Roshan Billboard on Salang Pass

I will be a better blogger

So since the incident, I've been getting e-mails and messages asking why I haven't written and how I need to be writing more. So from here on out, I promise I will be a better blogger.

We are still home, but will hopefully be able to go into the office tomorrow. The lockdown has been lifted, so we can move around the city, just the office is still being fixed up.

I most definitely have compound-syndrome, I'm going a little crazy being stuck at home. I haven't been outside of the compound since Friday night. We've been working during the days, but have had to entertain ourselves with countless movies, Nintendo wii and Scrabble at the same time.

Otherwise nothing exciting to report. I don't think I've ever been so excited to go to work in my entire life. It's funny how much you appreciate the small-things after being here, walking and being able to interact outside of a confined space.

More later I promise!

I'm okay!

So I officially deserve the award for worst blogger ever, seeing how I haven’t written in months. In my defense however, things have been quite hectic. Things got quite busy at work and then His Highness the Aga Khan announced his visit to Canada. I took a quick trip home for a week, then was back in Kabul for five days, then back to Dubai, then Paris (for another His Highness the Aga Khan's visit), Amsterdam with a friend and then Vancouver for Christmas.

All of the above trips were phenomenal. The Amsterdam trip in particular was great because I reconnected with a childhood friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in years. It was super nice to catch up on our lives, as well as explore the city together. I fell in love with Amsterdam (despite the awful weather) and definitely see myself going back again. Christmas and New Years in Vancouver were also amazing even though much of the holiday was spent maneuvering around the crazy snow. I’ve never seen that much snow in Vancouver EVER.

I’m back in Kabul now and this past week was hectic. We were on high-alert all week. It was the first anniversary of the bombing of the Serena Hotel so we were on lockdown up until yesterday. Today we were supposed to be free to move around the city, I had planned to go into the office and catch-up on some work. I called a friend of mine to plan when we would leave the compound for the office, but received a call just 10 minutes later saying that there had been an explosion right near the office.

I’m sure you have heard about the explosion by now as from what we’ve heard it’s on the news. I’ve seen it online on a bunch of news websites, but I’m not sure if you are seeing any TV coverage (I’d be interested to know if you are, so please let me know – if anyone is still reading my blog – or lack thereof). The explosion was directly across from our office. Many of the windows are no longer there. The roof of the building I work in has caved in on the third floor. There were several people in the office, from what we’ve heard everyone is okay. One of our guards is apparently injured. We are now on complete lockdown. We cannot leave our compound and everyone is a little on-edge. It’s crazy to think that if the explosion had been tomorrow we would have all been in the office working away. Who knows if we all would be okay?

As much as something like this scares me, it makes me realize that we are so lucky to be safe and alive. Some of you are probably thinking “What is she still doing there? Why hasn’t she taken the first flight out yet?” Maybe I’m crazy, but at this point I don’t think leaving is the answer. This country, even though its not mine, needs us more than ever!

Most important thing is that I'm okay - please do not worry!

I will write soon, I promise.