Afghan hats off to New York
Posted on 21. Oct, 2010 by Bpeace in 1. Afghanistan, Bpeace Blog
For the Fast Runners, Tuesday was their first day in NYC started with morning orientation at Fenton Communications. Then sandwiches (“Why do Americans like cold food?) and off on a double decker bus to tour Manhattan. There are 6 young men in this group, four women, plus Fahim our Entrepreneurial Advisor in Mazar, and Soraya our Afghan Country Director based in Kabul.
Bpeacers jumping on and off the bus with the Afghans were giddy to see the city through their eyes. The Fast Runners were interested in everything—the people on the street, the architecture, the fact that the buildings were so tall, the lighted billboards in Times Square. When the group reached Battery Park they had such an appreciation to be so close to the water!
Agnes Terestchenko: “The most striking part for me is that they all wanted to go to the Apple store! amazing coming from Mazar! A big Hourrah to Steve Jobs!”
Gita Patel found it fascinating that “they were very interested in taking pictures of buildings under construction (not just Iqbal who is in construction).”
Escorting the Afghans to the film Secretariat, Liz Wald reports “they took everything in stride. At one point the movie cut out completely – right at a climax moment of the final race of the triple crown!! – and they joked about how they had power outages in Afghanistan all the time…ha!”
10 Comments
Athena Katsaros
21. Oct, 2010
They look so happy! And it’s so interesting to see the Afghan men after so many years focusing on women. I think it’s wonderful that we are including them and I can feel they bring a whole new energy to the programs. I’m so looking forward to seeing Kamila here in San Francisco.
Keep the photos and reports coming.
Diann Boehm
21. Oct, 2010
I was really touched by the pictures. You can see the joy and energy jumping off the page. I am so excited for them and look forward to seeing their dreams become realities. Go BPEACE!
Gita
21. Oct, 2010
I had a blast!! What a fun and bright group. Can’t wait to show them around again on Halloween!!
Richard
22. Oct, 2010
They all look happy, so nice to see these pics. Now am feeling jealousy for the Rwandan fast runners who do not get to experience this. I have a dream some day it will happen.
Enjoy the land of opportunities, Go BPEACE
Sharon Marquart
22. Oct, 2010
What a change for each one of these bright souls simply in the exposure they had in exploring a different world together.
Sabra
22. Oct, 2010
It is so fantastic to see what peace can do. All the emphasis on war all over the news, and Bpeace can put people together and get them to smile. Amazing. People need to know.
Lex
22. Oct, 2010
What a great report! I’m so looking forward to being with everyone in NYC next week!
Pamela
22. Oct, 2010
Wonderful to see them all here…and looking so happy. Can’t wait to meet Ajmal, and then the entire group at the Annual Meeting.
SUSAN M
23. Oct, 2010
the group is so vibrant, which makes it a good for them to learn more from this trip. i do hope also the all fast runners from all the countries where Bpeace operates get a chance to have the same experience. keep up the good work Bpeace
Greg T.
24. Oct, 2010
Very cool…It’s inspiring to see people so happy to be in The U.S. and in New York City. (I wonder why we prefer cold food, too!)
I just wrapped up a 4-day business trip to NYC, and these women and men remind me that experiencing the city (versus working in it) is really when I need to do, too.
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