Today, I went to a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture with some of our USDA counterparts. (Watch your local Iraqi news station tonight...you might see me.)
Then, we took our group on a tour of a sheep and cattle slaughterhouse.
I wore the same high heels to both places. I don't think those shoes will ever be the same.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Flying
I traveled for 30 hours yesterday, College Station to Erbil, Iraq.
All this travel gave me time for reflection, and I've realized that over the span of most trips I go from loving airports and airplanes to hating them and then back to loving them. All within about 30 hours.
Things start out well at the beginning of the trip. I check in at the airport with anticipation, thinking about the new things to see and experience. I settle into my chair with some coffee and wait for my flight. I watch planes come and go, watch other travelers and enjoy the anticipation of travel. I get on the plane and enjoy that rush of take-off. This is my favorite part of flying, that feeling of heaviness before the plane defies gravity and lifts into the air. I love flying!
It's downhill after take-off the initial take-off. After that comes awful airline food. Cramped seats and stiff knees. Delays. Wandering through the mazes that they call airports. Multiple security checks. Feeling dirty and disheveled. I hate flying.
Finally, we land at the final destination. My luggage made it! I take the shuttle out to the parking lot. I spot my friends who have come to pick me up. My sense of anticipation and adventure returns. I can't wait to walk around the city, eat my favorite Iraqi foods and haggle over the price of souvenirs. I love flying!
Flying. It's a love-hate-love relationship.
All this travel gave me time for reflection, and I've realized that over the span of most trips I go from loving airports and airplanes to hating them and then back to loving them. All within about 30 hours.
Things start out well at the beginning of the trip. I check in at the airport with anticipation, thinking about the new things to see and experience. I settle into my chair with some coffee and wait for my flight. I watch planes come and go, watch other travelers and enjoy the anticipation of travel. I get on the plane and enjoy that rush of take-off. This is my favorite part of flying, that feeling of heaviness before the plane defies gravity and lifts into the air. I love flying!
It's downhill after take-off the initial take-off. After that comes awful airline food. Cramped seats and stiff knees. Delays. Wandering through the mazes that they call airports. Multiple security checks. Feeling dirty and disheveled. I hate flying.
Finally, we land at the final destination. My luggage made it! I take the shuttle out to the parking lot. I spot my friends who have come to pick me up. My sense of anticipation and adventure returns. I can't wait to walk around the city, eat my favorite Iraqi foods and haggle over the price of souvenirs. I love flying!
Flying. It's a love-hate-love relationship.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Mystery French Horn Man
At least once a week for the last month or so, I've heard a single French horn playing when I leave the office in the evening. A couple weeks ago, I finally spotted the man playing the French horn in the far corner of our office parking lot. And today, I saw him from our office window. He was practicing a marching routine by himself in the parking lot.
Random.
And fun.
I don't know who you are or why you play, Mystery French Horn Man, but you make me smile.
Random.
And fun.
I don't know who you are or why you play, Mystery French Horn Man, but you make me smile.
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