Life without sewing? It demands something else by way of diversion to occupy the time. To wit:
1. work
2. work
3. gym aka PT
4. work
and more of the same.
Not much time for the internet, either. And the bandwidth is woefully slow.
One of our diversions is the weekly bazaar at the edge of the base. It's open for a mere 3 hours once a week, and provides a welcome high point to the week. It's staffed by local men and their sons - like the charming young man above, who sold me one of the plastic-encased spiders for my own boy who's probably the same age. We never see any Afghan women or girls - they're completely invisible, er, absent. More's the pity.
The other diversion takes a little more work than just spending money, but it does involve money as well: fundraising runs. One of the ones I participated in shortly after getting here was to support the young fellow's school. Note, my dear lady friends, one and all, that this is a boys' school. Literacy Illiteracy rate for women in this neck of the woods runs to 90%. Yes, that's correct: nine adult women out of ten can't read or write. A dismal number of girls get to go to school. I wish we could all get together and do a fundraiser for a local girls' school, don't you?
And now for the toy: like my ride? Just one of the big toys for the big boys (& girls) I work with here. Don't I just look like a military tourist? This is the only bit of green for miles and miles of here.
Happy sewing, everyone!
You look wonderfully cool in the green jacket and wide pants! The literacy statistics are dreadful! I just have a hard time imagining that.
ReplyDeleteYou look quite the fashion plate (though in a rather "unique" locale for a fashion shoot). I find it difficult to imagine anyone in this day and age being illiterate. I can't imagine not being able to read. In this age, when we interact with the other side of the globe (i.e. me writing to you) almost instantaneously, those who are illiterate can only relate to their immediate surroundings. What an awfully small world they live in.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are staying stylish but that sounds like an awful lot of work.
ReplyDeleteWow - I just read Three Cups of Tea (I think that was the name), and got so depressed, but your numbers sound even worse. Your clothes look great, though! How long are you there for?
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to comprehend the limitations in which Afghani women live their lives. But educating boys is a start.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! I love sewing and to pay for my sewing, I work for one of the companies making MRAP's. So to see a seamstress standing next to an armored vehicle, bringing her interests to another country, well, just amazing
ReplyDelete