I found a new hangout in the i-zone, the Bunker bar. You know you're in a war zone when the local bar has an RPG mounted on the wall as well as mines and other types of weapons. You know you are in Iraq when the bar stools at the local bar are made out of rockets and missiles. Of course, the entire place is an actual bunker - talk about safe partying.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/suha_y/detail?.dir=/c0bf&.dnm=ca79.jpg&.src=ph
I am very glad that Micah was released especially after hearing the horrible fate of the Italian journalist. I was in the office when I first saw the video clip with Micah sitting on the floor in front of a group of masked insurgents. Those videos had always been remote and distant in the past. It's very different when you've seen the main character in the video alive and smiling in the past. I was so overjoyed when I saw him alive and smiling - but gaunt. He was in good spirits and I am very proud of him for displaying such strength. I wish him and his family all the best and pray for the Iraqi and non-Iraqi families who were not as fortunate as Micah and his family and friends.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/suha_y/detail?.dir=/c0bf&.dnm=7056.jpg
My trip to Chicago helped me realize many things about the green zone / i-zone:
- As we all know, the green zone is very skewed when it comes to the proportion of men and women. But I also realized that the majority of men here are built and much better looking than the average man. This place is guy heaven. Whereas the majority of women (who are all treated like super models) are really average looking.
- It's so easy to get a group of people together here. Everyone lives in the i-zone. In real life, people live in different parts of town; or some live in the city and others in the suburbs. Getting a group of people together in real life is near impossible. Plus the people here have fewer extracurricular activity options than in real life, so chances they'll show up to a get together are high.
- My biggest concerns when in Chicago were: making it to appointments on time, avoiding getting a parking ticket and buying things for a bargain. These are not my biggest concerns here.
- I find that I sleep easier outside of Iraq. There's so much racing through my mind here. You really take your work home with you especially since work and home are in the same physical location. I'm already sleep deprived and I've only been back for a week.
I went to Chicago and returned. It was great to back in civilization where life is easier and your biggest concerns are parking tickets, being on time and finding good bargains. I returned to my favorite war zone because I did not want to take the easy way out. So here I am again.
I did have a nice moment yesterday: I went to a former neighborhood with nice homes and saw little kiddies playing in a newly built playground. Next to the playground was a soccer field with more kiddies playing soccer. It was an image of the new Iraq that we don't get to see too often.
Still adjusting to life back here. I hope to write soon. Lots of love.
