Afghanistan is nothing if not unpredictable: in March, our landlord kicked out the Garden of Flowers. He wanted to build a tall apartment building in its place.
The staff, undeterred, began the hunt for a new house. Every day after work and on weekends they went house-hunting, and in Kabul this is not easy or quick. They searched high and low, and looked intensely in the same neighborhood for a place nearby. But despite at looking at over 20 places, nothing worked out. 
Finally, at the end of March, they found a great place – big, clean, light-filled, safe, and affordable – but nearly 2 miles (3km) away. However, there was no longer any choice. We had to move. We just took solace in knowing the positive effects those 7 months of Montessori education had on those first children.
While this was an unexpected and unhappy turn of events, Afghans always remind us how to stay strong and optimistic. The staff packed everything up within a week, said difficult goodbyes to the families and children, and moved to the new home of the Garden of Flowers.
On April 7, the ‘new’ Garden of Flowers opened its doors to a new set of children in a new neighborhood. Ten children have already joined, showing quick growth and settling as they ease into their neighborhood Montessori pre-school. Future posts will introduce you to these new children and their families.
Although we miss the other children very much, We are eager to be able to offer Montessori to more children in Kabul. 