Reporting from Muncie, Ind. - Khalid Fazly arrived on U.S. soil last month carrying his mother's homemade cookies, a prayer rug, dried dates and thousands in $100 bills tucked into his trousers.
He was pretty certain he was prepared for America.
Except for a car trip to Pakistan, Fazly had never been outside Afghanistan. Now he almost certainly is the only freshman at Indiana's Ball State University who has been threatened with death by the Taliban, survived insurgent ambushes and braved roadside bombs.
In Afghanistan, Fazly worked as a translator and "fixer," or problem-solver. His fluent English and engaging personality helped Western reporters, including those from The Times, negotiate Afghanistan's treacherous politics and strict customs.
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