March
17, 2012
“My Favorite Shops in the Town and Happy Yoga!”
Place: Kabul, Afghanistan
Just like every others in Kabul, I had a weekend with Japanese food, full of shopping and Yoga. J
First, I went to my favorite clothes shop in Afghanistan Friday morning; Zarif Design. Their products are relatively expensive (to Afghan standard), ranging from $400 to $600 for a long winter coat. You can still find a silk blouse for $150 or so, yet it is a bit expensive for many expats here who know that with 50 afs (approx. $1 = 81 yen) you can buy 5 HUGE yummy Nan bread from a bakery around a corner of the street.
I support decent work done in Afghanistan and also the concept of mixing the Western and Eastern design into a single masterpiece. Zarif Design does exactly what I like. Their work can be traced back to a refugee who woven the fabric in a city in a province called Mazar-i-Sharif. Embroidery is done by Afghan women at Zarif Design’s workshop in Kabul.
From fabric to embroidery, you can feel that you are wearing a beautiful piece of work done by women all over Afghanistan. Even though their clothes are slightly costly than cheap “Made in China” or “Made in India” machine-made clothes, I am more than happy to pay that amount of money for their excellent job.
So, I ordered a black winter coat (I know winter has ended but this one is for
next winter!) and a silk blouse in mustard-gold color. I am so excited to meet
my newborn babies next Friday. J
Another shopping was at what I call “Little Japan”; a Japanese restaurant near my current office. As I introduced about this restaurant earlier on my blog, this restaurant is owned by a very energetic Japanese woman. She is originally from Kansai region in Japan and has got talent to do business in spite of all the difficulties surrounding business women.
Her restaurant has a little space for handicraft products made in a province called Bamiyan. She owns a guesthouse in Bamiyan and workshop for these products. When I was looking around in a little chilly shopping space at the restaurant today, I found a pretty necklace made with gentle golden color beads and lacework of black threats. I fell in love with it and started to examine the necklace in my hand. It was when the owner of the restaurant explained to me that this tiny lovely work was done by a 17-year-old girl in Bamiyan who likes to make small things with lace and beads. She also told me that this Afghan girl works at home and is spending money on her school tuition. In Japan, majority of high school girls are free from work because their parents pay for their schools or they get scholarship from the government. I know living standard is so different in Japan and Afghanistan that I cannot really compare these two contexts, but because I was one of the luckiest girls who did not have to work while I was in high school but hated my school so much, I felt sort of guilty for not having good schooling memories. At the same time, girls really have to fight just to obtain access to primary education in this country while girls education is taken for granted in Japan. So, by hearing this story, I decided to order matching earrings from her. J (well, this also shows how good the Japanese owner is at business too; bringing a heart-warming story about the product a customer is showing his/her interests. lol )
Then my last activity for this weekend was Yoga. I have been attending two different Yoga class since January. Tonight’s Yoga was taught at the Norwegian Embassy by an American lady whose body is in super good shape (Seriously, her body is just so beautifully structured with muscle!! No extra fat!!). This was my 5th times to attend Yoga class in life. Though I suck at any exercise and sports, I managed to do three poses which I was not able to do until today!!!!!! I was kinda happy! Those poses were;
It is not only fun but also very relaxing. I will definitely continue to attend
Yoga class from now on!
J
“My Favorite Shops in the Town and Happy Yoga!”
Place: Kabul, Afghanistan
Just like every others in Kabul, I had a weekend with Japanese food, full of shopping and Yoga. J
First, I went to my favorite clothes shop in Afghanistan Friday morning; Zarif Design. Their products are relatively expensive (to Afghan standard), ranging from $400 to $600 for a long winter coat. You can still find a silk blouse for $150 or so, yet it is a bit expensive for many expats here who know that with 50 afs (approx. $1 = 81 yen) you can buy 5 HUGE yummy Nan bread from a bakery around a corner of the street.
 |
| My first tailor-made coat |
I support decent work done in Afghanistan and also the concept of mixing the Western and Eastern design into a single masterpiece. Zarif Design does exactly what I like. Their work can be traced back to a refugee who woven the fabric in a city in a province called Mazar-i-Sharif. Embroidery is done by Afghan women at Zarif Design’s workshop in Kabul.
From fabric to embroidery, you can feel that you are wearing a beautiful piece of work done by women all over Afghanistan. Even though their clothes are slightly costly than cheap “Made in China” or “Made in India” machine-made clothes, I am more than happy to pay that amount of money for their excellent job.
 |
| Closer look. Isn't this hand embroidery amazing?! |
Another shopping was at what I call “Little Japan”; a Japanese restaurant near my current office. As I introduced about this restaurant earlier on my blog, this restaurant is owned by a very energetic Japanese woman. She is originally from Kansai region in Japan and has got talent to do business in spite of all the difficulties surrounding business women.
Her restaurant has a little space for handicraft products made in a province called Bamiyan. She owns a guesthouse in Bamiyan and workshop for these products. When I was looking around in a little chilly shopping space at the restaurant today, I found a pretty necklace made with gentle golden color beads and lacework of black threats. I fell in love with it and started to examine the necklace in my hand. It was when the owner of the restaurant explained to me that this tiny lovely work was done by a 17-year-old girl in Bamiyan who likes to make small things with lace and beads. She also told me that this Afghan girl works at home and is spending money on her school tuition. In Japan, majority of high school girls are free from work because their parents pay for their schools or they get scholarship from the government. I know living standard is so different in Japan and Afghanistan that I cannot really compare these two contexts, but because I was one of the luckiest girls who did not have to work while I was in high school but hated my school so much, I felt sort of guilty for not having good schooling memories. At the same time, girls really have to fight just to obtain access to primary education in this country while girls education is taken for granted in Japan. So, by hearing this story, I decided to order matching earrings from her. J (well, this also shows how good the Japanese owner is at business too; bringing a heart-warming story about the product a customer is showing his/her interests. lol )
 |
| The hand-made lace necklace with beads |
Then my last activity for this weekend was Yoga. I have been attending two different Yoga class since January. Tonight’s Yoga was taught at the Norwegian Embassy by an American lady whose body is in super good shape (Seriously, her body is just so beautifully structured with muscle!! No extra fat!!). This was my 5th times to attend Yoga class in life. Though I suck at any exercise and sports, I managed to do three poses which I was not able to do until today!!!!!! I was kinda happy! Those poses were;
 |
| Pose 1 |
 |
| Pose 2 |
 |
| Pose 3 |
Well, I must go to bed now to prepare
for another week of “battles” in the office. I hope the energy that I recharged
over the weekend would break through the battlefields. Oh yea, this week, the
Muslim New Year (called “Naw Roz”) is coming up. I think Wednesday? For me, I
will be bored to death if I am to be stuck in the Guest House…. Oh well………….
No comments:
Post a Comment