Afghanistan Cultural Vocabulary Quiz

Key Vocabulary

• Burqa: Tent-like garment for women covering the body with a mesh screen for the eyes.
• Chador: Cloth worn by women and girls to cover their hair and shoulders.
• Dari: One of the two primary languages spoken in Afghanistan.
• Karachi: Hand-pushed cart used for selling goods in markets.
• Kebab: Meat pieces skewered and cooked over fire.
• Landmine: Underground bomb that detonates upon being stepped on.
• Nan: Afghan bread, which can be flat, long, or round.
• Pashtu: The second primary language in Afghanistan.
• Shalwar Kameez: Traditional attire consisting of a long loose shirt and trousers for both genders.
• Soviets: Refers to the Soviet Union, including Russia and other Communist nations prior to its dissolution.
• Taliban: Fundamentalist Muslim movement that controlled Afghanistan, imposing strict interpretations of Islamic law.
• Toshak: Narrow mattress used for seating or sleeping in Afghan homes.

Impact of Taliban Rule on Women

• Women required a male escort to go outside and had to wear burqas.
• Shopping was restricted; women shouted their orders from outside stores.
• Educational opportunities for girls ceased; Parvana could not continue 6th grade, Nooria had to drop out of high school.
• Mother's career as a writer ended due to restrictions on her mobility.

Parvana's Family Background

• Father's Condition: Lost a leg in a bombing, which impaired his health.
• Selling the False Leg: Father sold his prosthetic limb at the market due to desperate circumstances despite not wanting to.
• Market Conditions: Many men sold false legs belonging to wives who were no longer allowed to go outside.

Languages and Education

• Languages Spoken: Dari and Pashtu are the two main languages of Afghanistan.
• Parents' Education: Both parents educated, with father having studied in England.

Personal Interests and Family Stories

• Parvana's Favorite Subject: History, influenced by her father's storytelling.
• Mountain Naming: Parvana's father chose to name a mountain after her, reflecting personal significance.

Family Dynamics

• Mother's Former Job: Writer for Kabul radio station before the Taliban rule.
• Father's Former Job: History teacher prior to being restricted by the Taliban.
• Ms. Weera: Former physical education teacher.

Family Tragedy

• Hossain: Parvana's oldest brother killed by a landmine at age 14; stories about him were shared by Nooria.

Social Environment

• Encouragement of Spying: Father warned Parvana against communicating with neighbors due to Taliban's encouragement of surveillance.
• Beard Requirement: Men were mandated to grow beards under the Taliban regime.

Cultural Heritage and Bravery

• Father highlighted Afghanistan's history of courageous women through the story of Malali, emphasizing hereditary bravery in their family.

Father's Arrest

• Imprisonment Reason: Father was jailed for his education in England, considered dangerous by the Taliban.