Afghanistan: The luxury of tea and chit-chat at the corner shop | World news | Guardian Weekly

The man in the corner shop said he had not seen me for a while and offered me a morning tea. I had to refuse. Walking a short distance is one thing, but lingering on the street in Afghanistan and drinking tea is another.

I had tea in the office instead. Then my team and I made a monthly plan. We included library management and IT workshops, which will be supported by funds from a foreign donor, as well as visits to the teacher training colleges in the outlying districts of the province.

After the planning session, I had a successful meeting with the principal of the college. We talked about the way to write requests and the necessity of making detailed proposals that fit in with the objectives set out in the basic education strategy. I explained that a new couch for the office does not fit in with the strategy, but laboratory equipment, so that student teachers can improve the quality of their teaching by learning how to do and teach experiments, just might.

We also requested permission for a gender awareness workshop, which was duly granted. My team and I worked hard to plan this workshop with activities that were culturally sensitive and appropriate – and at the same time made people think. At the end of the meeting I was offered chai by the principal for the first time since I arrived. I did not want to reject this small but important sign of hospitality and acceptance.

In the afternoon there was a security briefing and the complexity of the situation here was well described. On my way back to the office I asked the driver to stop so I could buy fruit. As I am restricted in my movement, I rely on my driver for so much. I also have to plan carefully so that I can get what I need when I need it. I was delighted to find large, juicy pomegranates and kiwis – my favourite fruit and a new addition to the usual selection on offer.

I arrived back in the office to find that our internet – absent for more than two weeks after the modem mysteriously caught fire – had been fixed. Nothing really happens without the internet and I feel isolated when I can't access my email, Facebook and Skype. I watched the news and saw what was happening elsewhere – fights for freedom and democracy. I dream that one day there will be freedom and democracy here – and that I will feel safe enough to drink a chai with the man in the corner shop.