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Emotional return to a changing Afghanistan | Emotional return to a changing Afghanistan |
(5 days later) | |
On a cold November morning in 2007, I had kissed my family goodbye and left for Kabul airport - destination: London. | On a cold November morning in 2007, I had kissed my family goodbye and left for Kabul airport - destination: London. |
My mother had tears in her eyes. Not because she was letting me go, but because she was uncertain about when she would see me again. | My mother had tears in her eyes. Not because she was letting me go, but because she was uncertain about when she would see me again. |
Uncertainty was all we Afghans knew back then. | Uncertainty was all we Afghans knew back then. |
The roads to the airport were drenched with water, as if the whole of Kabul had been flooded. | The roads to the airport were drenched with water, as if the whole of Kabul had been flooded. |
It had been raining heavily, not unfamiliar weather in this part of the world. | It had been raining heavily, not unfamiliar weather in this part of the world. |
I had spent my first 18 years in Afghanistan: the 1980s under communism (which I can hardly recall); the civil war of the 1990s (which still gives me nightmares); and the Taliban, who had robbed me of my childhood. | I had spent my first 18 years in Afghanistan: the 1980s under communism (which I can hardly recall); the civil war of the 1990s (which still gives me nightmares); and the Taliban, who had robbed me of my childhood. |
After hours journeying by road, I reached the airport, joining the crowds of fellow travellers. | After hours journeying by road, I reached the airport, joining the crowds of fellow travellers. |
From my seat on the plane, I gave Kabul one last look out of the window. | From my seat on the plane, I gave Kabul one last look out of the window. |
The snow-capped mountains surrounding the airport were the last thing I saw. | The snow-capped mountains surrounding the airport were the last thing I saw. |
I decided to gamble my future on London, alone, with barely any personal belongings, and with no contacts at my final destination. | I decided to gamble my future on London, alone, with barely any personal belongings, and with no contacts at my final destination. |
Changing country | Changing country |
Seven years later, I was returning to my country of origin to meet the woman who may hold the key to stopping others like me leave in future. | Seven years later, I was returning to my country of origin to meet the woman who may hold the key to stopping others like me leave in future. |
Rula Ghani, a Christian, fell in love with and married Ashraf Ghani, a Muslim, 40 years ago. | Rula Ghani, a Christian, fell in love with and married Ashraf Ghani, a Muslim, 40 years ago. |
His election to the presidency has elevated her to a position no previous Afghan first lady has filled in the same way for decades. | His election to the presidency has elevated her to a position no previous Afghan first lady has filled in the same way for decades. |
Before we met, I had to reacquaint myself with my home city, Kabul. A lot has changed in seven years, physically and emotionally. | Before we met, I had to reacquaint myself with my home city, Kabul. A lot has changed in seven years, physically and emotionally. |
Driving from the airport to the BBC office, my first observation was how the roadside trees had grown so much - they looked stronger. | Driving from the airport to the BBC office, my first observation was how the roadside trees had grown so much - they looked stronger. |
Was that also true of the country? | Was that also true of the country? |
From the car window, I was building a picture of how the country was changing. | From the car window, I was building a picture of how the country was changing. |
Where the streets had previously been empty, I could now see Turkish, Italian and American restaurants. Other buildings had been constructed too. | Where the streets had previously been empty, I could now see Turkish, Italian and American restaurants. Other buildings had been constructed too. |
There were no beggars on the streets - a good sign. | There were no beggars on the streets - a good sign. |
I could still see poverty. Not just financial poverty. But sometimes you recognise it in people's eyes: signs of emotional scars, of lost hope, which no politician or international aid could re-ignite. | I could still see poverty. Not just financial poverty. But sometimes you recognise it in people's eyes: signs of emotional scars, of lost hope, which no politician or international aid could re-ignite. |
An empowering future | An empowering future |
The next day we were greeting the first lady, in the palace. We chatted for more than an hour about family, faith, her upbringing, her love of a country she was not born into, and most of all, her ambition. | The next day we were greeting the first lady, in the palace. We chatted for more than an hour about family, faith, her upbringing, her love of a country she was not born into, and most of all, her ambition. |
I hope she can deliver her plan. It involves empowering people to earn respect for whatever role they decide to take up in society. It sounds simple, but I know it is not. | I hope she can deliver her plan. It involves empowering people to earn respect for whatever role they decide to take up in society. It sounds simple, but I know it is not. |
Then for some private time. | Then for some private time. |
My family, whom I had not seen for seven years, travelled two hours across the city by public transport to meet me. Like so many other Afghans, because of the conflict, I do not have many relatives left. | My family, whom I had not seen for seven years, travelled two hours across the city by public transport to meet me. Like so many other Afghans, because of the conflict, I do not have many relatives left. |
The awkward initial formality between us very quickly gave way to laughter, tears and enjoyment of our deep family bond. | The awkward initial formality between us very quickly gave way to laughter, tears and enjoyment of our deep family bond. |
I remembered my conversation with the first lady hours earlier. | |
When she was newly married to Mr Ghani and moved first to Afghanistan, then to America, her family in Lebanon had been unable to speak to her for weeks at a time because of the lack of telecommunications. | |
I do not have that problem now. We all have smartphones. But no smartphone call comes close to being able to meet face-to-face. | I do not have that problem now. We all have smartphones. But no smartphone call comes close to being able to meet face-to-face. |
So, I leave Kabul and my family again. | So, I leave Kabul and my family again. |
But I will return soon. Mrs Ghani is making that possible because she has invited me back to see her work in action in three months. | |
Hopefully, that will mean another longer, more planned family reunion. | Hopefully, that will mean another longer, more planned family reunion. |
The first lady's plan to empower more Afghans is already working for me. | |
Sana Safi is a Pashto TV presenter for the BBC's Afghan Service. You can hear her interview with Rula Ghani again online at bbc.com | Sana Safi is a Pashto TV presenter for the BBC's Afghan Service. You can hear her interview with Rula Ghani again online at bbc.com |
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