Expat Life in Afghanistan

We value language learning and see it as an important part of our work. So, why do we do it?
Perhaps the most practical reason for learning a local language is for work purposes. When we speak the local language, we can more fully understand different situations: what is going on within communities, what people are really feeling, and when there are hesitancies or various cues from people that may be difficult to pick up on through a translator. There have certainly been development projects that have failed because of the lack of local knowledge, as well as what is going on at the ground level. However, there are other reasons why we value learning the language here, that go beyond the immediate practicality of being able to work in the local language.

My daughter was two years old when I first came to Afghanistan. At the time, I was both excited and apprehensive about what parenting in Afghanistan would be like. Like being a mum anywhere in the world, there have been highs and lows, precious memories made and challenging moments I’ve learned from. My daughter is now seven and we have a one-year-old son, and despite the challenges, I can honestly say that bringing my children up here continues to be a rewarding experience.

Lessons of Hospitality When I first came to Afghanistan, like many people in the West, I thought I was quite good at hospitality. With my husband, I had lived in […]

Linguists in IAM Over the years, IAM has often had the privilege of having some trained linguists on our team; these people have done important work on literacy development and […]

Being an expatriate living in Afghanistan can mean a number of things. Sometimes people are excited to chat with you, at other times, they may feel nervous or uncertain. Of course, the possible perspectives are as diverse as the people that have them. But, you never know what someone might think…