Precerpt from In with the East Wind: A Mary Poppins Kind of Life - Afghanistan: Leaving Kabul
Leaving Kabul
The Kabul Airport had nearly no
souvenirs. No embroidered shawls, no carved wood, no postcards with minarets or
mountains. But one likes to bring something home—proof of one's existence
abroad, as advertised. I picked up a few bags of noghl—sugar-coated
roasted almonds, one of my favorite treats from any culture. Afghan food is
hard to beat for flavor, not just the sweets. I added a glass cup with the
Afghan flag to my worldwide coffee cup collection. That was about it.
Like the world outside, there was
not much to be had at the airport. At least, in the way of material things.
People—that was a different story. Relatable, kind, helpful folks at every
turn.
While the major wrapped our box of
lead vests and pot helmets—quite heavy—at the popular bubble wrap stand, I got
us checked in with the counter agents for Safi Airways. Two chatty young men,
instantly relatable, perhaps more so because I approached them in Pashto. Greeted
me. First surprised, then delighted, they chatted with me casually as they took
my documents and checked me in.
“Would it be possible to also check
in the companion I’m flying with?” I asked, pointing toward the bubble wrap
stand.
“Sure!”
“ډېره
ډېره مننه” (Dera dera manana) [Thank
you so very, very much!], I replied—and meant it. It would save us a lot of
time, the major not having to take his place in the line.
They had just finished checking in
our suitcases and were handing me the tickets as he walked up. They’d been
waiting for the final piece of luggage.
They weighed it. I don’t remember
the number, but it was heavy—well over the weight limit. In San Francisco, we’d
been charged $400 for the same. I could see the overweight payment counter just
behind theirs. It should’ve been easy to run over, pay, and come back.
“How much for the overweight bag?”
I asked.
One of the pair grabbed the bag and
placed it on the conveyor belt. The other handed me our boarding passes with a
smile and said, “For you, no cost. It is Afghanistan’s gift to you.”
The return trip was uneventful. I
don’t even recall it. What I do recall is the flood of Pashto conversations
that followed. My proficiency grew after I returned home—not one of the dozens
of Pashto instructors I supervised, all native speakers, was willing to speak
English to me again. I had crossed a threshold. I was no longer an outsider.
Book Description:
From the barefoot freedom of rural Maine to the diplomatic halls of Central Asia, from rescuing a dying child in Siberia to training astronauts in Houston and Star City, In with the East Wind traces an extraordinary life lived in service, not strategy.
Unlike those who chase opportunity, the author responded to it—boarding planes, crossing borders, and stepping into urgent roles she never sought but never declined. Over 75 years and 26 countries, she worked as a teacher, soldier, linguist, professor, diplomat, and cultural ambassador. Whether guiding Turkmen diplomats, mentoring Russian scholars, or founding academic programs in unlikely places, her journey unfolded through a steady stream of voices asking: Can you come help us?
Told through an alphabetical journey across places that shaped her—from Acton, Maine to Uzbekistan—this memoir is rich with insight, adventure, and deep humanity. At its heart lies the quiet power of answering the call to serve, wherever it may lead.
Like Mary Poppins, she drifted in with the East Wind—bringing what was needed, staying just long enough, and leaving behind transformation. Then she returned home, until the next wind called.
by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver
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