While having lunch I chatted with Khitam about her plans to learn English. They were not fully formed. I hijacked Zidan Khalaf, who was interpreting for us, and got him to take us to the American University where, as chance would have it, the sister of my good friend teaches English. She soon sorted us out with course dates, and enrolled Khitam for a January start. We had a photograph in front of the Christmas tree; me, Khitam, Hoze, Najla and our driver for the day Zidan Khalaf. The difference between life in the camps and life at this university are profound. We are giving them a real chance for their lives to take a different path.
We came here with Hiwa, Clare and Stevie last month, sightseeing, and you can see for miles up the valley. Apparently in there somewhere is a Turkish base, but I didn't see it then, or now.
I didn't know what was going to be ahead as I worked my way up the col. When I topped out and saw the view ahead I had to stop and take a photograph. That is the Great Zab river which comes down from the north, or camera left. The road descended from here in a series of switch backs, as good as anything you might find in the alps. (But with nothing in the way of support if it goes wrong).
