Photo journal: UN worker in Afghanistan

Meeting villagers from the tiny communities around here is one of the most exciting parts of this job. The hospitality is overwhelming and people appreciate the opportunity to talk.

A police chief once said to me: "There are two things in Afghanistan that have no value: human blood and time."

Changing such fatalism to optimism is a serious challenge for those who believe in this country's vast potential.

In Depth: Day in Afghanistan