Interlude Ends

Ok, the stuff about the girls' school was a nice interlude, but today reality came back. A UN 'guesthouse'—which is the term for the house where expats who are working here live—was attacked this morning. It is 9:30 here, and no one quite knows what is happening. BBC says that 3 people are dead and there is a gun battle. The young Afghan woman I am sharing my office with says there have been a coordinated rocket attacks on the Serena Hotel and some Ministry offices, but who knows.

Meanwhile, these attacks have prompted my office mate—a delightful young woman who is going to college at night, has a 7 year old son, and a husband in Russia making money—to give me just a glimpse of her life:

• Her son didn't go to school today because his school is in the area where the fighting is.
  
• She hopes things clear up—she has a test tonight in her class.
  
• The Taliban has been blowing up the Universities in Islamabad. She is afraid that they will move that lovely tactic to Kabul Universities soon.
  
• Her brother has stopped attending class, and just studies from home—he was tired of being hassled by the Taliban recruiters at the University. If there is a University attack, she thinks it likely to be a student recruited from the University that does it.
  
• She says she is scared. I think if a rational response.
  

Finally, to show you how our experiences are so different, I was outside when a huge helicopter went over (it may have been a Chinook, but hey, I ain't reading Jane's regularly). I stood and watched, and even walked over to get a clearer view. The Afghan guy I was with made a quick exit to get inside the building. I think 'cool', he thinks 'problem'.