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Night of the Kite Tournament: Amir Decided Not to Help Hassan
This was the night of the kite fights, when Amir chose not to help Hassan. He watches Hassan get raped by Assef. By not doing anything, he lives with the guilt and atones for them. “For a week, [he] barely saw Hassan.” (80) He avoided him because he was ashamed. -
Ali and Hassan Left
This was the year in which Ali and Hassan quit working for Baba and left his house. That is when Amir plants his birthday presents on Hassan and says that he stole it. When confronted, Hassan went with the lie and he and Ali left. This made Baba very sad. -
The Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Replubic of Afghanistan, has known little peace since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded. -
The First Soviet Troops Parachuted into Kabul
The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership. -
Baba and Amir are living in Fremont, California
Baba and Amir are now living in Fremont, California after moving from Afghanistan. They are adapting to life in the U.S. Amir is doing just fine but it is hard for Baba to adapt. “For two years, [Amir] tried to get Baba to enroll in ESL classes to improve his broken English. But he scoffed at the idea.” (126). Baba didn't even want to properly learn the American language. -
Amir and Baba are on their way to Pakistan
Amir and Baba are in the back of a truck with several other Afghans on the way to Pakistan. Amir kept getting car sick on the way there and Baba was embaressed because of that. Amir stated, “As is you weren’t supposed to get sick when you were eighteen.” (111). -
Amir and Baba flee to Pakistan
Amir and his father leave everything behind and flee to Pakistan inside the tank of a fuel truck, with dozens of other refugees. -
Amir Graduated Collage
Amir graduated collage at the age of twenty. Amir stated, “That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day.” (131). He was older that his peers but Baba was proud that his son graduated form highschool. -
Amir Turns 21
That summer, Amir turns 21 years old. "...Baba sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated ’71 Volkswagen bus for $550 from an old Afghan acquaintance who’d been a high-school science teacher in Kabul.” (137). Baba convinces him to start thinking of collage. Amir had a different plan but he listens to Baba. -
Amir Talks to Soraya
Amir speaks to Soraya for the first time without her father present at the flea market. Soraya and Amir small talk is about Amir and his writings. He askes her, "Would you like to read one of my stories?" (147) and she responded saying, "I would like that" (147) This waas a big step for Amir since he was very shy to talk to her. -
Baba Finds Out He Has Cancer
After Baba goes to the doctor, he finds out that he has cancer. The doctor tells him that there are treatments to prolong the disease but nothing to cure it. Baba declines the oppertunity to take these treatments. When Amir tries to convince Baba to take the treatments, Baba tells him, "It means it wouldn't change the outcome, just prolong it." (156). He knows that he cannot cure his cancer. -
Amir asks Baba to ask Soraya's father if he could marry his daughter.
Amir asks Baba to ask Soraya's father if he could marry his daughter. Soraya tells Amir about her dark past before she agress to marry him. Amir loves her so much that he tells her, "Nothing you said changes anything. I was us to marry." (165). She is happy and they get married. -
Amir Finishes His First Book
Amir finishes his first book. The excitement comes 6 weeks later when Amir gets a phone call from a publisher. Amir is very excited for his accomplishment of his dream. -
The Last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan
Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal. -
Amir and Soraya Cannot Concieve a Baby
Soraya and Amir have been trying to concieve a baby. They began trying to concieve since 1989 but by 1991 they were unsucessful. Soraya is very disappointed that they have not concieved and brings the news to her parents. Soraya is deeply sadened and her mom tries to confort her by saying, "God knows best, bachem. Maybe it wasn't meant to be." (186). Soraya does not want to adopt because "... they grow up and want to know who their natural parents are." (187). She does not want to go that. -
Afghanistan descended into Vicious Internecine Strife
After the Soviet Union departed, Afghanistan descsnded into vicious internecine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms. But one group would eventually take control. -
The Taliban had Taken Control of Afghanistan
Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-developing burqa clothing. -
Amir Gets a Phone Call from Rahim Khan
Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan who says that he wants Amir to go to Pakistan to see him. Amir tells Soraya that "Rahim Khan is very sick." (191) and he will be back very soon. -
Amir Finds Out That Hassan is His Half Brother
Amir found out that his father is also a father to Hassan in which makes them brothers. Rahim Khan tells him this because he wants Amir to go back to Afghanistan and get Hassan's son from the orphanage. Amir refused so Rahim told him this big secret that was hidden from both boys throughout the years. Amir responds with anger by saying, "I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out my whole life is on big fucking lie!" (223). This was hidden from bim all his life. -
Amir Reads the Letters Hassan Had Wrote for Him
Rahim Khan passes on letters from Hassan to Amir. He is being reminded (20 years later) of his friend Hassan through the letters he has written to Amir and facing his past of the way he treated Hassan. Hassan goes on to tell Amir in his letter, "And I dream that someday you will return to Kabul to revisit the land our childhood. If you do, you will find an old faithful friend waiting for you" (218) -
Al Qaeda attacks America
The United States has been military involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it lead an invasion after the September 11 attacks by Al Qaeda. -
Hamid Karzai was Named Chairman of an Interim Government
In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him leader of the country. -
Hamid Karzai Took Office as Interim President
Hamid Karzai took office as interim president inJune 2002,saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid. Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004. -
General Petraeus had taken charge of the United States Central Command
General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit fo the success of the surge there, had taken charge of the United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region. -
President Obama's Announced His Plan
In a speech delivered December 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops.