Stopped at a couple schools today....

Hello all!! Superbowl Sunday and I'm going to miss it. The game is supposed to be on at like 2:30am our time, not sure if we are going to be able to see it here, but they say we will. Have a few beers for me today and some good food!!

We visited two schools today and had lunch at a Shieks house. All a great experience. The unit we are relieving donated soccer uniforms to one of the local schools, so we went by to provide security and watch the game. What is amazing to me is how much these kids want anything you have. I forgot how third world children are, so appreciative of anything. My last visit was many years ago to the Philippines I had similar experiences. The children come up to you saying "Mista, mista, chocolate?" Something as simple as a pencil makes their day. A lot of the kids know a few English words, and they were showing me their books and actually are being taught English here. We spent a couple hours there. They are so fascinated with cameras and being able to see themselves as soon as you take the picture.

From there we visited a second school where they were having some kind of ceremony. All the kids were sitting on the deck outside while the higher ups, Shieks and our staff was sitting sharing food and chai. The kids were handed out rulers, folders and pencils, all of which they couldn't get enough of. Overall, kids are kids. Even with the huge language barrier, you can still communicate enough with hand gestures. We probably spent more time talking with them then their own parents do. Kind of reminded me of the south side of Chicago. Discipline is kind of like the old Catholic schools here. One of the teachers was walking around with a little stickthey would use to keep the kids in line.

Next we went down the road to a Shieks house. Our staff had lunch with them while we provided security outside. The Iraqi Police were with us and I spent about at hour with my Arabic language book having the Iraqis teach me the proper pronuciation of words. They brought a table outside and had all kinds of food for us too. I stayed away from the meat, but the veggies and flat bread with whatever sauce they had was very tasty. I hope I don't get the runs on the way out. It was good.

Other than that...all is good here. The big picture is we are trying to handover as soon as we can to the Iraqis. Not to sure what the media is saying these days back home, but there is a plan. It does take time though to do it right and leave this country stable enough for them to take over for themselves.

Until next post.......

Doc