neurotic Iraqi wife
June 04, 2005
Home Sweet Home....
Im here and am alive, yaaaaaaaaaaay. God it feels like ages doesnt it!!!Am actually blogging from work. Its 12 midnight and HUBBY is stuck preparing for a presentation and I just wanna go to the trailer and sleeeeeep....
So yup, here I am blogging from the Green Zone, which is actually called the International Zone now. I would have never believed that I will be here in Baghdad. What can I say? My feelings are pretty mixed cuz I havent been outside the Green zone. This is not what I wanna see, I wanna see the real Baghdad, the real people. But am happy, am happy that am finally here with HUBBY.
I cant stay long blogging since Im not allowed to use these computers for personal use, but Ill try every now and again to post what I see. So far, I have seen one of the many palaces around here. Ill be really honest here, when I first arrived I was shocked at the amount of multinational forces around and the humvees. I dunno I never thought it was gonna be in this capacity, but I guess this is still a war zone and these forces are really needed.
I managed to speak to many Iraqis who work with me, Iraqis who endured all the years of tyranny. They all have mixed feelings. They are sad that the Baghdad they know is no more, one lady, in her late 20's said that she is glad she is working here, with the International companies but at the same time she said that now, being a woman, she has no social life. She leaves work and goes home. I even noticed that many women come in the morning covered up, either with long shirts or jackets and then once they are here, they take the long sleeves off and tshirts begin to appear.
I see sadness in their eyes, and sometimes fear, fear of the unknown. I cant blame them, I cant blame her. Although Ive only been here a week I gotto know many people around, and the majority of them are just great. Most of them are really here to help with the reconstruction process, but I also heard from some that there are those who are here for their own personal gain. Ive heard that taking bribes is the norm here, and that for me is sad. I havent seen anything in my own eyes, but stories come and go....
As for the trailer, well I absolutely love it. Its the first "home" we have together and Im cherishing every moment. Though we get to share a bathroom with 2 others, it aint that bad. We have like a rota going on, 2 people take showers in the morning and the other 2 in the evening so its ok. HUBBY keeps asking if Im happy, I dont think he knows how much this means to me. No matter where I am as long as am with him, Im the happiest bunny alive.
One of the big bosses around here said to me, "Welcome, welcome to Baghdad" I said, Baghdad is my home, Im the one who should tell you Welcome, welcome to my country, to my home...He just smiled and said "yeah you're right'...I did get abit aggitated when I first got here. Everyone would just stare at me, even the women, HUBBY would laugh big time and say"God, they're gonna eat you". And once I open my mouth and speak Iraqi, you see their eyes going haywire, and they would ask" you are an Iraqi???Wow, you dont look like one" Umm no offence but how do Iraqis supposed to look like??? But these stares just wore off now, thank god for that, instead I get mosquito eyes following me. I have been bitten all over my arms and legs, and that just bugs me.
I better go, HUBBY is done with his presentation, and its time to leave, time to head to our Home, Home Sweet Home.....
So yup, here I am blogging from the Green Zone, which is actually called the International Zone now. I would have never believed that I will be here in Baghdad. What can I say? My feelings are pretty mixed cuz I havent been outside the Green zone. This is not what I wanna see, I wanna see the real Baghdad, the real people. But am happy, am happy that am finally here with HUBBY.
I cant stay long blogging since Im not allowed to use these computers for personal use, but Ill try every now and again to post what I see. So far, I have seen one of the many palaces around here. Ill be really honest here, when I first arrived I was shocked at the amount of multinational forces around and the humvees. I dunno I never thought it was gonna be in this capacity, but I guess this is still a war zone and these forces are really needed.
I managed to speak to many Iraqis who work with me, Iraqis who endured all the years of tyranny. They all have mixed feelings. They are sad that the Baghdad they know is no more, one lady, in her late 20's said that she is glad she is working here, with the International companies but at the same time she said that now, being a woman, she has no social life. She leaves work and goes home. I even noticed that many women come in the morning covered up, either with long shirts or jackets and then once they are here, they take the long sleeves off and tshirts begin to appear.
I see sadness in their eyes, and sometimes fear, fear of the unknown. I cant blame them, I cant blame her. Although Ive only been here a week I gotto know many people around, and the majority of them are just great. Most of them are really here to help with the reconstruction process, but I also heard from some that there are those who are here for their own personal gain. Ive heard that taking bribes is the norm here, and that for me is sad. I havent seen anything in my own eyes, but stories come and go....
As for the trailer, well I absolutely love it. Its the first "home" we have together and Im cherishing every moment. Though we get to share a bathroom with 2 others, it aint that bad. We have like a rota going on, 2 people take showers in the morning and the other 2 in the evening so its ok. HUBBY keeps asking if Im happy, I dont think he knows how much this means to me. No matter where I am as long as am with him, Im the happiest bunny alive.
