In 6 hours, I'm heading on on a week-long road trip around Kurdistan. I'm probably not going to bring my computer, so you might not hear from me for a week. Even if I bring my computer you probably won't hear from me since there's no wifi in rural Kurdistan. Moral of the story: you'll … Continue reading Incommunicado
Month: October 2012
Day 1: Slemani - Chamchamal - Erbil Day 2: Erbil - Shaqlawa Day 3: Rawanduz - Barzan - Sulav Day 4: Amadiya - Lalish Day 5: Dohuk - Al Qosh Day 6: Shekhan - Mar Mattai Day 7: Back to Suly Day 8: Ahmed Awa It's written down now, so it's going to happen.
It's cloudy today. Overcast. Cool. Ok, it's still 80 degrees Farenheit, but that's a lot more bearable than the consistently 95-100 degree days we've been having. And it's sprinkling a little rain. Iraqi petrichor is intoxicating. Vocab: khera: quickly heyawash: slowly hayom m'unan: it's cloudy today (Hebrew) yored geshem: it's raining (Hebrew) okhai: finally!
I've been here for two months already. Cool. That kinda makes me feel like an adult.
Dear Iraqi bureaucrats,Your lack of temporal awareness is often charming, funny, and relaxing. I have learned not to rely on an Iraqi clock. This region operates differently.But sometimes you gotta jive with other countries. Other regions don't share the same lackadaisical view of the minute hand as you do. And, you know, expats do live … Continue reading GIMME MY BALLOT
Kurdistan's not on a schedule. I like it, actually. It's not like the US, where if an appointment takes longer than expected, you're desperate to leave because dammit, you have important things to get done. Here, when it takes hours to hop through bureaucratic hoops, people just chill. Because what's so important to get back … Continue reading Bureaucratic Hoops
On Saturday I went back to Amna Suraka, along with my friend Jin, to see the actual Amna Suraka museum. It was worth it. The Red Security buildings are in a compound, an ex-Baath government compound. Many buildings are hollowed out and pockmarked, but a few have been converted into museum rooms. The tour took … Continue reading Amna Suraka, Pt 2
I haven't been posting so much lately, for two reasons: 1) my internet sucks, 2) I've found people to talk to (yes!) so at the end of the day I don't always feel the need to write. I've talked with them, so I've released most of the things I need to say. Which is great, … Continue reading Quilts Are Made of Patches
The rogue pack of screaming babies in my apartment building should NOT be allowed to cry after school hours. I see enough needless tears during the day. And I can deal with it if I'm getting paid to deal with it. Parents, if you want to pay me to listen to your child throw a tantrum … Continue reading Just…No.
Routines are boooooooring. Yesterday I decided that I'd go to the Red Security Museum, Amna Suraka. I found another teacher who wanted to go with me (!!) and so today after class ended we headed out to visit it. But we ran into two other school employees who have a car, told them where we … Continue reading Amna Suraka, Pt. 1
In Mutual Weirdness 