Where I’ve Been…And Why I’m Back In Afghanistan
In 2009, I spent more time in Afghanistan than anywhere else in the world.
From embeds with US soldiers to Kabul barrooms, for better and worse, I’d made Afghanistan my home. My longest vacation was a ten-day break in September to attend the wedding of a good friend in New York, after which it was right back to Kabul so I wouldn’t miss any developments in the never-ending election drama.
Needless to say, I was suffering from a serious case of burnout by the end of the year. Combat, suicide bombings, attacks on the capital and bronchitis, had worn me thin and I was about twenty pounds lighter when I arrived in Philadelphia last month for a long vacation.
But something else had also gotten to me, that made me stop writing at Afghan Desk as much as I used to: I felt like nobody really cared. It wasn’t that people didn’t care about Afghan Desk–your awesome emails, Facebook messages and webtraffic told me you were interested–I just began to feel that people in the states didn’t really care about what went on here generally. I wasn’t having luck pitching stories, and many of my American freelance colleagues were having similar problems, even though I felt that our stories were solid. Very few news-outlets spend much time covering the war, and those that do, generally rely on AP copy, which is great reporting, but it means that everybody has the same stories.
Maybe it’s silly, but that really frustrated me.
So when I returned to Philadelphia for Christmas, I took a pretty heavy sense of disillusionment (and let’s be honest, self-pity) with me. But a funny thing happened then.
Everywhere I went, people wanted to know what it was like over here. They wanted to know the big, political, troop-surge, stuff, but also the little things, like what people wear, what the schools are like and how the music sounds. And it was everybody, not just my friends or NPR types. The guy painting my parent’s house buttonholed me for thirty minutes, rapid-firing questions at me about all things Afghan. I think he woulda’ kept me there all day if he didn’t have to finish the ceiling.
These conversations really energized me, and renewed my purpose to tell the story of this place. I got back to Kabul today and haven’t been this excited about going to work in months. I hope this new energy comes through at Afghan Desk, and you all enjoy the ride.
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Welcome back, PJ. Very much looking forward to your next post.
So glad to see you back!
Oh please stick with it for a bit longer if you can! Ive only just recently discovered your writings and I find them quite fascinating. AP (and etc) can tell me all about troops surges and what not, if they must. But its the detail and the nuance and the everyday that interest me and many others like me Im sure. Your sharp eye of observation makes your work unmissable. Take care, and thank you!
Like lornacarsley, I too have just begun following you, and this site for that matter. I think your perspective is extremely important and interesting, especially since you are right there in the action. I am a Sophmore in college and joined this website to try and educate myself a little better about what is going on in the world and get other peoples’ opinions/perspectives. They don’t tell enough on the news and everything I hear about Afghanistan and the war has become a bit mundane and numbing. So I just wanted to write and say thank you for your news and stories and keep ‘em coming!
How dare you think we’re not interested?
I, for one, am dying to hear a lot more, but — as people are telling you — the day to day stuff, the intimate details that boring stuffy, old-school newspapers and wires and broadcasters won’t make time and space for.
The more mundane, for me, the better. Tell us what’s on the shelves of an Afghan drugstore or supermarket (if they exist) and who’s buying what and can they afford it? I want to know much more about NON military/political stuff and much more detailed stuff about everyday life for men, women, kids and teens in every level of income. Is there, for one thing, any ethnic diversity (blacks, Asians, Hispanics) in the country beyond NGO types?
Tell me about their medicine, education, music, art, literature…
You do indeed have readers ready to listen.
Thumbs up PJ!
Well that explains things. SK and I were just talking about you last week. I asked him if he had heard from you and he said he hadn’t and we were both a little worried about you. I am glad to know you are back and ready to keep telling the stories. There are many of us who read them and care.
So glad you’re back! I was imagining you wandering around so far away, sick and lonely. Looking forward to more of your insights and descriptions …
[...] week saw the return of Afghan Desk, along with an explanation about where I’ve been and why I’m back. Our return was celebrated with an hour long [...]