AUAF (American Uni of Afghanistan) faculty killed at La Taverna (read this post please)

[brinker]

I have spent the last 3 days trying to return to Kabul.  A delayed flight resulted in me spending a night in San Francisco airport (yes, I have friends there who would have put me up, but it was 11 pm by the time I got everything sorted out with the airline, and I wasn't going to call them

Comments

[chu_hi]

I never take it for granted for a moment. How scary that it was a place you have been to, and how very sad about your friend. I hope things get better there, rather than worse.

[brinker]

Thanks for the comments, and I hope things get better as well, although I'll admit to not being optimistic.

[colonelperry42n]

I'm so sorry about that; I can only imagine how you must feel right now :(( You have no idea how safe I am just frolicking around Islamabad; it's stories like this that make me realize that if I lived just a few km away, how much danger I could be in.

Now that it's 2014, do you think you're going to leave any time soon? Will they be funding you any more?

[brinker]

We still have our funding, and just got a major grant to start a masters program. So I'm still around. I'm looking at leaving next year, but more for boredom/time to move on reasons than for security reasons.

[colonelperry42n]

that's cool that they'll have a masters program. . .I really worry about how the US leaving will affect the area; I'm also curious to see what will happen over there.

[brinker]

And for what it's worth, I don't really think about it being dangerous in Kabul, either. I think that's just a natural reaction to living in these places. But things like this do remind you.

[silja]

I was wondering about that, when we talked yesterday, but I didn't want to say anything cause I figured you may not be allowed to talk about it. I am so sorry you lost a friend.

[brinker]

We weren't not allowed to talk about it. There was a period of I don't know how many hours between when we were given names and when the names were released to the media, but I don't think anyone would have cared if they were mentioned in privately discussions with friends who didn't know. And outside of that, there really wasn't anything to mention anyway.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[leidhen]

I heard about the attack and was worried about you. I'm really sorry about your friend.

Do you think these attacks will intensify this year?

[brinker]

Thanks. And I have no doubt they'll intensify a lot. There have already been a lot more attacks since 2014. There used to be an attack every 2-3 weeks. We've had about 1 a week so far in 2014.

[klubwerks]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend! I think about you out there and I hope you stay safe!

[brinker]

Thanks. It's appreciated.