Take Me to Afghanistan

Day two of Blogtember states 'If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?'

I would love to leave the comforts of my home and travel to the part of the world I have never been, the Middle East.  Specifically I would like to spend three months in Afghanistan and do two things: work with a humanitarian aid organization and tell the story of the people I meet by working as a documentary photographer.

(Pictured: Alexandra Boulat)

I remember listening to a program on NPR during my commute years ago and hearing about a journalist who befriended two girls from an Afghan brothel and ended up buying their freedom. At the same time a book was recommended to me about a woman who started a beauty school in Kabul to give women a profession after the Taliban had been disbanded.  Both of real life stories impacted me so much I was inspired to go to Cambodia with my training in hairdressing and do something similar.  Perhaps open up a school or just own a salon with apprenticeships I can give to women we rescue from the brothels there.


My parents flew me out to Cambodia on the last leg of their backpacking trip around South East Asia. It was there that I  saw with my own eyes on one street, nothing but beauty salons and barber shops side by side.  Certainly not a need for a beauty school.  We managed to choose one out of the line up and went inside to meet the girls inside.  We were with one of the missionaries working in Cambodia and the salon let me cut her hair.  They graciously let me use their equipment and experience the life of a Cambodia hairdresser. The Cambodian girl washed my friend's hair before I cut it and the process was really interesting as it was different from what I was used to back in the US.  She wet her hair down and lathered it up with lots of suds in the chair and then had her walk over to where they would rinse it all off.


During my trip to Cambodia and meeting with missionaries there I realised the problem is more of a catch-22.  Any girls who were able to leave that lifestyle would go back due to the fact they could never make more money outside the brothel.  While I fell in love with Cambodia (and left a piece of my heart there), I realised my ideas of helping out the less fortunate with the passions I held was not going to work in this country.  Although I physically left the country on a plane, my desire to do something more still fueled inside of me.


I would love to go somewhere most people who travel never see in their lifetime. To experience life in place that is far from anything I have 'called home' before. To meet the people.  It makes sense that my role models are humanitarians like Audrey Hepburn and Angelina Jolie. I was very much inspired by Angelina's onscreen work in Beyond Borders as well as her real life work documented in her book, Notes from my Travels.  With my profession in photography I love to capture the world, the people, and the details around me. To connect with life and share it with those who were not there.  As challenging as it would be, I think in the end it would be so rewarding to spend three months with aid work in Aghanistan working as documentary photographer. Yet I know that I do not have the skills now that I would need. Which led me to this video about the RISC: Reporters Instructed in Saving Collegues. This is a nonprofit organization which provides battlefield first aid training to freelance conflict journalists.


I wanted to also bring to light a photographer who has inspired me. A photojournalist from Liverpool, England who 'photographed the experience of war from the perspective of the individual'. His name is Tim Hetherington and he was killed in 2011 while covering the conflict in Libya. His film Restrepo won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and nominated in 2011 for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards. The co-director, Sebastian Junger, is the one who started the npo, RISC.


Books I recommend: You can read more about Tim Hetherington in the book Here I Am  read about Angelina Jolie's work as the UNHCR ambassador in Notes from My Travels  and about the women behind the veil in the book Kabul Beauty School







Q: If you had three months to do anything, what would it be and why?

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On the note of photography I am pleased to introduce you to one of my new sponsors for September, Jess from Mocha Fox.  Does she not remind you of the Khalessi from Game of Thrones in the photo below?  Not just a beautiful person but a beautiful soul who loves to take her inspiration and put it into her photography.  You definitely should check out one of her favourite photo sessions entitled, 'Water Nymph'. I really love the way she uses the the natural light and my favourites are the ones of the model in the water. You can connect with Jess by clicking the social media links below in the image. 

Image Map


* photographs in today's post are not owned by ACR and are sourced.


38 comments:

  1. I think doing something to help women get out of brothels, and what an experience it would be.
    Hope you get the opportunity to do that someday :)

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  2. Would love to know how I could help. x

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  3. It's so cool how every single thing we learn to do or know how to do can make a greater impact than we realise (eg. photography and hairdressing). I have SUCH admiration for journalists in conflict areas... how would we know what's going on without them, putting their lives on the line.

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  4. Oh I know and its always so sad to hear about those that have not made it back home. :( I love WWII history and looking back through all the old photos and film taken during that time. What a career.

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  5. This is great! It would definitely be an adventure to go to a place that really needs help and do what little we can for them. I will definitely be checking out the book about the hair dresser in Kabul, it seems like such an inspirational story, and the fact that it is true just makes it that much better. I have also wanted to help women in such situations. I have considered using my studies in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology to help girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. As women, we need to empower other women and make sure they know that they mean something in this world.

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  6. You are a brave lady and I admire your noble ambition. Wishing you success on your journey!

    Enjoyed your post! See you tmr! (●⌒∇⌒●)

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  7. Oh Jenn that would be so great to use your knowledge in criminal justice and forensic psychology to battle the evils of those rescued from the sex trade. Such a huge issue all over the world. I whole heartedly agree along side you! x

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  8. I've been wrestling with whether or not to comment or what to comment for almost an hour now - I don't want to be a downer on this very inspirational and admirable post, but I'm a career military officer and I've got a slightly different perspective on all this. That, and my uncle was a career news producer working to embed war correspondents with forces and governments in Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Afghanistan is no place to take lightly. If you look into any non-governmental organization or humanitarian aid organization, make sure they're affiliated and coordinated with the coalition troops on the ground and have adequate security. Even Angelina Jolie doesn't travel anywhere without a whole retinue of personal security. On top of that, Afghanistan is a place where women have no rights. None. Not just you, but the women you try to help. They can be killed for even talking to you. What you want to do is truly noble, but the most noble ideas have gotten people killed and worse.

