I recently returned to Afghanistan after a 2 1/2 year hiatus. The trip was fantastic, emotional, joyful, frustrating and saddening. I saw old friends (and their beautiful new babies) and visited families as much as possible. I laid the ground for my fieldwork beginning in mid-September 2008 and garnered a good level of support for my research from ministerial offices and key aid/development actors in Kabul as well as in Maymana. I am fortunate to have such diverse support resources, and it is having access to these valuable supports that reminds me that if anyone can carry out this research project, I can.
My first fieldwork trip will take place in Faryab province--a relatively comfortable and familiar place to get warmed up to practicing independent research in rural settlements. I hope to have six solid weeks to spend in up to three settlements, each in a different district.
I've received enough pressure from friends to decide to keep this blog active throughout my year of fieldwork, which, after Faryab, will take me to Kunduz and Badakhshan provinces into mid-2009
.
So, stay tuned!