Baghdad International Airport announces…
That’s new. There are now regular announcements here, something absent in the past. There is also a whole lot more Iraqis here than the past. It’s odd to hear daily news reports of tribal violence and then step into this benign reality of airport travel with Iraqis of all sorts commingling in the monotonous carnival of international travel. Elderly women in black abayas, younger Iraqi women in tight jeans and make up. Does that mean Iraq has greater diversity than the U.S.? At least as far as women’s clothing? That’s the interesting thought of the day.
Flights are departing for Istanbul, Oman, and Amman Jordan. It’s a veritable hub of activity and it does feel good to feel somewhat at peace, or at least in a smoky, semi peaceful environment, surrounded by Iraqis.
Young kids, nine? Ten? Work the garbage cans like nobody’s business, authoritatively opening and closing the receptacle every time a new found piece of trash is to be deposited. The bathroom attendant, maybe fifteen, kindly offered me toilet paper to wipe my hands after washing, which I declined, having already wiped my hands on my jeans seeing no paper. I took his picture with my Mac, mirror mode, which he liked, but of course he doesn’t have email so I can’t send it to him. He did whistle at the pretty blonde contractor that just walked by. Blonde is blonde is blonde.
Boot up in the airport and why not. I do and there ya go, free wireless net in BIAP.
I pulled the NY Times web page as my home page and there’s an Iraqi woman, in full abaya, mourning. The bathroom attendant let out an audible sigh. I read about Iraq on the net, he gets to go home to live it.
