The hot weather seems to be generating sand storms here lately. This photo was taken out in the desert west of Baghdad this past week and a photo of the same storm ended up on the cover of Stars and Stripes. These storms are impressive, covering everything in site with silty mud, sideways blowing dirty rain, that takes down everything that can't handle a 50 mph gust.
Tonight the trailers were rocked with winds and the sky lit up with lightning and the rumble of distant thunder. The beautiful temperate winter days have given way to spring heat. Summer heat will be up over 130 degrees F. Rick describes it feeling like having your head in the oven while blowing sand at your face with a hair drier. Though I've acclimated to the heat, I don't think I'd enjoy the summers here. By day, everything hides in the shade to survive.
I'm wrapping up my work and handing off to Russ this week. Yesterday we had to lay off one of our Iraqi employees who was still collecting money from his former employers while on our payroll. Most Iraqis won't steal from you, but many will take anything you give them. He didn't feel he'd done anything wrong. It is a shame he's thrown away the best paying job in Iraq for $900 of double dipping. But in an economy where doctors make $200 a week, that's big money. He corresponded with me later in the day by email and asked if I thought he should give the money back. After 30 years of being told what to do and when to do it, many Iraqis automatically look for someone to tell them what to do.
Tonight the trailers were rocked with winds and the sky lit up with lightning and the rumble of distant thunder. The beautiful temperate winter days have given way to spring heat. Summer heat will be up over 130 degrees F. Rick describes it feeling like having your head in the oven while blowing sand at your face with a hair drier. Though I've acclimated to the heat, I don't think I'd enjoy the summers here. By day, everything hides in the shade to survive.
I'm wrapping up my work and handing off to Russ this week. Yesterday we had to lay off one of our Iraqi employees who was still collecting money from his former employers while on our payroll. Most Iraqis won't steal from you, but many will take anything you give them. He didn't feel he'd done anything wrong. It is a shame he's thrown away the best paying job in Iraq for $900 of double dipping. But in an economy where doctors make $200 a week, that's big money. He corresponded with me later in the day by email and asked if I thought he should give the money back. After 30 years of being told what to do and when to do it, many Iraqis automatically look for someone to tell them what to do.
posted by Bob at 11:34 AM
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