Stealing the beauty

Yesterday I spent some hours photographing the students of calligraphy and woodworking classes at the Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Actually, it is my first job in Afghanistan.
While my husband Andres has been working as an IT-expert on an animal health project, I spent months before I understood that is not easy to get a job that meets my qualifications. First of all, I am not an English native-speaker. Also I don’t speak Dari and Pushtu, the official languages of Afghanistan. Secondly, I have worked as a journalist and editor in printed media. But here is more need for radio specialists, because illiteracy is so high.
Some days ago I met Rory Stewart, head of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Former diplomat Rory walked 6,000 miles across Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal during 2000-2002. His book about Afghanistan, The Places In Between is highly recommended.
Our meeting takes place in an old part of Kabul city where foundation just started to renovate the whole quarter, Murad Khane. Rory is trying to persuade the owners of some 30 surviving buildings to accept free restoration. The remaining sites would then be rebuilt in traditional style.
At the moment the garbage is being removed from the streets. It is a titanic work – the level of the streets has been lowered up to 2 meters... I try to listen Rory, but I am too amazed about atmosphere. I just stand and admire: the yard of Great Serai and the House of Peacocks are most artistic I have seen in Afghanistan yet.
After visiting Murad Khane, Rory invited me to his office situating in the 18th Century Royal Fort in the Parwan quarter of Kabul. This fort is one of the last surviving traditional forts or qal’a within the city of Kabul. The calligraphy and woodwork schools run by foundation are currently located around the fort, too.
I show to Rory my work: the photographs of Afghanistan and some magazines. After short conversation Rory offers me a job: to take photos once a week about restoration work in Murad Khane quarter, and to photograph the students of the handicraft schools as well. I leave the fort, really pleased.