WalMart cant even put all that under one roof. Actually a pretty cool place, they sell those really nice handmade rugs. Cheap too. If your shopping list consisted of a hand carved wood elk, a new cell phone, post-it notes, a new refridgerator, soccer cleats, a painting of a bird and a brass pot... You came to the right place.
(they dont allow cameras inside, my appologies)
Random Thoughts and Other Stuff
So i really need to learn Arabic a little faster. I have the level 1 & 2 of the Rosetta Stone Arabic software, its going good so far. I work with alot of Iraqis who don't speak English. Trying to have them tell me whats wrong with a system is an adventure in itself. Its like talking to a two year old, tho I'm sure they have the same views as they get frustrated as well. I was told i would always have a translator with me... but apparently things are ''subject to change''. That's the most used phrase here. One of the other guys on my contract use to be a Marine Corps cryptic Arabic Linguist, yea theres some resentment there lol...
Side note... Iraqis are never, ever on time. They make VanRiper time look like it runs a day ahead of schedule. Its kinda funny, the end of every email from the Iraqi Special Forces reads ''Enshalla Allah". Or 'God Willing'. Which Ive come to realize means that they will do it when they get around to it. Similair to the English saying 'Whatever'... Another Arabic fun language fact, whenever you sit down at a table or get in a car with Iraqis everyone says Salem. Which basically means 'all who are here be in good fortune'. You learned something today.
So I thought about getting into proffesional photography, but Naaa. Cool picture tho.
My new Girlfriend for the next year.
Gotta love our 'courtyard' at the housing facility. About 85% of our bathroom access is Porta-Jons. They do get pumped daily tho lol, i try to find the good in things over here. I could get pictures of all the Porta-Jons, but noone wants to see that. Trust me.
This is Gary. He is another guy working the Symphony Project with me. He is 65 years old. If he's here in Iraq doing what im doing, you have no excuse. He definatly is a trooper. Funny story, back in Fredericksburg, VA Gary, Wayne and I went to Red Lobster quite frequently. At one point i had the bartender convinced that Wayne was my dad and Gary was Waynes dad. Im 21, Wayne is 45 and Gary is, as you know, 65. Son, Dad and Gramps... We had the fooled for about three days lol.
Yummy... Just like home. Although sometimes you can tell that it took a little longer than expected for the food to get in country.
This is a view of a former Iraqi palace from across its own man made lake. I got a visitor pass to go in, its actually quite breathtaking inside. Very fancy in an Arab kind of way. When i was in the Green Zone I got to go into a Palace that had been made into a Base Exchange, all the isles were set up in a ballroom. I bought shampoo under a chandelier.
This is the waterfront back porch to the former Iraqi Palace. Oh yea, i almost forgot, its now conveniently the office and quarters of the General grade Officers in the United States Military. Funny how that works... 
WalMart cant even put all that under one roof. Actually a pretty cool place, they sell those really nice handmade rugs. Cheap too. If your shopping list consisted of a hand carved wood elk, a new cell phone, post-it notes, a new refridgerator, soccer cleats, a painting of a bird and a brass pot... You came to the right place. 
This is my office. By office i mean a transfer trailer with test benches down the sides of it. Im pretty sure its from the 60s based on some of the equipment left behind by cavemen. But its got central heating and air, lights and even a coffee pot. Ive got some work to do on it, itll come around. 
My Hacienda. Its not much, but its my pseudo home for now. My only real complaint is that the showers and bathrooms are only 100 yards away. This is only half of the trailor i live in, the other side is occupied by my roommate. His dips and has John Deer sheets. We get along.
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