I shook Pamela Whalen’s hand this weekend. She and her team led by Mr. John Manley were in Afghanistan to gather information that will help decide Canada's future in Afghanistan. I met Ms Whalen at a reception organized by the Ambassador of Canada, His Excellency Mr. Arif Z. Lalani, who kindly invited my Canadian colleagues and I to a reception to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Canadians to Afghanistan’s Reconstruction and Development.
This event was held at the Serena Hotel in downtown Kabul – the very hotel which on May 29, 2006 was looted by demonstrators in a riot initiated by an accident with a convoy and civilian cars killing and wounding several people. A few of my colleagues were at the Serena at the time. They returned with stories to tell instead of a box of doughnuts. Following this event the Serena Hotel was quick to convert their big store front windows to thick brick walls and we were quick at teaching the guesthouse Afghan cook how to make the doughnuts.
As this and other experiences were exchanged during the course of the evening I noted the remarkable degree of commitment in evidence amongst Canadians in Kabul. I am certain that the Canadian community in Afghanistan appreciated the opportunity to exchange business cards in a land where a passion for reconstruction and development is a story waiting to be told.
This event was held at the Serena Hotel in downtown Kabul – the very hotel which on May 29, 2006 was looted by demonstrators in a riot initiated by an accident with a convoy and civilian cars killing and wounding several people. A few of my colleagues were at the Serena at the time. They returned with stories to tell instead of a box of doughnuts. Following this event the Serena Hotel was quick to convert their big store front windows to thick brick walls and we were quick at teaching the guesthouse Afghan cook how to make the doughnuts.
As this and other experiences were exchanged during the course of the evening I noted the remarkable degree of commitment in evidence amongst Canadians in Kabul. I am certain that the Canadian community in Afghanistan appreciated the opportunity to exchange business cards in a land where a passion for reconstruction and development is a story waiting to be told.
