Comments for Sylvia's Journal

Comment on To scarf or not to scarf by Beauty and Style Tips

Beauty and Style Tips — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:22:48 +0000

In Islam there is no difference between men and women in regards to their relationship to Allah; they are both promised the same reward for good, or punishment for evil conduct.However, it is on account of the differences between men and women in nature, temperament and social life, that a greater amount of veiling is required for women than men, (especially) in the matter of dress.Anyways….
Allah curses those women who wear clothes and yet still remain naked!We should not degrade any one such like “why did Hillary not wear a scarf” if she’s good or bad on her relighious concepts.The scarf is not just for outside infactly, the scarf is for inside really.

Comment on To scarf or not to scarf by sita

sita — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:38:19 +0000

interesting – hadn’t heard about this until reading your blog…

Comment on Fumes by svriesendorp

svriesendorp — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:44 +0000

Hi Bill, nice to meet you this way. So you are a survivor too – I guess it means there is something else for us to do. This is what has taken me to Afghanistan – a kind of deep knowing that this was the right move, despite many people declaring us crazy. But I love it here, despite the lockdowns and limited freedoms. We can leave if we want to, that in itself is the kind of freedom most people in this part of the world don’t have.

Comment on Fumes by Bill Thoms

Bill Thoms — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:22:40 +0000

Hello Sylvia!

You don’t know me but an old friend, Nancy Akerley, visited my wife, Sandy, and me the other day and mentioned you work in Afghanistan, directing me to your blog. I ma fascinated with being able to read on-the-ground comments about the situation there.

Besides our mutual acquaintance, there’s another thing we have in common. I too was a trauma inpatient at UMass Memorial in Worcester. I spent a few days there being treated for a chest injury that shattered several ribs and punctured my lung. So there!

I am looking forward to your future posts. Best wishes,

Bill Thoms
Lanesville

Comment on Fumes by svriesendorp

svriesendorp — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:18:46 +0000

Hi John, I don’t think American (those who haven’t traveled outside Europe and the US) could ever imagine the life of an ordinary Afghan, especially a poor one. Even my colleagues in the ministry, who are considered elite and well off, are asking for simple and basic necessities that we take for granted, like heat when it is cold; or people in public service asking for a paycheck. I read the other day in the NYTimes that the cost of a soldier is about 1 million per (what? day, week, month?) the dollar amount is so astronomical that I can’t even grasp it, not here, not there, not anywhere. Still pulling everyone out now is no solution either. I can’t think of what is. Enjoy the sun on the deck. sounds lovely.
cheers
Sylvia

Comment on Fumes by 25outof25centralasia

25outof25centralasia — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:59:51 +0000

Dear Sylvia:

I like reading your blog and your learning process about how simple things in the world are very complicated in Afghanistan.
It is getting cold as you describe. I think of the village people that have nothing or are in a military attack area, or are on the run, maybe in “displaced persons” camps, just trying to stay alive. As I sit at my keyboard on the Central Coast of California, with the sunshine on my deck and heating up my room, I just wish Americans here in the U.S. could just for one day, walk in the sandals of an Afghani villager. We’ve spent over 221 Billion USD in Afghanistan since 2002, most of it on our soldiers and the weapons of war. Enough is enough.

Thanks for your posts, you are one of the few who actually report from the scene. As for your heater, I think the fumes will always be there, you will just get used to them. String an electricity line from somewhere and plug your heater back in.

Best to you,
John

Comment on Taste by svriesendorp

svriesendorp — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:33:22 +0000

Hi John, thnaks for your interest. Being angry doesn’t help, it’s part of the problem in this country, there are too many angry people and their anger distorts things. I hope you can hit a pillow or shout at the moon to get rid of it.

I am afraid that innocent lives will lost either way, whether we stay or leave; different innocent lives, perhaps, in different places, but lost nevertheless.

I am glad Obama is taking such a long time, there is enough knee-jerking going on about Afghanistan, and has been in the past. It is complex beyond complexity and none of the simple solutions put forward will work as each will create yet a whole host of new problems, like slaying the 7-headed dragon, with each slain head sprouting another 7.

I’ll check out your blog, if it is not too angry.
Best
Sylvia

Comment on Taste by 25outof25centralasia

25outof25centralasia — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:08:57 +0000

Sylvia: It is nice to read what you are doing in Afghanistan.
There’s so little news coming from the ground there that is not government controlled news.

I am so angry at innocent lives being lost I started my own blog, that is how I found you, you popped up on my blog tags.
I want troops out of Central Asia NOW. That is my focus.
http://outofcentralasianow.wordpress.com/

Good luck and be safe.

John

Comment on Opposites by svriesendorp

svriesendorp — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:37:04 +0000

Yeah!!!!

Comment on Opposites by Axel

Axel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:53:08 +0000

After all these months it is wonderful to finally click on the “order” button to buy the ticket to Kabul. The road has been full of waypoints that needed to be passed, and they have often distracted me from the place we are going. I can see it now…and I can see Sylvia.