SIDE OF THE ROAD SESSIONS

An Interview + a Father.

whitneyconnerclapper — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:48:52 +0000

He insisted that she answer the interview questions in English, mumbling audibly enough for us all to hear that he felt Nazifa should take a stand to represent educated women in Afghanistan. If I had to guess, he was just under six feet and perhaps a little older than forty. Looking slightly too young to [...]

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Sea Dragons in Afghanistan.

whitneyconnerclapper — Sat, 04 May 2013 07:05:03 +0000

Not only did we avoid multiple Taliban attacks, while in Afghanistan, I also conquered one of my major fears, sea dragon amusement park rides. A big part of our journey to Kabul was to interview a few of the stronger women cyclists on the national team, in their homes and doing what they like, when [...]

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Road Tripping in Afghanistan.

whitneyconnerclapper — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:27:43 +0000

I’ve always been fascinated with mountains. Their endless sense of adventure, their expansive high valleys and vibrant mountain flowers, and their forever long and steep slopes never cease to put a smile on my face and adrenaline in my legs. Although being in Kabul is an absolutely unique experience, there is something about having the [...]

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Entering Afghanistan

whitneyconnerclapper — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:50:15 +0000

The flight into Kabul, carried us through the Hindu Kush mountains, exposing some of the most mysterious yet burly range in South-Central Asia. Expecting much more turbulence on arrival, due to the range, I tried to sit back and close my eyes however, the curiosity of where we were landing, coupled with the dusty looking [...]

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En Route to Afghanistan

whitneyconnerclapper — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:11:43 +0000

I’ve watched two movies so far and we still have eight hours and twenty-three minutes until we land in Dubai. The movies have both been comedy with a touch of romance because quite honestly the other options were either too drama ridden or of literally no interest to me. As I scan other’s screens around [...]

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Afghan Cycles on MSNBC

whitneyconnerclapper — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:32:59 +0000

As some of you may know, I have the chance to be involved with a film project that will help tell the story of the Afghan Women’s National Cycling Team. Being a long time admirerer of the most beautiful human creation involving two wheels, a cyclist and a student of women’s studies during my college [...]

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Kinfolk Magazine Flower Potluck in Ojai

whitneyconnerclapper — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:48:22 +0000

Spring is here, flowers are abundantly in bloom, friends are re-emerging from the winter’s slumber and we are gathering the community to celebrate. Wanda Weller Sakai and I are partnering with Kinfolk, as representatives of the magazine, to showcase the magic of Ojai via the carefully curated lens of this beautiful magazine. Throughout the year, [...]

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Break Barriers + Share a Couch

whitneyconnerclapper — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:55:43 +0000

Have you ever sized someone up from across the room and consequently decided to avoid him or her? Only you know the reason why you/I might do this, but I bet that it happens more often than we may want to admit. I was watching this video of Joe Gebbia, founder of AirBnB speak at [...]

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Afghan Women’s Cycling Team Featured on NBC Nightly News.

whitneyconnerclapper — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:54:59 +0000

Last night Mike Taibbi, a reporter from the NBC Nighty News, covered a group of people that is near and dear to my heart, in the segment “Making A Difference“. The reason this group of people, being Shannon Galpin and the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team, is near and dear to my heart is because [...]

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Fake It Until You Make It – Really?

whitneyconnerclapper — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:05:53 +0000

I don’t know why but the phrase “Fake it until you make it” has always rubbed me the wrong way. I understand why people utter this phrase and I’m even tempted to throw it out at times myself, when offering a bit of advice, however I can’t. It bugs me too much. I often hear [...]

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