I've just finished reading all the chapters of your memoir; thank you for referring me to them. The story of your life in Afghanistan, and indeed thereafter, is extraordinary, and I am delighted for you that your time in Vienna, and now in the West of Ireland, have been so joyful.
Indeed, where you now live is a beautiful place. Recently my wife and I have found ourselves a bit nostalgic about Ireland. Our work experiences there were not wonderful and clouded our experience in general, but now the happier memories are coming to the fore. We sat at the dinner table the other day singing "the rare auld times" and "on Raglan Road" and feeling Irishly sentimental.
Thank you for reading the memoir all of the way through, John! Not a lot of people know what was going on in the run-up to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan--or what life in Kabul was like before that--so I thought it was important to share the information.
I would not enjoy working in Dublin at all and am very glad I never had to. But if you ever decide to visit the Dingle Peninsula again, please let us know. It would be fun to get together.
The timeline was especially helpful in taking stock of recent history. I was reminded while reading through it, when you wrote about the Taliban, of the single-minded focus on their reading of the Koran, and exclusion of the arts and other kinds of learning. It strikes me that there is a commonality between it and current leadership in the country of our origin--only the religion is greed and the mechanisms that accompany and serve wealth, to the exclusion of all other works of human creativity. This is not a time of "Camelot" in today's White House.
Yes, should we head that way sometime I will certainly let you know.
Thanks for your precise and honest final Epilogue to an amazing series.
The last nearly fifty years of Afghanistan history is so convoluted and complicated yet your summary almost makes it easy to comprehend. (Almost). Reading this I keep thinking how difficult it must have been for the locals. I can imagine some illiterate Afghani villager born around 1960 who tried to remain outside politics as the waves of history erupted around him. I can't imagine that was possible to do.
You also made me think of how much the world has shrunk in the last fifty years. In 1974 I saved my money up in Canada and was determined to travel around the world. Other than reading copies of National Geographic magazine, I had little knowledge of where and when I was going. I simply bought a multi-part plane ticket that ended in Bangkok and headed off in December 1974. I bought one travel guide book but I certainly watched no Youtube videos and studied no books before I went. I just left and trusted that things would work out.
I had heard the words Khyber Pass and Hashish but otherwise the area from India to Istanbul was just a vast clean slate to me. I had no concept of Islam or local politics. I was so lucky to pass through Afghanistan in summer of 1975 when things were relatively calm and bustling. I saw so many amazing things. Some of which western tourists won't likely see again for decades.
I hope that you continue writing and provide a modern Epilogue Part Two in the future.
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Gregory. I, too, spent hours reading National Geographics all the time I was growing up while dreaming about living in many of the places I discovered in those pages--some of which came true.
What an adventure for you to have saved up money and then headed out to explore the world--sight unseen! I love that idea, and it is impossible to do now because--as you say--the world has shrunk so much it would be almost impossible to go some place without knowing at least something about it first.
And yes, those of us who arrived in Kabul in the '70s were really lucky to have had the chance to experience Afghanistan at one of its most open and fascinating periods. Hopefully it will have an even better renaissance in the years to come.
What an incredible, unique experience you had in Afghanistan and I am so happy you have documented so many of the details. You were there at such an historic time and witnessed so many events unfolding. I wonder how much longer the people will put up with such an oppressive regime.
Thank you again for documenting so much of the events of these years from the point of view of someone actually living them! And, I yearn to go to Ireland as well. A life of much joy to balance the many sorrows!
I've just finished reading all the chapters of your memoir; thank you for referring me to them. The story of your life in Afghanistan, and indeed thereafter, is extraordinary, and I am delighted for you that your time in Vienna, and now in the West of Ireland, have been so joyful.
Indeed, where you now live is a beautiful place. Recently my wife and I have found ourselves a bit nostalgic about Ireland. Our work experiences there were not wonderful and clouded our experience in general, but now the happier memories are coming to the fore. We sat at the dinner table the other day singing "the rare auld times" and "on Raglan Road" and feeling Irishly sentimental.
I look forward to reading your other essays ...
Thank you for reading the memoir all of the way through, John! Not a lot of people know what was going on in the run-up to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan--or what life in Kabul was like before that--so I thought it was important to share the information.
I would not enjoy working in Dublin at all and am very glad I never had to. But if you ever decide to visit the Dingle Peninsula again, please let us know. It would be fun to get together.
I love both of those songs, by the way.
The timeline was especially helpful in taking stock of recent history. I was reminded while reading through it, when you wrote about the Taliban, of the single-minded focus on their reading of the Koran, and exclusion of the arts and other kinds of learning. It strikes me that there is a commonality between it and current leadership in the country of our origin--only the religion is greed and the mechanisms that accompany and serve wealth, to the exclusion of all other works of human creativity. This is not a time of "Camelot" in today's White House.
Yes, should we head that way sometime I will certainly let you know.
Thanks for your precise and honest final Epilogue to an amazing series.
The last nearly fifty years of Afghanistan history is so convoluted and complicated yet your summary almost makes it easy to comprehend. (Almost). Reading this I keep thinking how difficult it must have been for the locals. I can imagine some illiterate Afghani villager born around 1960 who tried to remain outside politics as the waves of history erupted around him. I can't imagine that was possible to do.
You also made me think of how much the world has shrunk in the last fifty years. In 1974 I saved my money up in Canada and was determined to travel around the world. Other than reading copies of National Geographic magazine, I had little knowledge of where and when I was going. I simply bought a multi-part plane ticket that ended in Bangkok and headed off in December 1974. I bought one travel guide book but I certainly watched no Youtube videos and studied no books before I went. I just left and trusted that things would work out.
I had heard the words Khyber Pass and Hashish but otherwise the area from India to Istanbul was just a vast clean slate to me. I had no concept of Islam or local politics. I was so lucky to pass through Afghanistan in summer of 1975 when things were relatively calm and bustling. I saw so many amazing things. Some of which western tourists won't likely see again for decades.
I hope that you continue writing and provide a modern Epilogue Part Two in the future.
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Gregory. I, too, spent hours reading National Geographics all the time I was growing up while dreaming about living in many of the places I discovered in those pages--some of which came true.
What an adventure for you to have saved up money and then headed out to explore the world--sight unseen! I love that idea, and it is impossible to do now because--as you say--the world has shrunk so much it would be almost impossible to go some place without knowing at least something about it first.
And yes, those of us who arrived in Kabul in the '70s were really lucky to have had the chance to experience Afghanistan at one of its most open and fascinating periods. Hopefully it will have an even better renaissance in the years to come.
What an incredible, unique experience you had in Afghanistan and I am so happy you have documented so many of the details. You were there at such an historic time and witnessed so many events unfolding. I wonder how much longer the people will put up with such an oppressive regime.
I have no idea. But change will have to come from Afghans themselves now. There is no one left who will rescue them.
Thank you again for documenting so much of the events of these years from the point of view of someone actually living them! And, I yearn to go to Ireland as well. A life of much joy to balance the many sorrows!
Thank you! I'm happy you liked reading the posts. And I highly recommend Ireland.