In 2007, veteran Niels Roelen deployed to Uruzgan, Afghanistan. He was there for four months on a mission and learned a lot about the Afghan culture. Is there anything he will never forget about his time there? His story truly astounded me.
'The hospitality of the people there is something that will always stay with me," Niels says. Many people are already familiar with the Afghans' politeness. This is especially true for people who have had contact with Afghans, as I have noticed in my own family. 'People in Afghanistan have almost nothing at home, but they cook for their visitors. They make tea for them and do everything because they are gracious hosts. They share everything they have with their guests'.
Niels decided to write a book about a soldier in Uruzgan after his time as a military officer. He noticed that many people had questions about the mission. about the specific duties of a soldier and how they were useful in Afghanistan. Other soldiers struggled to describe their experiences in Afghanistan. Niels devised the idea of writing a book from the perspective of a soldier in Uruzgan. What does such a mission entail?
I interviewed Niels, and this is how he tells his beautiful story. What else does he have to say about Afghanistan? Will he ever wish to relive certain happenings in a different way? Why did he decide to become a writer after his service in the military? Does he have any regrets about certain actions?
