Baghdad, Iraq
Monday, October 11, 2010
Shortly after our skype with Romania, we were able to skype with on of "our" dads who is living in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. Black has been in Iraq for nearly one year now. He works for the U.S. State Department and is trying to help rebuild Iraq. I asked what the local people thought about the Americans living and working in Iraq, and he said that most of them are happy to have the help. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, most professionals like doctors left the country. Many Americans are there giving aid to those who need it. Baghdad is 7 hours ahead of us so it was evening there when we spoke with Mr. Black. Since it is fall here, we were wondering if it felt like fall there too. Mr. Black said that this is the first week since May that the temperatures have not been in the 100 degrees. The hottest it got there this summer was 127 degrees Fahrenheit! Yikes!! When we asked what was something unusual that he has seen there, Mr. Black said it had to be the crazy drivers. It sounds like it would be rather scary to drive there since no driver licenses are required
. He said that again, since most Iraqis are Muslim, there is not a lot of beef in the area. Most people there eat a lot of lamb. If you want food that is more American, you would need to go onto an American military base. There you are able to eat Pizza Hut and Burger King. Mr. Black said he had not seen a McDonald's in the country.
Today, instead of us asking all of the questions, Mr. Black had a question for us. He wanted to know if any of us were able to name the ancient city from the Bible upon which Baghdad was built. Of course this did not stump my students.....In case you are not sure of the correct answer, Baghdad was built upon the ancient city of Babylon!
Thanks again, Mr. Black! Stay safe and cool!
