That's what they called it earlier this week when the government of Iraq closed because it was just too hot. Woooowww. And we thought it was bad before! Ha.
It was a good reminder of how much we need our Iraqi staff. They were all given the day off as well, but the foreigners on the compound (US, Jordanian, Egyptian, and otherwise) were required to come to work. Getting things done without the benefit of the locals' language, camaraderie, and their warm bodies to just help us physically push the paper was a real challenge. The next day we were SOOO happy to see them! And we let them know it.
There was a dust storm the day before yesterday. Ordinarily we would dread it, but in this heat, the sand blessedly semi-blocks the sun and provides some kind of break from its intensity. It's still hot, mind you, but the Iraqis have been allowed to work.
More importantly--and likely more interestingly--Ramadan also began this week. Can you imagine?! Fasting in this heat?! We learned in Sudan that although it seems crazy, people still do it. Although it's 50 degrees Celcius or more, you'll see people abstaining from even a sip of water.
This week I was talking with a local staff member about Ramadan in Iraq. Again the bottom line in our conversation was the need for "services." Without electricity, Ramadan here is almost unimaginably difficult. No lights for cooking, no a/c during the day when more people are home early from their jobs to rest when the hunger is the strongest. And less seriously--but seriously!--no decorative lights and no ability to watch all the special movies and TV series that they put together for the holidays. Much of Ramadan is spent visiting family in the evenings and watching entertainment together......
On that note, E and I are working our way through a favorite regional TV series, "Nour." It's Turkish, but has been dubbed for its plethora of Arab fans into Arabic. And they use beautiful Syrian accents. So in the cool of our apartment tonight, we're sharing in the Ramadan entertainment experience of some.... and thinking of those who aren't so lucky.
It was a good reminder of how much we need our Iraqi staff. They were all given the day off as well, but the foreigners on the compound (US, Jordanian, Egyptian, and otherwise) were required to come to work. Getting things done without the benefit of the locals' language, camaraderie, and their warm bodies to just help us physically push the paper was a real challenge. The next day we were SOOO happy to see them! And we let them know it.
There was a dust storm the day before yesterday. Ordinarily we would dread it, but in this heat, the sand blessedly semi-blocks the sun and provides some kind of break from its intensity. It's still hot, mind you, but the Iraqis have been allowed to work.
More importantly--and likely more interestingly--Ramadan also began this week. Can you imagine?! Fasting in this heat?! We learned in Sudan that although it seems crazy, people still do it. Although it's 50 degrees Celcius or more, you'll see people abstaining from even a sip of water.
This week I was talking with a local staff member about Ramadan in Iraq. Again the bottom line in our conversation was the need for "services." Without electricity, Ramadan here is almost unimaginably difficult. No lights for cooking, no a/c during the day when more people are home early from their jobs to rest when the hunger is the strongest. And less seriously--but seriously!--no decorative lights and no ability to watch all the special movies and TV series that they put together for the holidays. Much of Ramadan is spent visiting family in the evenings and watching entertainment together......
On that note, E and I are working our way through a favorite regional TV series, "Nour." It's Turkish, but has been dubbed for its plethora of Arab fans into Arabic. And they use beautiful Syrian accents. So in the cool of our apartment tonight, we're sharing in the Ramadan entertainment experience of some.... and thinking of those who aren't so lucky.
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