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  9. Wow, I think that's a very noble ambition, and very beautifully written. I saw a documentary about Tim Hetherington, and I found him to be such an inspiration. I only wish I could be as brave as he was.

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  10. I loved the Kabul Beauty School book and I've just finished Deborah Rodriguez's fiction book which is also based in Kabul, which was a great book to read.

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  11. What a powerful entry and such an admirable one. I love beyond borders and I love how Angelina's time in Cambodia really did change her perspective on everything. I've never heard of Hetherington before but will definitely have to check out his work. I hope you get to fulfill your ambition someday soon. Thanks for sharing :)


    abroadsworld.blogspot.com

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  12. I would love it if we could do something like this together. We have different talents and skills so it would be awesome to encourage each other and share our experiences at the end of the day.

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  13. Wow! What a great idea - and a very admirable one! I hope you get the chance to do this one day.

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  14. Great post. When I saw your first image on my bloglovin feed, I went OMG. But then, "wait a minute...!" There was a point in my life that I, too, wanted to travel to the far reaches of the world and photograph the unseen. I think it's such a noble thing, to document a dangerous area with only one weapon of choice - a camera and its vision.


    If I could go to any place for three months, I would be a total sissy and just go to the usual tourist areas - England, France, Japan, etc. I want to experience those places in person, not just through some else's camera.

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  15. I already said this on twitter, but I want to say it again here... I love this post! I also crave to visit countries that most people will never see... Afghanistan and Sudan ranking at the top of my list. Would be incredible to contribute in some way... I have a couple of friends working for humanitarian agencies there now and it sounds amazing. Someday! {over Jurgen's dead body, ha!} xxx

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  16. Wow Bonnie, you really left me speachless.....while i was thinking about what I wanted to do for 3 month (thinking just about myself & my own wishes), you wanted to do somethins THAT nobel!? I admire you......
    There's no more doubts why i liked your blog right away, after i accidentally found it some time ago......


    xo,
    Luchessa.org

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  17. This is such a great and inspiring post. It really speaks to your character that you could choose anywhere in the world, and yet you would like to go and help others! Fantastic pictures too!!

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  18. It truly is a beautiful culture. I can see why you would want to capture it.

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  19. What a beautiful and inspiring post on helping other cultures. I hope you get to live that dream one day. I'd devour every word and visual.

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  20. Thank you Valerie. I am inspired by everyone's encouraging words! x

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  21. I agree and sad that war becomes the focus away from that beautiful culture. x

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  22. Thank you so much Jess. Maybe one day! I would def jump at the opportunity. x

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  23. Its def not something I could do easily. Logistics of being in Afghanistan aside I would then have to be able to leave my kids and husband for three months. I would def jump at the chance if it came to me though.

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  24. Thank you so much Jenna. You are a doll. Sudan yes. Do any of those friends blog about their experiences? I'd love to at least live vicariously through someone until the opportunity presents itself ;)

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  25. I love how you worded that 'one weapon of choice - a camera and its vision'. You def have to see England, france, and Japan with your own eye! I concur! In fact I will go along right side of you and say I need to see Japan too! I have been in the Tokyo airport many times but on my way somewhere else as a connecting flight. :(

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  26. That would def be an awesome opportunity mum. I remember when you wanted to try going to Bosnia. x

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  27. Lindsey, yes I love how it just impacted and changed the way she saw the world. Do check out Hetherington, I really love his work. x

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  28. Are there more than one or just one by Rodriguez? x

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  29. Thank you Rachel. I def will have to check out that documentary...I too would love to have that bravery. x

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  30. I think if you feel the urge to really do & change something for the better, there are also ways to do that in the country you currently live. People always remember hospitals, orphanages and differentl kind of teen facilities around Christmas time of the year. But i guess there is something to do all year around.
    As you are a photographer, there is a chance to offer classes to those teens for example. I know 2 photographers here in town, who did that as charity and it was a big success.
    So what i'm saying when there is a will, there's a way :) I'm sure you will have your chance to do something big. :) xo

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  31. I absolutely love this post and I'll tell you why, because it's very personal to me. Back in 2005 I voluntarily deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan when I was in the Air Force. And it was the best decision I ever made. While others moped about being deployed, I learned enough Farsi to make friends with them, I snuck out after hours and ate dinner with them. I took charge of Adopt-A-Village, a program where people in the U.S. would send over clothes, food, toys for the families there. I remember spending hours upon hours, organizing it all so that everyone got an equal share and then going on convoys to hand them out. What people will never understand, unless they have been is when I say that those people were, and still are, the kindest people I've ever met in my entire life. Often if I think about them too much I tear up because I miss them. I worry about them. So thank you for sharing this. So many people chose travel for the sake of travel and I totally get that but this post really speaks volumes of who you are, so thanks for giving us a glimpse. Cheers!

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  32. Your story is so inspiring to me Aubrey! Seriously would love to just sit down for a coffee and hear all your stories. I can only imagine what it must be like to think of the people you built friendships with being back home. Have you shared or written about any of your time over there on your blog? Ps. just hopped over and left a comment, really glad we connected! x

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  33. I've shared on older blogs but I think I probably should on this one because there are so many stories to tell. Thanks for your comments. :) I'm really glad we connected too!

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  34. Oh definitely and let me know if you do, I'd love to read about it!

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  35. I would travel to Afghanistan tomorrow! It looks like such an amazing country!!!

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  36. I think she has written two books, The Kabul Beauty School & The little Cafe in Kabul (or something very similar in title).

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I love to interact with my readers and I try my best to respond back to all comments.

Cheers,
Bonnie Rose

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