Hello From Kabul
Dear Steph,
I wrote to you last year after I discovered climbing, and shared my blog post “What I love about Climbing”. I was so encouraged by your reply, and happy that meditation is something that has made an impression upon you too.
Well, since last year, things have moved on…I continued to climb hard indoors in London, and went on holiday to the Czech Republic where we used “soft gear” to climb Czech Sandstone. It was awesome! I really loved the feel of the rock, as well as the volcanic rock we climbed. They have this cool tradition where, when you get to the top, there’s a notebook for you to sign your name and date. I really love that!
Earlier this year, I was looking for a job and a recruiter phoned me about a job working as a contractor in Kabul. Ever eager for adventure, I pondered on the possibility, my first thought being “I wonder if there’s a climbing wall in Kabul..?” So I googled “climbing wall” and “Kabul”, and this came up:
http://skateistan.org/skateistan_blog/kabuls-first-climbing-wall-built-skateistan
Watching all the video’s on YouTube – like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8dYtWXCYE8 – I was so excited by the project: empowering disadvantaged children through the medium of skateboarding, teaching them co-operation, self-reliance, risk taking and giving them an outlet for play and creativity. Hearing that the project had just constructed a climbing wall – knowing how much climbing has helped me (particularly as an Asian woman) to develop my own self-confidence – I was desperate to come and be part of it.
And here I am, just a few months later, working as Skateistan’s Finance Officer and Accountant in Kabul. Climbing is in its early days here, so it is wonderful to be in a position where I can encourage people to take it up. At the moment, we only have top ropes, which prevents many kids from trying it out. Only a few of the staff know how to belay too. For me, climbing and skateboarding are both about attention, mind and body united, being fully in the present moment. All the same, it is weird to be learning such a “dynamic” sport; for me, climbing is usually a slower, more “static” sort of thing. I would like to develop a boulder/traverse area around the bottom of the climbing wall, so that it is more accessible to the kids and staff. At the moment though, it is difficult to get proper mats and more holds.
As you must’ve heard, recently, two New Zealand sisters, made the second ascent of Baba Tangi, the highest mountain in the eastern sector of the Afghan Hindu Kush. Right now, we can only dream that Afghan women might conquer their own mountains. If you want to hear more about climbing at Skateistan, watch the video posted here:
http://skateistan.org/skateistan_blog/watch-skateistan-climbing-video-here
Enjoy!
Hiranya
PS I’m really looking forward to your next book. I couldn’t imagine being able to write in such varied settings. For me, I need peace and quiet, and everything to be neat and tidy, in order to write! Weird, huh?!
Dear Hiranya,
That is a great story of adventure, congratulations to you for everything!! Thanks very much for writing, and for the links. I wish you lots of luck as the program grows!!
🙂 Steph
