be predicted with any degree of certainty.

   There are considerably more concrete barriers and road barricades, than when I first visited six years ago. It has become increasingly difficult to relax while in transit. Everyone is watching for suspect movements. When I'm spotted, soldiers and policemen often smile. They see someone who is clean shaven, white, suffering from jet lag, making eye contact, and smiling. Those traits suggest a misguided, naive, idealistic American idiot who is clearly lost and harmless. Profiling works for me.
   So, why are we here? We have several meetings, which I'll hopefully have time to share over the next week. Yesterday, we spent a few hours discussing a proposal with a village representative seeking financing to build a school for 350 girls. The villagers are willing to provide the labor. We're developing a materials budget together. It's another opportunity to partner!!!! Have you grown tired of me writing village to village, village by village? It works!!!!!
   This afternoon we are meeting with most of our 29 teachers to determine what recommendations they have to improve or add to our educational programs. This is one of the times they can submit their "wish lists". We use this opportunity to give them a year end bonus, equal to one month's salary. The bonus is made possible by the One Teacher to Another fund started by Rozan Gautier a couple of year's ago. We promised the teachers who
contribute to this fund to use their money to increase teacher salaries. The Afghan teachers know the source of their bonus and are very grateful.

Well it's time for Nabi and I to relocate and get on the roads less traveled by the military. All of our trips must be completed before dark. That makes us "day trippers". (Sorry, couldn't resist -- So many great songs waiting to be resurrected from the random access memory -- Did any of you see that coming?)

Budd