Imad (IMC Beirut) in Bagdad

Loving every minute in Baghdad, especially the people and their openness, generosity and care. I am being taken care of like crazy, pampered every minute of the day by Wasif, Majid, Walid, Hamsa and the rest of the guys! The life threatening situation makes every minute pleasurable and makes you appreciate waking up the next day.

Bombings are such a weird thing, they go up in weird places and times. Today was relatively a calm day in Baghdad, no bombings so far (or at least none that I know of). News travel really slow here with the lack of power and the vastness of the city leaving us clueless about what is happening in other areas - sometimes a bomb explodes and one never hears it or of it unless he watches the news or receives an email from a friend abroad… or untill the next day where it is mentioned in the newspapers... weird ha?

It is usually one bomb a day - or several bombs relatively at the same time. When you hear one/ of one, the first thing that hits you is a relief of being lucky for not being there at the moment and knowing that you have been saved for the day as the Bomb of The Day has missed you! It is a stupid pleasure mixed with pain and fear.

Last night was a night with no power except for few hours. The hours that we enjoy electricity bring some breeze from the electric fan and some music. Now-a-days electricity hours are much better than few months back. They are enough for people to recharge their mobile phones and batteries that supply power to computers, fans, fridges, TVs or what have you (rings bell for those who lived in Beirut during the war??). I am getting used to the heat though, and for me it is much better than rain and cold!

Food, one thing I am not getting used to, today I did some cooking (salad, and some yogurt with vegetables, lol). If it was not for the yummy bread that comes in more than one form and taste I would have perished. But I am getting there to develop my own survival strategy.

Today I met with few people, who I interviewed for articles I am writing, and quite interesting feedback I got. Tomorrow I am meeting with guys from the Workers Communist Party (there are two parties here, the other is The Communist Party – which seems to do nothing) Also I have established contact with a group who might get me in contact with Armenian and Kildan people.. hope it works.

Army patrols are all over the city since yesterday’s bombings, though it is not longer part of the daily dialect. It is clear that the Americans do not do any direct contact with Iraqi people unless there is a “terrorist” suspicion. Usually this is how it goes, Bremer issues a decree, US forces accompany Iraqi police to apply it. On security checks – i.e. on the ones leading to Palestine Hotel – Iraqi youth search you as US soldiers stand aside and monitor with their guns in their hands. They never interfere except for those who try to smile in an attempt to justify their presence or look around sacred as hell. In the streets the tanks are all over the place, with guns pointed out (I took few pictures that I will send to you very soon) The presence of the coalition forces with their posh outfits and sunglasses is so provocative amid the poor and dusty areas and people.

Beggars are all over the city, and homelessness is so common. I am still trying to find more about Palestinian refugees but most of the people I am talking to are not fond of them or keen to take me for a visit. (Seems the Palestinians are detested for the privileges they received from Saddam)

For the boycott lovers here are few points….

Nestle’……. the way it is spread all over the city is disgusting, I am trying my best to explain to people about the boycott yet it is hard with there current situation. Some are responding though few! I have been checking the bottles of water, Pure Life; none of those I found is made in Lebanon rather it is made in Turkey! It is even in the daily dialect as people call any chocolate spread nestaleh (the t is not silent) and when they ask for it they say in Arabic “do you have any Nasatel (in plural)”

Coca cola is not yet in the market, or at least I have not seen any, though Lebanese Pepsi is all over the place.

LG is big.. you can see banners of it all over the place and in large quantities.

I am still researching Israeli products which I have been told do exist but in very restricted shops.

That is it for now, I do not want to bore you so far.. I have to go eat… actually suffer, lol!

arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)