Baghdad Update
An article was published recently in the dallas morning news on places to party in the green zone (link below). The article does paint a good picture of what you can do in the green zone. First of all, lots of locals in Baghdad drink and have no problem talking about it, especially older married men. Second item i disagree on with the author is that despite the "7" places to party in the green zone, there's really not much to do in the party arena. Since we all work insane hours (daily 12-14 hours /day) it doesn't really matter, but it would be nice that if you do deprive yourself of sleep to have a good time, that you get some good entertainment. I was fortunate enough to get into an OGA party ... moving on. As for Al-Rasheed disco ... the setting is interesting. The giant disco ball. The pink leather walls. The flashing lights (retro 70s) dance floor. But the dj sux and i hope someone helps me conspire to replace him. So far I have found noone to support my cause. Despite what the author says, I enjoyed crashing the brit's party last night. The pool is a beautiful place to hang out at at night. The palm trees the lights, the setting. The pool manager, the guy that everyone will remember at the end of this experience, is trying to improve the party programs. It's definitely great to unwind or eat lunch and dinner poolside instead of hanging out in your trailer. The green zone casino is a joke.
Nice thing about this place is that everyone's life is an adventure. Talking to personal security detail of iraqi or US important figures is always a trip or any security personnel for that matter. The things they see and what they have to go through is insane. The decisions and role that everyone else plays is wild. People work on what makes the news the next day or what has just made the news ...! Everyone I have spoken to really cares about the new Iraq, which is always heart warming :-)
From the Dallas Morning news:
Raucous bar scene emerges in Baghdad's green zone
The country lacks management ... big time. All the former managers were Baath party members. Now we have a labor force of followers and very few experienced leaders. There definitely is a need for daily follow-up of employees. Without constant supervision, most employees will not perform their tasks.
It's been a while. Sorry for not posting. A local friend just shared with me an interesting fact. There are VCDs being sold on the local market for the equivalence of 30 cents that contain pictures of Iraqi women inside the CPA compound. Some of them are swimming, some just walking around. I didn't recognize any of the women. The ones I saw all had "visitor" badges and obviously did not work in the CPA compound, but the title of the VCD is "translators". The word "translator" is now equivalent to prostitute. There is no marriage in your future since it's assumed that you slept with the Americans that you work for. I've been asked to go on an assignment as a "translator" and I'm making it clear to my friends and acquaintances that I'm not a prostitute ;-)
The chief of staff of the green room (the big green hall that I work in) left today. I told him to say hi to Chicago for me. So if you feel a warm feeling on Tuesday afternoon / evening that's a hug from me ... :-)
The primeminister has affected Al-Iraqiya TV already by deciding to go on Al-Iraqiya TV only for his first speech. CNN and the lot had to get the feed from Al-Iraqiya and show the Al-Iraqiya logo. Will the president affect the situation here? A president has the ability to do so. Will it happen. Only time will tell ... I think what it comes down to is will the coalition give up on Iraq and all the coalition's efforts so far on Iraq and the oil here ... ? I believe with the support of the coalition coupled with cooperation from the people of Iraq (which seems to be lacking - since Iraqis are not used to taking matters into their own hands) the Iraqi government can achieve great things.
I was not at the studios when the primeminister was rehearsing his first 20 minute speech, but I heard that he had 3 takes before the director thought it fit for TV and even then there were criticisms. That's one example of the learning curve. It's understandable of course. President Bush was groomed to be President and made mistakes along the way.
June 1st was an interesting day in iraq. lotsa explosions. the
interim president was announced. i was busy getting my hair cut while
all this was going on. then me, the hairstylist, make-up artist and
my friend took pictures at the studio sets after we all had lunch. i love
being in denial.
I haven't been roaming the streets of Baghdad much as of late because
I don't have my dad's car anymore and the non-tagged brand new SUVs
that we drive inside the green zone attract too much attention
outside of it since most cars on the street are smaller and older.
i've been working a lot lately. my trip was exhausting and catching
up at work when i returned got to me. i lost my way and myself for a
week there. i was ready to leave and just sleep for a while. i'm
trying to catch up on sleep. i had lost perspective for a week, but i
think i'm back on track. the cheesy 70's style al-rasheed hotel disco
helped me a lot. so did my friend and the support of my family and
co-workers. i hope to re-energize in the next couple of weeks.
