Afghanistan day 166: NMAA Amissions (continued)

"Me and my three other brothers sacrificed for this day.  Our young[est] brother will take the exam here today.  The rest of us, we work so he can get education.  We work so he can study.  We work all the life so he can study.  We never study."

me: "I will pray for you and your brother that he will do his best and have a good test."  

He hands me a passport sized photo of a clean, smiling boy in his late teens/early twenties.  

"This [is] my brother."

me: "Thank you for helping your brother have a chance to study.  You are a good brother.  You are a good family."

Afghanistan Day 165: NMAA Admissions (continued)

I have a special relationship with the Generals and selected esteemed Col's at NMAA because I give them English lessons, particularly in reading and speaking.  Being a teacher in Afghanistan warrants respect second only to motherhood and Allah.  This means I am treated with respect and care that are not usually afforded to the American Advisory team in place.  

Since I double as the team photographer, I get to wander around everywhere on campus and observe nearly everything.  While I was taking photos yesterday, the top general at my school beckoned to me to go join him on the presentation stage. 

I obliged and he ordered me to eat some "very delicious delicious fruit."  

I complied.  It was delicious and I told him so.  He asked my opinion about how the day was unfolding and I told him it was better than I expected and why.  He took it all in and thought for a bit and then I mentioned that I had to leave to get back to my photo mission.  He replied: "You do all that walking around and then you will get hungry and when you get hungry you will come back here and eat more fruit!"  I smiled and said: "Yes, Sir!" 

Afghanistan Day 165: NMAA

This week is ADMISSIONS at NMAA.

This means 5,000 candidates have shown up from all over Afghanistan. 

Some travel for up to 2 weeks to attend the admissions process to NMAA.

Literally every province and ethnicity is represented.

Today was the last day of the process, which concluded with an entrance exam called Kancor (similar to SAT/ACT). 

Here at the N-M-AA (en-em-uh), we run to our exams!

Being "runny" at en-em-uh...

Afghanistan Day 163: NMAA

Admissions @ NMAA

Everybody wants to be famous...