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!
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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
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
I found a moment when the internet's on! I have to be an opportunist, and pretty persistant, to find a time when the internet in my flat actually works. Also, the water was out all of yesterday in my apartment block. But, it's finally Thursday. This week has gone pretty fast, and it's been rather … Continue reading So. This is a Different Culture.
Hi all, My apartment's internet has been out for a few days (it goes on and off, just like our electricity. It's usually on within a few hours, though.), which is the reason for the dearth of posts. I'm doing well, thinking a lot about...things. I'll update soon. Cheers, Rachel
58 (bootleg) movies for 11 hizar. That's about $10.
If you talk to someone for long enough, their prejudices come out. Last night, some of us went out to dinner with some local friends. Although it's enjoyable, conversations with them are complicated. This is because: 1) They're mostly men. I have to be very careful what I talk about. I'm young, single, American, and … Continue reading Kurds vs Turks vs Arabs vs Jews
In Mutual Weirdness 