Wistfulness fills my heart as I write this letter. Last October 3rd I began a very long and very winding tour around this country, speaking to thousands of folks about the lessons I learned from the children of Mehan and Sitara orphanages and the Afghans who direct them. This was something I had not planned. In fact, upon my return from Kabul I had no plan at all. The speaking tour seemed to take on a life of its own. You are the people who made it happen. Sixth graders to a room full of octogenarians, Democrats to Independents to Republicans, rich people and poor, you showed me what is universal about our identity as Americans. We are not, by and large, who they say we are in the news. I did not see the so-called cultural war. You are thoughtful, caring, giving and inquisitive. You are warm of spirit, funny and feeling. You inspire me to do more, to walk forward, or as Farzana would say to fall, and in falling to be given wings.
Now that part of this journey is over. I prepare to leave March 11th for Italy where I will give a presentation to the Italian supporters of AFCECO. I will also visit Mahbooba and Farzana who are going to school in Milano. I will proceed to Kabul on March 17th. I will bring with me the money you gave, $15,509 (including $25 I won thanks to my New Orleans hosts putting my name in a Super Bowl pool) that will go toward educational needs of the children.
Please feel free to join me by continuing to reading this open journal.
I will continue to add an entry once a week from Kabul. Please note that Omprakash Foundation is in the process of updating its web site. This may change the way you navigate to my journal. Should you lose the link, simply find your way to their site at http://www.omprakash.org and search for “Ian in Afghanistan” on their message board.
And please do encourage anyone interested in volunteering anywhere in the world to glance at the resources available on the Omprakash network.
I have many memories swirling through my mind from these talks. The following is a list of the venues I attended on this tour. Please accept my most heartfelt thanks. You are a part of a broader, deeper family.
Presentation Venues included the following:
- Mansfield Middle School, CT
- EO Smith High School, CT
- Brookfield High School, CT
- Hamden Hall Country Day, CT
- Frontier Café, Brunswick ME
- Pacific Ridge School, CA
- Francis Parker School, CA
- Club Excel, San Diego CA
- Kearny High School, CA
- Alpine Middle School, CA
- Addison Independent newspaper full article Oct. 29th issue
- Casa de las Campanas senior retirement community, CA
- Middlebury College, Middlebury VT
- Bonny Eagle Alternative Education, Hollis ME
- Longfellow Elementary, Brunswick ME
- Brunswick High School, ME
- Riverview Topsham ME
- Bowdoin College, ME
- Granby High School CT
- Granby house lecture with the Bracket family, CT
- University of New Hampshire
- Taft School, CT
- The Sun, Westerly news article, Dec. 7th issue, RI
- Westerly, RI Library
- Charlestown, RI Chamber of Commerce
- WBCQ Radio interview, RI
- St. Pius School, Westerly RI
- Rotary Club of New York City, at the Harvard Club
- Pomperaug School District #15, CT
- Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, NY
- Summit School, Winston-Salem NC
- Whitestone Retirement Community, Greensboro NC
- Quail Village Retirement Community, Pinehurst NC
- Cypress Village Retirement Community, Raleigh NC
- Flagler College, St. Augustine FL
- Stetson University, DeLand FL
- Interview for Orlando Sentinel
- Home gathering at Pauly’s in Lake Worth FL
- Night Heron Grassroots Activist Center, Lake Worth FL
- Orange County Library, Hillsboro NC
- Full interview on The Bill Press Show, Capitol Hill, Washington DC
- Hotchkiss School, Lakeville CT
- Litchfield High School, Litchfield CT
- Edgewood Retirement Community, N. Andover MA
- Tulane University, New Orleans LA
- Bainbridge High School, WA
- Evergreen State College, WA
- Bainbridge Island Library, WA
- Philips Exeter Academy, NH
