Now that I have completed my one year, I am looking forward to a few weeks off with my family for my end of year R&R. I am taking them to Hawaii. It will be a blast.
MY youngest doesn't know really what to expect since he is only 4. Annalisa can't wait to swim look at the sea life and collect shells. Michael is looking forward to all the bikinis. HA! Nora and I just want to get away. It will be a perfect setting. 7 days. I plan on taking them all over the island. Lots of swimming and beach-combing.
...and a different kind of sand than Iraq.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
U.S.Presidential Election - Part 1
I haven't said much about the election but I thought I would note some observations.
I can safely say that Obama has most of the support over here, in terms of non-military personnel. Of those in the military, McCain has strong support from the rank and file, meaning all the enlisted, but many of the officers seem to support Obama.
What's really peculiar is the interest of non-U.S. citizens and how engage they are with this election. I am talking about people from all over, England, Australia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Honduras, Peru, the Philippines, and of course Iraq.
There are so many issues and opinions that they want to discuss....the biggest, obviously, is the occupation of Iraq. Nearly everyone wants the U.S. out as soon as possible. Most of us know the war on terror will be making a significant shift to Afghanistan in the next year. But the U.S. economy is also becoming a hot topic because it is affecting other economies.
Almost all foreign nationals want to see Obama in the white house as there is almost a universal dislike for the Republican Party. While this isn't likely to sway any American votes, as well it shouldn't, it makes for some interested and heated political conversations. It does become apparent that there are just a few polarizing issues they know about but there view is very different. They've grown up in war-torn countries and varying degrees of democracy, and no two democracies in the world are the same.
But it does make me proud to be an American.
I can safely say that Obama has most of the support over here, in terms of non-military personnel. Of those in the military, McCain has strong support from the rank and file, meaning all the enlisted, but many of the officers seem to support Obama.
What's really peculiar is the interest of non-U.S. citizens and how engage they are with this election. I am talking about people from all over, England, Australia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Honduras, Peru, the Philippines, and of course Iraq.
There are so many issues and opinions that they want to discuss....the biggest, obviously, is the occupation of Iraq. Nearly everyone wants the U.S. out as soon as possible. Most of us know the war on terror will be making a significant shift to Afghanistan in the next year. But the U.S. economy is also becoming a hot topic because it is affecting other economies.
Almost all foreign nationals want to see Obama in the white house as there is almost a universal dislike for the Republican Party. While this isn't likely to sway any American votes, as well it shouldn't, it makes for some interested and heated political conversations. It does become apparent that there are just a few polarizing issues they know about but there view is very different. They've grown up in war-torn countries and varying degrees of democracy, and no two democracies in the world are the same.
But it does make me proud to be an American.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Clouds and Thunder
Today is the first day in my many months that I have seen actual clouds in Baghdad. Some people saw a few drops of rain this morning. I didn't see any precipitation. When I awoke this morning, I noticed that it was a little darker than usual outside and my immediate thought was that another dust storm blew in. So I was not looking forward to going outside. I was relieved as I made my walk to work.
To my surprise, in the middle of the day I heard thunder. I almost thought it was another explosion, like a distant car bomb or something, but this sound rumbled and echoed like only thunder can. It was somewhat refreshing to think that it might rain. I've been told that as the weather starts to cool, more clouds and rain will roll into the area. I had no idea. I'm not really looking forward to the rain in this dusty environment because it will cause a lot of mud and dirt to infiltrate our rooms and offices. But I will welcome the cooler temperatures.
To my surprise, in the middle of the day I heard thunder. I almost thought it was another explosion, like a distant car bomb or something, but this sound rumbled and echoed like only thunder can. It was somewhat refreshing to think that it might rain. I've been told that as the weather starts to cool, more clouds and rain will roll into the area. I had no idea. I'm not really looking forward to the rain in this dusty environment because it will cause a lot of mud and dirt to infiltrate our rooms and offices. But I will welcome the cooler temperatures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)