33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

9 even directly proposition a non-Afghan woman for sex — either outright or in exchange for something of value. Dress Justin Dodge The clothing of the people of Afghanistan varies greatly from ethnic group to ethnic group, but there are many similarities as well. Nearly everyone in Afghanistan is Muslim and Islam has a number of religious dress restrictions that are closely followed by the people of Afghanistan. Since modesty is required, the dress tends to cover the arms and legs as well as the hair on women. However, in many of the valleys the weather can be quite hot so most of the clothes is light and tend to be loose-fitting, both to stay cool as well as to cover one's self. For women the dress was traditionally quite colorful, but today basic earth- toned colors are more common, which is also true for men. Most men also wear simple vests and a hat, of which there are numerous versions. Although some people in Afghanistan do wear western-styled clothing they are a minority. Foreigners in Afghanistan should dress conservatively with both arms and legs covered; additionally, women should cover their hair whenever in public (although this is not a legal requirement). More importantly, due to the violence, it is recommended that you wear nothing that makes you stand out as a foreigner. Most visitors to Afghanistan today go with a larger organization, whether that is a military, a non-governmental organization, or another group, which is best suited to assist in what and how to dress. Food Justin Dodge Despite the mountainous landscape, Afghanistan i s also home to numerous valleys and lowlands that are the grateful recipient of rains, rivers, and fertile soils, which make much of the country quite ideal when it comes to food. For much of time these foods and the animals that they attracted have made up the historic diet of the earliest settlers. Fruits and vegetables are available throughout the country; however the styles in each region vary. Some of the more historic foods found in the region include onions, garlic, pomegranate, apricot, berries, pistachios, walnuts, coriander, and saffron among others. The fertile landscape also encourages animals and again these animals have been an important part of the people's historic diet. Sheep, chicken, and horses are all present in the region and these animals have provided both meat as well as dairy products to the people. Due to being a landlocked country, there is very little fish found i n Afghanistan, a lthough many lakes and rivers provided fish for the nearby people. Culinary Influences There were few major culinary influences i n Afghanistan f or much of the region's history since the local foods and animals present created a diverse historic diet, from which the people had