Khulm Road Project....

Trip to Khulm....

The other day was an interesting day... I went to what I thought was your average normal job kick off meeting... For a new road project near Khulm. But instead it turned into an event. With lots of Afghan traditions and ceremony.

This project is an important project because it is building a new road connecting many small villages from Khulm to Kunduz and we are building 3 new wells for villages along that new road... These wells are very important to these people, for some of these villages have very limited access to water which disappears in the summer months... It was touching the welcome we had in the villages we visited, to be a part of connecting these communities and providing a life source like water is a wonderful feeling.

First I met with the German Representative that are sponsoring this project. That in itself was interesting... We went into a room in a home in Khulm with a small stove in the middle of the room for heat... Sat on pillows on the floor and enjoyed nuts and hot tea... I enjoyed the nuts and held the tea for warmth only.... And we had our discussion sitting on the floor... We then walked over to the government office and had a meeting with the Governors local Representative, the Mayor and had a meeting with him and other local dignitaries ... I had to speak and represent TI ... Was asked questions about helping the local community and using local labor...The town is excited to have us come to the area and bring jobs to the community. This was without any real knowledge regarding the scope of the project or anything.... It went very well... I didn't know I was going to be the guest of honor at these meetings... From there we went out to the site with the Mayor and others with a police escort for security to visit some local village elders... Lots of security and again I was the guest of honor... I had not expected this honor......I was Introduced to the elders and had to give a short speech at each village about what we were bringing to the village and were excited to become a part of their community.

We then walk all together to locate where the Elders of the Village wanted to place the water well and they showed us the new school being built. It actually felt like being on a health mission, the welcoming. becoming a part of the community and actually building something that will affect and change life's for years to come.

I am excited about being a part of a project like this.