From: Leslie Knott
Date: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:08:27 AM Canada/Pacific
To: MOM
Subject: Chicken Street Blast
Attachments: There are 5 attachments
You may have heard that there was a suicide bomb in Kabul on Saturday. Just to let you know - I am safe. And still living far far away from Kabul.
I am in Maimana. It is a small village in the northern region of Afghanistan...It's 1 hour and 45 minutes by plane from Kabul, and probably 24 hours driving from Kabul. It is peaceful and quiet. There have been no reports of violence or danger. Think Little House on the Prairie - Afghan style. The weather has changed, it is biting cold, and we're stocking our cold storage with potatoes, carrots and onions for the coming winter. Each morning we have fresh milk from a local cow.
There is no cell phone coverage. When you want to talk to someone you really have to go knocking on their door...It's kind of nice though...
And I am working on this radio station that IMPACS is building from scratch. It is a HUGE task. Especially for me, who just recently graduated from broadcasting school. I must admit I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the prospect of it..and I am just taking it day by day. Because if I think about the enormity of the task - I get freaked out.
There is so much to do. We are doing massive renovations on a building that was being held together by tattered straw and mud plaster. It is an exciting project to be involved in. And I feel the anticipation of creating something from nothing. Seven women are working with me as the founding journalists of '88.5 Radio Quyaash' - Maimana's new music mix..Well - actually I will take a couple of steps back. So far we're on the air for three hours a day...and that is just the women playing around with Cool Edit, playing music and recording their voices. The equipment is supplied through another NGO - and for all of you reading this from BCIT - it surpasses our equipment by leaps and bounds.
Today we started planning our programs. This Sunday we will launch two two hour programs: Matters of Women for one hour - and Youth Voice for the other hour. I spent the afternoon breaking down the segments that should be a part of each show...intro, music, interviews, poetry reading, and community announcements. We're installing mailboxes around the village so people in the community can have their voice heard as well.
Radio is huge in Maimana. With an 80% illiteracy rate - it is the medium of choice for entertainment. Small handheld radios are everywhere. But right now there is only one state run station to listen to. And they only broadcast for two hours a day. So Radio Quyaash really is the buzz of the town. Or village....
This morning we woke early to attend the Monday bazaar. The people I am living with are looking for a certain type of cow to distribute to widows who need some sort of income generation project. We didn't find any of them..but we did see a whole bunch of other animals...I have enclosed in the first batch of photos Market Day this morning. I will send another bunch of pictures from what life in Maimana looks like.
Hope you are doing well. Thinking of you often...but feeling like my time here is passing by quickly! Also the election period went by peacefully, except for this latest blast in Kabul...The ballots are still being counted - but the US has already declared the winner. - Funny how they are able to do that?
Take care, miss you,
xoxoxoxox
Leslie
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Cheers!
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