Jessie Tan was planning to watch Lifting the Veil/Afghanistan Unveiled tonight at 1900 at the MFAH for $7.  She invited our FBCC Career Ladies Group.  I off-handedly invited a few friends of mine, who responded positively unanimously.  Thus this past Wednesday after work I walked from Ben Taub to the Museum of Fine Arts/Houston and purchased five student tickets (totaling $30).  Good thing, because it turned out to be sold out (people had to sit in the stairstep aisles!).  After work today I walked to McDonald’s in BTGH’s main building’s basement, used up Rick’s gift card for $5 for “Employee of the Month” (of March in the OT Department) and a few extra cents (chicken nuggets, a parfait, and orange juice) and ate dinner in Hermann Park. 

At the museum, I saved two seats on either side of me near the center, sprawling my belongings.  I tried to read, but I was getting antsy because seats were filling up quickly (crowd outside trying to get in although the viewing was sold out) and I couldn’t call out due to no reception.  I really hoped they wouldn’t be late.  People were asking if the seats were taken, saying ”This shouldn’t be allowed” in a frustrated/disdaining tone.  Even the row behind me, which was originally reserved, were filled up when they removed the reserved sign.  I noticed that Phoebe had called me but I still wasn’t able to use my phone (turns out she called right outside the theater, waiting for me - how they didn’t see me with four empty seats around me is beyond any of us). 

Finally, I saw Linton so I waved/called out.  What I was understanding was for me to join them (there was an extra seat), but in my mind I was wondering why they didn’t want to join me because I had the better seats (they were on the lower right side).  I wanted to go down there and ask personally, but I didn’t want to leave my things behind.  I was wondering why they didn’t send one person up to talk with me.  At last, Elliot took the initiative and came up and explained the situation (they had bumped into Bobby and his companion LaShic Patterson).  Well, since I had saved the seats for so long and braved so many scowls, I declared that I was staying put but that they could stay where they were.  An older white lady with bad makeup asked, again, if the seats were taken.  I was in the process of gathering my backpack and lunchbox to move over, about to say not anymore, but Elliot affirmed that the seats were taken.  So they did end up taking the seats to watch the film.

Afterwards there was a Q&A period with the journalist in person!  Anyone could tell Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was very knowledgeable and passionate about not only the film but everything surrounding the backdrop.  She shared the story of how money donated wasn’t used efficiently (they bought chickens and had them transported from so far away that they were dead on arrival), and was very detailed and forthright in her answers.  She is from Pakistan but Afghanistan has captured her heart.  She’s married, but we never hear anything about him or her children.

More information:

  • Directed by Hugh Thomson, 2006 , Color, 50 Minutes.  Cosponsored by the World Affairs Council of Houston. Special thanks to Kirsten Davis.
  • http://sharmeenobaidfilms.com/afganistanunveiled.html
  • In 2001, Beneath the Veil revealed the plight of women living under the Taliban in Afghanistan, uncovering evidence of women being denied employment, education, and freedom. In this follow-up, journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy returns to Afghanistan to find out how life has changed. Her journey starts in the bustling city of Kabul; then takes her to Herat, on the Iranian border, where the suicide rate for women is shockingly high; and on to the remote rural areas in the north where Afghan life is at its most basic.
  • http://www.marigoldfund.org 

Afterwards we went to A&W for some food.  Hannah, Phoebe, and I were in one car, Linton and Elliot were in another, and then Bobby and LaShic were in the third one.  They were closing up the “here” but we could still order “to go” so we used their restroom then ordered through the drive through.  Us girls climbed into Linton’s car; Bobby rolled down his window.  We all discussed the movie.  No one admitted to crying.  I couldn’t get over how the girls were in first grade (well, that’s me counting the age) and sold by their parents to pay for their entertainment debts.  One husband murdered his wife because she was so outspoken and was more known than he was.  It was interesting that Obaid-Chinoy is a Muslim and she was outraged by how the Taliban was warping the Koran (or Qur’an or however you spell it).  I wonder how these males grow up viewing females, especially their family (mother, sister, daughters).  Bobby, all dressed up, drove LaShic back.  Then Linton dropped me off at my car at the Westwood Park and Ride before dropping Elliot off and heading home.  Yeah…don’t expect any thoughtful epiphanies and revelations from my blog.  I just write this to remind myself of my life.