Lunch Today

Ive taken to fixing my own burrito. Tortillas are provided on our sandwich lane and the meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatos, jalapenos etc are on the Mexican lane.  Im not sure why they dont put them together.  Cherry yogurt for desert.  Iced tea to wash it down. 

Country Safari

I visited several farms a few hours out of Baghdad recently.  It was nice to get out of the city and see something different.  This was an area that has suffered during and after the war as they had been unable to grow anything during the fighting.  Also much of their equipment, and homes, were destroyed.  Now, with the fighting over and security restored, they are trying to make their fields profitable again.

One location, near a river, we had helped the farmers install several pump stations to draw water up so that it could be used to water the fields.  The clear and cool looking water was being pumped into several large pool sized sisterns at the tops of the river banks.  All the local kids were having a great time jumping in, splashing and swimming.  It was very hot (about 120 degrees) and, of course, we were all in armored vests and helmets.  The temptation to jump in with them was very strong and I'm not sure how we all resisted.  I got some good pictures that I'll post at some point.

The second stop we made was a deserted area between two villages.  One of the villages wants help with re-routing part of the river so they will have their own water source.  We visited the dry creek bed where they want to send the water through. 

The guys all made fun of me because I got my first "man kiss" from the local Sheik.  When Arabs meet and depart from friends they kiss on the cheek.  The more kisses, the more respectful, or close, the two are with each other.  Ive meet the Sheik we were working with several times and have developed a cordial & friendly relationship.  Anyway, as we were about to go we shook hands and he pulled me in for a hug and one kiss.  So, Im doing my part for international relations.  Hey that BA is paying off! 

On the way there and back we drove through several small farming towns and they reminded me a lot of agricultural towns anywhere - only more dusty.  There were stores selling farm equipment, feed and other standard tools.  One interesting thing is they don't have gas stations like we might recognize in the west.  They have these little carts along the sides of the roads.  Each cart has several dozen gas cans lined up.  When customers get gas they just pay for however many cans they use.  These merchants are enterprising and also sell water and sodas.

Back in Baghdad

Well, my blackberry was stolen as I was preparing to leave Kuwait.  Another reason to hate Ali al Saleem.  A textbook example of how not to run an operation.  Plus they don't serve McLatte's at the McDonalds.  I'll write a blog about it one day.  Until then, feel my frustration.  Grrr.

Golden arches in kuwait

Located in a small group of corrigated containers are several fast food walk ups.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T