AFGHANISTAN: THROUGH THE KEYHOLE OF BARON COMPOUND

Manana Dumbadze, a prominent Georgian writer and translator, spent almost a year on as USAID project in Afghanistan and she wrote a book about her experience there. The book’s title Afghanistan: Through the Key Hole of Baron Compound is very symbolic because while in Afghanistan Manana mostly stayed at the heavily fortified Baron Hotel in the suburbs of Kabul protected by security forces. Even the photos she took were from the windows of the armored car she was allowed to travel outside in. Never the less Manana managed to contact some people and received an exceptional experience while the country was afire with civil confrontation and terrorism. She managed to fall in love with the country and with its ordinary people, who despite of the ongoing tragic events, managed to keep calm, quiet and confident, and reserved a sense of humor and dignity. Although not a long period staying in the country, Manana managed to see deep inside the culture and mentality of the Afghan people. On the other hand, the book also reveals much of Manana’s personal nature and character. The book is written with a good sense of humor and once you start reading it's hard to stop.