I decided to explore the bazaar on my own today, to brave the stares (single white woman!! *gasp*) and do my own thing. This meant that I had to get 2 cabs on my own, something that people have consistently told me never to do. But today is Friday, which means that everything's a bit … Continue reading Taksi Drivers
Month: August 2012
I cannot express in words how truly delicious homemade kuba is. Kuba is meat encased in a fried rice-paste mixture. Kurdish kuba is made in dumpling form (and Kurds are very proud of their kuba dumplings). Arabic kuba is made like a quesadilla, with the meat in between two "tortillas" made from rice paste. Nowras … Continue reading Kuba
I got my immigration card today - finally! It's only valid for 2 months, though - the next time I'll have to give blood, and they'll hopefully issue me a year-long visa. The asaish, the "secret police" which are akin to the FBI, have children at our school and so the school director hopes they … Continue reading A dash of history, culture, language
More talking, talking, talking. More annoying bureaucracy and busywork. But, in between the lectures, I'm gleaned more info about Kurdistan: 1) There's a waterfall in the north called Aḥmedawa. Also, this is Beikhal waterfall: Now how is this not the coolest waterfall you've ever seen?!?! 2) There's a mountain called Guajza north of Sulay where … Continue reading More Gleaned Info
I started decorating my classroom today! The best part of decorating was meeting the children trickling into the school. They need to purchase their uniforms before class begins next week, and so as I was creating this sea-scape, they were running around the primary school building. I met three little ones, Ara, Ana, and Nazi. … Continue reading Little Kurds, and Kurdish Gifts
On my run this morning through the compound, I saw: 2 feral dogs 3 scrawny cows grazing by the sidewalk 2 armed guards 6 Prados
Hang with me here: My worlds are multiplying before my eyes. It's wonderful, and strange, to recognize that I've created little lives, so separate from one another, across the world, containing unique people, who have never met anyone from my other lives. My Sulay friends have never met, and probably never will never meet, my … Continue reading Multiverse
(I apologize for not taking photos in the bazaar - I chickened out because I felt stupid/guilty for looking like a tourist. But for you all, next time I will overcome this embarrassment.) "Bazaar" is a Kurdish word, did you know that? It's not solely Kurdish, it's Persian and also used in Turkey, but if … Continue reading The Bazaar
I was able to ask a taksi driver, "bachinda?" (how much?), and understand the answer (chwar hizar - 4,000 dinar). I would say that's a successful outing! Other useful taxi phrases: ira = here (ira bash - here's good.) rast = straight cha = four pensch = five (yep, definitely an indo-european language) hizar = … Continue reading New Vocab and Tips
