I think what got me stuck on watching almost the entire rescue was that each time another man emerged from the tunnel and embraced his loved ones, it was such a triumph of the endurance of the human spirit. That is not something we get to witness every day. It was a successful rescue mission. Another thing we don't get to see often, especially in Afghanistan, where a fellow aid worker, just a week ago, was killed during a failed rescue mission after being held by kidnappers for two weeks. Living in Afghanistan, we all face that reality, not just international aid workers, but Afghans working with international organizations take the risk of one day being killed as a result of their jobs. Or even those who are out of their homes, just working, and happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's different, but miners too take risks each day, going to work to earn a living and provide for their families, often in settings they know are not the safest.
In her article on-point article for the Guardian titled Why has the Chilean miners' rescue left me so euphoric? Zoe Williams writes "One's instinct is to distrust an emotional response like this, because it's so random. What's a living definition of sentimentality, if not this heightened, secondhand euphoria for the survivors of an accident so unremarkable in a dangerous industry? And yet I feel euphoric. I don't care if it's sentimental." I think as humans, as people, we deserve to see these beautiful moments every once and a while. It's not our victory, and it's not a perfect victory or ending, but it feels good. And we shouldn't miss the chance to learn from them either.
Mario Sepúlveda was the second miner to be rescued. He has become the showman and media favorite for his jubilance, exuberance and shining personality. It’s true. The energy he brought to the surface was unbelievable. Watching him immediately embrace the euphoria of the moment, watching him literally shine, really moved me. After being rescued, he said something along the lines of anyone who has the chance to call their loved ones before they do something dangerous "please call them...love is the most wonderful thing there is: the love of your parents and your family..."
I’m sure all the miners have wisdom to share, going through such an ordeal, and it’s not even so much wisdom, it's things we all know but forget as we go through life on a day-to-day basis. You forget to be thankful, you forget to thank, you take for granted that if something has to be said, you can just say it later, you think there will always be time later, to make a change in yourself, to try to better, to forgive, to grow, to take care of yourself. But life is precious. No one is guaranteed anything.
Afghanistan has taught me that, but usually through sadness. Chile reminded me of that, but through success, joy, triumph and achievement; where 33 men have been given a second chance. It’s a blessing and a gift, and I hope they are all able to stay grounded as life moves on and they are forced to deal with press, financial issues, jealousy, and the demons that lurk within the memories of dark experiences. But in the meantime, I’m thankful for the chance to watch the whole thing unfold triumphantly, and open myself up to the joy of the moment to learn from it. And I really do keep Mario’s words close to my heart:
It’s not an easy life working in Afghanistan. And I have an unusual situation where my personal life partially operates within Afghan culture, and that can be too much to deal with. It can wear me down and make me not want to delve into the culture, and on this blog, any deeper then my life already forces me too. But in any case, I’ve gotten messages encouraging me to keep this blog going because of the unique side of life I try to show, and I do know there is a value in that, in my little piece of the world wide web. So after 4 months, here I go again attempting to show you the other side of Afghansitan, with something that is by no means the most intellectual or profound observation, or even appropriate by some people's standards, yet it's something I think is a bit funny, a bit shocking, but beyond that, a reality in the Afghanistan of today.
Note: I'm not making any kind of judgment or promotion, I'm just presenting its existence as respectfully and realistically as possible. But if you are sensitive to seeing anatomical enhancement products, please, respectfully, do not read on. Thanks.
The following are products, readily available in several stores across Kabul. Who would ever think in such a conservative and closed society, where a person's reputation matters more than their life, you could get this stuff, not even over a counter, but off a shelf! And it must be profitable b/c otherwise they wouldn’t keep stocking it!
They have a product called "virgin soap" but I didn't catch a picture of it this time. Anyway, this to me is similar to Taliban Glamor Shots posting; it has the essence as was captured very well by the comment Nida made on that post, how Afghanistan is "stuck between two opposing tides - on one hand a very rigid cultural setting and on the other globalization. What results is obsessive narcissism in forms we would have never expected." The availability of these products isn't necessarily the same form of narcissism, but it sure does indicate an increase interests in the self at a very personal level, and the market responding.
I dunno; while in some ways it's funny, it made me think about something not so funny: Afghanistan has one of the world's highest fertility rates, compounded by the average of more than six babies per woman despite years of war and a severe lack of medical care. Back in 2002, a UN maternal study found that in Badakhshan Province alone, the maternal mortality rate was 6,500 deaths per 100,000 live births; the highest ever documented in human history. So it's interesting to observe the above kinds of products are available, but women lack access to correct and relevant information of pre-natal care or health facilities. As exposure to new information increases and the space of (mostly young) people willing to think about such thing expands, I hope they are matched with critical education and access to more vital products and services from a public health perspective...
might recognize the name from The Kite Runner, as it's were they lived in the good ol days part of the book. It's a traditionally wealthy neighborhood, paved and gridded, made up of mostly two story homes built in the 60s and 70s. It's tree line, actually quite pleasant. Afghan families still live there, but a lot of embassies have taken over. Our house was the nicest I've ever lived in in Afghanistan. It use to be the Spanish Embassy, it had central heating, double pain windows, a nice lil green area. It felt - normal.
If you go toward the west of WAK, all of a sudden the houses become massive, psychedelic monstrosities, and the roads disappear. This is the neighborhood of Sherpur, the land of NarcoTecture. Sherpur as a residential area is relatively new. It was a cantonment for years, and i mean years. The area is noted in history for the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment during the second Afghan-Anglo War in the 1890s, where it is estimated up to 3,000 Afghans were murderer by British invaders (hmmmm). From what I know by asking around, the area still remained a cantonment site up until right after the US lead invasion. Actually, you still see tank skeletons lying around....but residences were established - small homes built out of traditional material (mud, maybe). However, after the invasion, the evictions started. and it's documented that most of these small homes were forcefully demolished to set the foundation for what exits today: Afghanistan's wealthiest neighborhood with unbelievably terrible unpaved roads, often covered in raw sewage, were the rent can cost up to $30,000 - a MONTH! check it out:
and on.....
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