One of the big bosses around here said to me, "Welcome, welcome to Baghdad" I said, Baghdad is my home, Im the one who should tell you Welcome, welcome to my country, to my home...He just smiled and said "yeah you're right'...I did get abit aggitated when I first got here. Everyone would just stare at me, even the women, HUBBY would laugh big time and say"God, they're gonna eat you". And once I open my mouth and speak Iraqi, you see their eyes going haywire, and they would ask" you are an Iraqi???Wow, you dont look like one" Umm no offence but how do Iraqis supposed to look like??? But these stares just wore off now, thank god for that, instead I get mosquito eyes following me. I have been bitten all over my arms and legs, and that just bugs me.
I better go, HUBBY is done with his presentation, and its time to leave, time to head to our Home, Home Sweet Home.....
24 Comments:
It will be very interesting to read your comments from inside Iraq. You can speak directly to the Iraqis. Glad you are finally with yur spouse> Looking forward to more observations. Stay safe.
Remember if your going to do "this", you must maintain complete anonymity and operational security. I mean don't even tell HUBBY if that is possible. OK enough, Welcome Home.
Glad that the previous blog was NOT the last. Good to hear from you. Glad you and HUBBY are together and happy.
Thank God the two of you are alright and together. It will be okay, now, Neurotica, it really will. I hope to have some good news in about 10 to 12 days. i'll drop you a quick note then.
Dave
Great to hear that you and HUBBY are together and safe. Best wishes to you both. Thank you for all your posts. I love to read whatever you write.
I'm glad to hear you are well and getting settled in. Welcome home!
Raven1
Iraqi Wife,
I am so glad to hear from you--am glad you are doing well.
Now that is a story for your future children: Your first home together was a trailer with a shared bathroom in the international zone in Baghdad in the midst of a war.
I don't understand. Why did people stare at you? Was it because you are so beautiful and attractive?
Regarding the green zone, I know our congress approved about $1 billion to build a new embassy compound so that we can turn over the palaces and buildings to the Iraqi people. It just takes time I guess.
I suspect the reason there are so many soldiers in the green zone is because they are providing most of the security there and because it is a huge operation--165,000 MNF soldiers need a lot of headquarters staff to operate. And, a $15 billion aid package requires a lot of specialists (like you guys) to work with!
I am so sorry to hear about the corruption. Here in my city, every month there is a newspaper story about someone being caught for corruption in government contracts. I think the only thing that keep it from happening frequently is the fact that people do get caught and do get sent to jail for years. (I know a guy who spent 18 months in prison for stealing $100,000 from a government contract.)
Original-Jeff
Isn't it romantic?
'Loved your little sister's T-shirt design . . . You oughta set up shop and sell 'em there in the Green Zone.
Sissy Willis
sisu
Please, please use bug repellent for the mosquitos! Mosquitos may spread malaria, yellow fever, or encephalitis. Don't let the sand fleas get you, either. You could get leishmaniasis from the bites. These are all very serious, sometimes fatal, diseases.
That said, it's wonderful to hear you and hubby are finally sharing a home, even if it is a trailer. The main objective is to stay safe. But, this is definitely an adventure in your life. I hope you will be able to safely go outside of the green zone and see the Iraq you've missed.
In regard to the corruption, I'm glad it bothers you. It should bother everyone so much that they don't get involved with it. You never know. Maybe God will use you in some way to expose or combat the corruption around you. That's probably the most valuable contribution anyone could make to the restoration of Iraq.
Glad you made it, and I hope you get a chance to post often -- don't get yourself in trouble with the boss, though. Your eye is priceless.
WELCOME HOME DEAR NIW!!
Glad you're safe and happy. Lokking forward to reading more posts.
It is so good to hear from you again! I am very happy that you are with your husband. That must be so wonderful. You finally have a home, and it is in Iraq! Wow. Miracles do happen.
I hope you enjoy being home. Sooner or later, you will get to see outside the "green zone." I have seen pictures, and it looks very beautiful. I look forward to reading about your travels and things. Have a great day.
if youre already neurotic you must be about to explode over there!
That part about operational security aint no bs. safety first but then keep on keeping on.
You must be like an alien to the women over there. Show'em the ropes and don't hold back. Iraqi women have some well deserved good things coming their way.
I’m so glad that the children of Iraq are returning home,
it’s a wonderful day for mother earth.
I guess now you can be 100% sure that the jar of dirt on
your coffee table is 100% Iraqi.
Best Regards,
Don Form Dallas
Wow...you're a sight for sore eyes...glad to see you posting again, and it's great to see how happy you are to be around the man you love. Love conquers all! Good luck and I look forward to seeing more posting from you soon. Take care!
:: Home is where the heart is ::
.. Love from Tilli
NIW,
Good to know you arrived safely.
I hope you cook Iraqi food to the folks there. Make them Byriani. They'll love it.
i love your blog, and I'm glad to hear that you're safe. looking forward to more of your posts. stay safe!
The Swamp Club
I check almost daily for an updated post. I pray that all is well.
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