33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

7 Sadly, some schools are targeted by radical groups, particularly those that educate girls, and many families are hesitant to send their children to schools with attacks, especially daughters due to attacks, poor facilities, and the lack of female teachers (some people feel uncomfortable have a male teacher teach girls). No matter the occupation, wages in Afghanistan remain low and many people struggle to survive from year to year. Due to this situation, it is common to again turn to family, friends, neighbors, and the local tribal affiliation for support. These community residents truly support each other and this support and trust in community is always at the core of the culture and way of life. Identity Rarely does a citizen of Afghanistan i dentify as "Afghan." Most people in the country first identify by their ethnicity, which includes Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and more, although sometimes Pashtuns are referred to as Afghans. These ethnic-based identities tend to be attached to not only an ethnicity, but also a language, culture, foods, and a religion that defines that identity. Among the many groups it seems the only similarity across the people is that nearly all of them are Muslims. Beyond this, each group is very different from the next and the lack of a national identity has led to vast differences among the people, except when minority groups unite to counter actions taken by the majority, the Pashtuns. Behavior Justin Dodge Islam also dictates a number of behavioral restrictions and requirements. For women traveling t o Afghanistan, i t is easiest (but not required) to travel with their husband, father, or brother. Single women travelers are looked at oddly and traveling with a man who is not related or married to you is widely considered inappropriate. Pretending you are married is not right, but most Afghans would consider it less offensive than a single man and women traveling together. It is also improper for a man to touch a woman, even holding your spouse's hand or offering to shake the hand of a person who is of the opposite sex can be considered inappropriate to a conservative Muslim. Islamic law forbids pork products and alcohol; however there is little worry about adhering to these rules since neither is available anywhere in Afghanistan. You should note that attempting to take either into the country is also strictly forbidden.