Gardnerville stylist sows the seeds of self-expression in Afghanistan

War-torn Afghanistan often doesn't evoke images of the beautiful and stylish.

Yet as women in the country continue to stand up against the repressive forces of religious extremism, one Gardnerville resident has ensured at least a handful of them will have the aesthetic skills to express themselves physically.

"It was all about beauty and educating women," said 43-year-old Norma Freitas, a cosmetologist at Shear Heaven in Gardnerville.

On Monday, Freitas spoke to the Business Interaction Group, a local networking organization, at Buona Sera Ristorante & Bar in Minden. Freitas narrated a slideshow of her trip to Afghanistan in September, during which she spent a week in a Kabul salon teaching women the intricacies of Western-style beauty.

"It was vital we connected," she said. "The owner of the salon spoke English and was also my translator."

Freitas' trip originated with her husband Dennis, who has been in Afghanistan for a year and a half working for Technologists, Inc. After attaining her instructor's license at Carson City Beauty Academy, Freitas decided to go abroad not only to visit her husband but to disseminate her knowledge in another part of the world. Her trip was sponsored by Technologists, Inc. and Oasis Rescue, and cosmetic supplies for the journey were provided by Salon Centrix of Reno and Cosmo Prof of Carson City.

The flight from San Francisco to Dubai was about 16 hours long, Freitas said. From Dubai to Kabul was three hours.

"That's when the journey began," she said. "I knew I couldn't go back. I had to go forward."

What Freitas found in Kabul was a landscape and climate similar to the high mountain desert of Nevada. But the economic and social structure was vastly different.

"Watching the little kids out in the street, walking, begging, washing their cars in gutter water, I just wanted to grab them and bring them home with me," she said. "It was really difficult. Coming back home, you appreciate the little things. There was not one pretentious person there, not one bad eye. Each was truthful, forward. I guess it was raw, but what a learning experience."

In Kabul, Freitas said, everything occurs behind closed doors, in the unmarked spaces between the city's maze-like corridors. In the salon, whose owner had a mutual connection at Technologists, Inc., Freitas spent a week teaching five women the essentials of haircutting, foil placement, coloring and makeup. In turn, they taught Freitas how to thread her eyebrows, an Afghan custom. "The biggest need is skin care. It's a dust bowl there," she said. "If you start thinking about the concept of education and how much it absorbs, then you see how another day goes by. Every day was amazingly filled."

Freitas said during her last day at the salon, she had 15 women to work on.

"It was amazing to get women to smile who were not used to having that kind of personality," she said. "To finally get them to show some teeth and be happy."

When one woman made a comment about the potential disapproval of her husband, Freitas realized she was pushing boundaries. At that point, she remembered she was in a culture where a woman's self-expression is limited. In fact, she said several women would style themselves up at the salon only to completely erase their efforts before returning home to their husbands.

"The women want it. They want to be able to learn and have skill," she said. "Slowly but surely, it's changing. But there are still a million women out there who need to be reached, who still are suppressed by the thinking that men are in control."

And no matter how warm and safe the salon seemed, Freitas never forgot she was in a country consumed by war. Traveling the streets, she had an armed guard at all times. She was also able to visit Camp Eggers, where she thanked U.S. troops for their service.

"It's amazing how the citizens there can put aside the fact that they're in a war zone," she said. "All they can do is live life and go about their daily routine. They know they can't sit around and worry."

Besides the honesty and decency of the people, Freitas said the best thing about the country were the music and food.

"Everything is whole and fresh. Breads, pastas, pastries," she said. "They love their carbs, and I enjoyed them, too."

In May, Freitas hopes to return to the country and check up on her students. In February, her husband will be flying back for a visit.

"I've been invited back, and I would love to go back if I have the opportunity," she said. "This could turn out to be a huge project for me in the future."

In her slideshow, Freitas had captured women of all ages experimenting with hair and makeup. Although different in style, they all had one thing in common - bright, hopeful eyes.

"I'm hoping that in my lifetime, I'll be able to see little changes," Freitas said. "Hopefully, it will get better."

According to their mission statement, Business Interaction Group is a diversified group of

professional people committed to promoting fellow members' businesses through education and networking.

The organization is comprised of single-member categories, meaning each business category is represented by one member. The group is currently looking for new members in 20 different categories ranging from real estate to dentistry.

The group has luncheon meetings on the first and third Thursdays of every month, as well as two annual business mixers.

For more information, contact BIG President Burr Otto at 782-5370 or visit www.meetup.com and search for the group's name.