
I have officially made it to Baghdad and it was some journey getting here. I left the States late Friday night and had a couple of hours waiting in lines in Paris before heading to Amman, Jordan. Thankfully I had a colleague to travel with.
Once in Amman things started to get interesting. Flashback to two weeks ago when a Jordanian friend of mine asked me if I was Lebanese because I looked very Arab. At the time everyone thought it was a funny comment and joked during our training class. But actually being in the Arab world it turns out I really do look Arab - or at least the Jordanian people are trying to convince me. As Diane, she is the colleague, and I made our way to the hotel and around the city as tourists a number of people would come up to us and start speaking to me in Arabic. They would share my look of confusion when I would explain (in English of course) that I did not speak any Arabic. Our waiter even apologized saying he thought I was Arab.
Thankfully in Iraq I look very much like an American (at least so far) and I haven't had to use my Arabic vocabulary, or lack there of.
After the fun in Amman a team of us made our way into Baghdad Sunday into Monday. It has taken a day or two to get settled but I think I have things figured out and have moved into a livable space in the Embassy compound.
The real work is just beginning.
3 comments:
Yo dude, glad to know you arrived safely and that you are settling in. I guess it's good you're mistaken for being Arab, considering where you are, but I'm sure it's crazy to have people walk up to you and start rattling off Arabic!
Best of luck, my friend!
We miss you already.
Good to hear you made it, okay!
awesome picture! Can't wait to hear more about your adventure
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