In Islamabad
Well we made it. The twelve hour plane ride to Dubai (first time in that part of the world) and then the three hour hop to Pakistan (which I almost missed while mailing postcards) are now over. We got into the airport at 2:15 am and fell asleep at a hotel by 5. Ah, how good can a bed feel?
We have spent the last three hours at the HDF offices having an excellent conversation with Mr Saleem, CEO. Loren is starting to envision some possibilities. We were more overt about who we are (gave business cards) than last time but it felt right. Mr. Saleem was aware enough that nothing was a surprise for him.
I think we will try to see a few of the sights in Islamabad this afternoon ( such as the Faisal Mosque, one of the largest in the world) before collapsing into bed. I just received an e-mail from Sen. Soomro's personal secretary that he is coming back from the US tonight and we may be able to meet him tomorrow. Insh'allah. That would be great.
After that we plan to drive (actually be driven, although we had investigated renting motorbikes and doing it ourselves, we discovered that it a) wasn't possible to obtain the bikes needed, and b) strongly discouraged) to Bugna, and then probably on to Balakot the next day (13th). I need to back in Is-bad by the evening of the 14th.
I am definitely interested in seeing Bugna. I just found out that they will have to move the field hospital, as the man who donated the land wants it back. Those of you who were there will remember Babar. He is a neighbour, and village elder. He has agreed to give some land for the new location. He was in Islamabad with Mr. Mustabar yesterday speaking with Mr. Saleem.
Things are starting to fall into place for our time here. I also received an invitation from Ali Gohar in Peshawar to connect with him. He leads JustPeace International, the NGO we connected with in Balakot. So there may a trip out there also, or that may happen after I leave just with Loren and maybe Mr. Munawar.
For those wondering about my family while I am gone, my mother should be arriving in a few hours to help. Lori still has one paper left and continues to tutor in the evenings. So my wonderful mother has agreed to come out to Pennsylvania while I am gone. This means she won't see me at all, her own flesh and blood, her youngest son! Ok, ok, I realize that after grandkids come the kids are not nearly as important. Regardless, thanks MOM! That is a wonderful gift you are giving us over Mother's Day.
I may connect briefly tomorrow but otherwise expect to be out of e-mail contact until my layover in Dubai on the 15th.
Allah hafiz.
Well we made it. The twelve hour plane ride to Dubai (first time in that part of the world) and then the three hour hop to Pakistan (which I almost missed while mailing postcards) are now over. We got into the airport at 2:15 am and fell asleep at a hotel by 5. Ah, how good can a bed feel?
We have spent the last three hours at the HDF offices having an excellent conversation with Mr Saleem, CEO. Loren is starting to envision some possibilities. We were more overt about who we are (gave business cards) than last time but it felt right. Mr. Saleem was aware enough that nothing was a surprise for him.
I think we will try to see a few of the sights in Islamabad this afternoon ( such as the Faisal Mosque, one of the largest in the world) before collapsing into bed. I just received an e-mail from Sen. Soomro's personal secretary that he is coming back from the US tonight and we may be able to meet him tomorrow. Insh'allah. That would be great.
After that we plan to drive (actually be driven, although we had investigated renting motorbikes and doing it ourselves, we discovered that it a) wasn't possible to obtain the bikes needed, and b) strongly discouraged) to Bugna, and then probably on to Balakot the next day (13th). I need to back in Is-bad by the evening of the 14th.
I am definitely interested in seeing Bugna. I just found out that they will have to move the field hospital, as the man who donated the land wants it back. Those of you who were there will remember Babar. He is a neighbour, and village elder. He has agreed to give some land for the new location. He was in Islamabad with Mr. Mustabar yesterday speaking with Mr. Saleem.
Things are starting to fall into place for our time here. I also received an invitation from Ali Gohar in Peshawar to connect with him. He leads JustPeace International, the NGO we connected with in Balakot. So there may a trip out there also, or that may happen after I leave just with Loren and maybe Mr. Munawar.
For those wondering about my family while I am gone, my mother should be arriving in a few hours to help. Lori still has one paper left and continues to tutor in the evenings. So my wonderful mother has agreed to come out to Pennsylvania while I am gone. This means she won't see me at all, her own flesh and blood, her youngest son! Ok, ok, I realize that after grandkids come the kids are not nearly as important. Regardless, thanks MOM! That is a wonderful gift you are giving us over Mother's Day.
I may connect briefly tomorrow but otherwise expect to be out of e-mail contact until my layover in Dubai on the 15th.
Allah hafiz.
posted by Jon UB at 5:32 AM
2 Comments:
Hi stranger!
Wow, I never thought of it before, but blogs were MADE for you. I am a little jealous that you got to go to Dubai. I recently saw a special about mega-structures with the palm-shaped island they've constructed and was amazed by what unhindered greed disguised as tourism marketing can accomplish.
Hope all is well with you and the family. I am up to my eyeballs in middle-school boys almost every day now.
Oh, and I put up a blog too (humor, of course)called "Cruel Lilacs" http://fusionfoundry.blogspot.com. (You will probably recognized my most recent post).
Very pretty site! Keep working. thnx!
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