The Winds of Change
The Taliban were rapidly claiming territory by 2021, causing widespread concern and panic. Drolma, already grappling with depression, found herself plunged into an even more precarious situation as the Taliban continued to advance into Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital.
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“When the Taliban were taking control of Afghanistan, it was terrible. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep — there was only tears. The streets were dead, and people were abandoning their homes. That, I will never forget,” Drolma said.
In the midst of this, Drolma learned from a friend that AUW was assisting present and former students in leaving Afghanistan. With the help of an admission officer from AUW, she was able to join the 147 women waiting outside Kabul Airport for a flight out.
“What AUW was trying to do with their students in Afghanistan was to get them out of Afghanistan and bring them to Bangladesh,” said Stacey Taylor, a member of AUW’s West Coast Advisory Board.
The map shows the dates as the Taliban seized provinces in 2021. The info comes from Aljazeera News.
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“What AUW was trying to do with their students in Afghanistan was to get them out and bring them to Bangladesh as fast as possible,”
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Stacey Taylor,
Member of AUW's
West Coast Advisory Board
Photo taken with permission
But on Aug. 26, a suicide bombing occurred outside Kabul Airport, leaving around 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans dead. The safety of the students escalated in urgency, as time was running thin for evacuations.
As the clock struck 3 a.m., all hopes of a swift departure were shattered — the tickets, a lifeline to safety, were canceled.
“They told us, ‘Do not enter the airport; something has happened,’” Drolma said, recounting that night’s events.
As the women cried that night, they believed that their only chance to escape had been taken, according to Drolma. Contrary to their beliefs, these women would get a second chance – and this time, they weren’t flying economy.
“The U.S. military felt that the lives of those 148 women were in danger. They said, ‘There's no way we're going to let these women be murdered,’ and put the women on one of their own planes,” Taylor said.
In a whirlwind of urgency, all the women were hastily crammed into seven buses, their destination set for the gates of the airport. The buses, filled with hope and trepidation, carried these women towards a second chance at escaping the turmoil.
“We got this opportunity to enter the airport and come out from Afghanistan, but it was really scary,” Drolma said.
According to Drolma's account, the Afghan guards began interrogating the women, their voices laced with skepticism. The guards asked probing questions, questioning the womens’ intentions. “Where are you going? Why are you escaping Afghanistan? This is your country. Don't be selfish,” they challenged, casting doubt on the women's motivations for leaving.
Supported by U.S. soldiers, the women embarked on a journey to leave Afghanistan, aiming for an uncertain destination. Stopping in Saudi Arabia and Spain along the way, it took Drolma almost an entire week to get to the U.S.
This interactive timeline shows Drolma's journey to the U.S.