Its Kabultown

Back again for Round Three. I am supposed to be here for about six or seven weeks this time but it has managed to be spectacularly unproductive so far. I left the US almost two weeks ago, arrived in Kabul one week ago, and have spent three days in the office so far because we have spent the past four days in lockdown. There was an attack on the US embassy on my way here so I got stuck in Dubai for five days while the school decided if it was safe for me to move on. Three days after I got here, there was a major assassination that killed the former president Rabbani and we have been in lockdown or observing the official government three days of mourning since then. Although I have managed to get some work done in the meantime, its difficult to concentrate right after an attack and then after a couple days in the house, everyone is antsy. But because I dont like being bored, I have managed to organize a dance party, a movie night, and a brunch day. When you are stuck in the compound, you have to make your own fun and actually I think that we have been doing a pretty good job. Oddly enough, even though I am starting to feel a little claustrophobic, its pretty much what I anticipated my time here to be, so its not been too difficult to handle. But that said, hopefully there wont be any attacks for a while so that we can get out and do something that doesnt involve our living room, outside gym, or table tennis table.