A Taste Of The Culture

Today I discovered that there are some parts of the countryside that, although still riddled with poverty and things that go boom, are aesthetically really quite beautiful. Amongst the palm groves and canals that cover the countryside, here in the fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates, one can truly catch a glimpse of the glory that was ancient Mesopotamia. Unfortunately, we may never get an opportunity to visit Babylon in spite of the fact that it is so tantalizingly close. The security situation and agreements with the Iraqi government are obstacles that may prove to be insurmountable. Such a shame. However, today we sampled Iraqi hospitality for the first time when we met informally with some local eminent to discuss ongoing projects, and introduce ourselves. They had quite an elaborate feast of lamb, rice, fruits and vegetables laid out for us. Our first taste of local culture. While some in our party balked at the lack of silverware, sanitation, and method of serving oneself with fingers only, I dived in with enthusiasm. Yum. A local school down the road provided the first opportunity for me to interact with Iraqi schoolchildren. First and foremost, they wanted...stuff: soccer balls, book bags, pens, pencils, candy, etc., etc. Sorry, nothing today. Maybe next time, inshallah (God willing). These kids were very poor. Their shoes were in tatters (something else they asked for), but were very friendly and cheerful in spite of the fact that we showed up with empty hands. A couple of the older kids refused to be photographed. Perhaps they're spies. Who knows.

It was just nice to get away from the base, and away from the filth of the towns for a while.