K-K-K-Kabul!

Who knew it would be so dreary, cold and rainy in Afghanistan? I am not be the most ignorant American, yet I feel I am representing us as a whole quite well in that regard; lots and lots of things I didn't know before I came. Here are a few:

1. Afghanistan is cold and rainy a LOT in springtime
2. Kabul is 6,000 feet above sea level - which doesn't mean elevation sickness but it ain't nuthin!
3. Kabul is located at the foot of the foothills of the Hindu Kush, a steep, snow-capped, jagged range in the Himalaya (you can see them from the city, incredible view!)
4. in 2002, Kabul had a population of 1 million; current population is approx. 4 million (mostly returning refugees, mainly from Pakistan, where they fled during the Taliban occupation)
5. There are 2,000 internationals in Kabul working in NGO's or independently as part of the rebuilding effort
And finally,
6. The whole situation of women here in Afghanistan BLOWS! (Okay, I DID know that before I came here, but having been here for a week and a half and having to try to live by these stupid, oppressive, de-humanizing rules has given me an opportunity to experience firsthand and see for myself that these rules are, in fact, BULLSHIT!

There, I said it.

More on everything here later.