Living Behind the Veil

I'm often asked what I wear in Afghanistan and what it's like to wear a veil. It's freedom. Freedom to have a bad hair day, freedom to arrange my chadar to conceal the curve of my breasts and backside, freedom to not be an expatriate for a little while. It means freedom to hide even on the street from the Afghan men's eyes which seem to strip me naked.
When I relax my shoulders and walk less purposefully, less confidently, my eyes downcast and covered by sunglasses, I pass for an Afghan woman. I hear the men whisper in Dari, "Is she a foreigner or local woman?" I chuckle but am silent. On the street, I'm also a free target....freely exposed to groping, sexual innuendos whispered to me as a man bicycles by, free to have stones thrown at me, freely seen as no one's wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend, or boss. I step inside my gate, and remove my chapan and chadar. Now I'm someone's boss, motherhood returns to me as little steps run to greet me, and I receive a kiss from my adoring husband. Now I'm free to his loving and gentle eyes which know and enjoy my curves, free to once again be under the protective umbrella of being a wife, mother, friend, colleague, boss, niece, sister, daughter, woman.

Showing posts with label anna hampton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anna hampton. Show all posts

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Anna's New Video & Audio Teaching With Monologue!

Recently I spoke at the Carmel Baptist Church in Matthew, North Carolina. They have a fabulous "Evening of Empowerment" where there is encouragement, testimonies, and teaching, and then the ladies get to buy wonderful jewelry, coffee, and leather and woven goods from farflung places, helping women working to get out of poverty.

It was such a joy to be with those women and hear the hearts of the women leaders, really wanting their women to be challenged to live "beyond their South Charlotte lives" (apparently, that's a phrase used down there quite a bit). 

The first 5 minutes of my teaching time, I did the "Afghan Women Monologue."  I have performed this for thousands of people, showing more insight into the lives of Afghan women. During the monologue, I have 4 costume changes! As usual, women were moved to tears as they heard stories of real women who have chosen to follow Isa Masih.

My teaching was "You Only See What You Hear" from Isaiah 58:10 - a very difficult passage and message to deliver.

For audio: Audio NOT available at present- only a high quality video

For Video: If you would like to see the monologue and my beautiful Jordanian jacket I wore while teaching, contact me (and tell me who you are so I know you aren't a terrorist and then I'll send you the video link.

Power Point: You Only See What You Hear Power Point
(It's better on the Video, where you can plainly see my slides).