A Lot To Take In!!! That’s the most suitable phrase to summarize my first two weeks in Sumeria (Iraq)!
The arrival was a rather unique experience in and of itself. The 28 hours, it took to get to Baghdad, included departing Phoenix, bound for Dallas, then to Doha! The Dallas to Doha portion marks my, first ever, journey up and over the Atlantic! Any flight that lasts more than a dozen hours makes ya feel like you’ll be in your seat indefinitely!
I’ve traveled up and over the Pacific Ocean 14 times, so I’m familiar with the mental fortitude, and the proper planning to make the experience palatable. Perhaps the most significant move is centered in one’s bladder! Boarding the plane with an empty, or near empty, bladder is especially significant. It becomes even more significant if you have a ‘middle’ seat.
Despite the extended duration above my unique little record is still valid! I’ve never used the bathroom on an airplane! Hence, my aim to be unconscious for most of it, along with absorbing a few basic Arabic phrases, was my intent.
The flight from Doha to Baghdad was a relatively short one so I focused on being prepared to seamlessly make my way through ‘immigration’. Upon landing in Baghdad, I immediately ‘beelined’ it to the bathroom. Afterward, I triple checked my documents, making my one year work visa, easily accessible.
My 3am arrival made for easy passage through the airport. My handle of the ‘Arabic’ language was painfully insufficient. Fortunately, the few encounters with officials, flowed smoothly - just sticking to English. In fact, the majority of words spoken, were simple directions to ensure sharp images of me were snapped. The last photo was followed with a large sticker, that was stuck on, and covered an entire passport page.
I was thrilled to have my passport contain a ‘one year, mult-entry, work visa in Iraq’!
Things continue to flow smoothly after passing through ‘entry security’. Immediately afterward I spotted my name! It was on a large piece of paper, held by a tall, formally dressed person. I informed him that was me and added verification with my passport.
My bags were promptly picked up, then I made my way to the pickup curb, where the University’s security time was waiting. They drove me to the American University of Iraq Baghdad and dropped me off at my new apartment. This whole experience transpired with definite disorientation. That’s what happens when you’ve been traveling for thirty hours and are thrust into a ten hour different time zone!
The ‘program-coordinator’ for the, English Language Arts department of the, university previously ironed out a plan with me. I was directed to get a few hours of rest then be ready to begin the onboarding process by noon. I’ve never had so many variables fall into place so seamlessly!
The onboarding and campus orientation process happened expeditiously! All throughout taking notes and entering important information, I was mindful of the fact, I was to be delivering my first lesson, facilitating learning in less than 24 hours!
The first lesson had its share of ‘hiccups’ but overall it was a success!
I’m teaching ‘listening and speaking’ to intermediate English language learners. The class sizes are relatively small - 15 to 20 students. The culture here is also helpful because I could easily sense, respect, and hospitality are deeply engrained here.
At this point, I’ve delivered 9 lessons, which included one assessment. My favorite days are test days! Expectations are clear, the classroom is quiet, and lesson plans are super simple. Following the assessment, I couldn’t be more fortunate, because the university is taking a week-long break, for Ramadan. That’s where I’m at now.
We are halfway through the week-long break. The days, thus far, have been focused on processing everything I’ve taken in, my first few days here. Apart from a brief flood, in my apartment, I couldn’t feel more fortunate!
The drain, near my door, was not draining. The facilities department was informed of this and fixed it in just a few days. Those days were challenging. Getting dressed, which includes attaching a prosthetic limb, become especially challenging in a two inch puddle of water!
My floors are now dry but I’m confronted with another challenge. The current challenge is peculiar as it’s exclusive to those supported by prosthetic limbs. I have a little spot, on the outside of my right knee, that has become prominent and painful.
A small little bump, like a pimple, just popped up. It doesn’t look like much but an accidental knock, against furniture or a wall, forces you to take it seriously. As an amputee, any abnormal disturbance on the skin MUST be taken seriously. The consequences of an infection are just too severe!
This is my fourth day refraining from walking. I’m grateful, during my brief orientation of the health clinic, I spotted a set of ‘forearm crutches’, and they were generously given to me, on the spot! These two supportive sticks have integral to getting around. I even went on an ‘off-campus’ mall trip with them.
I’m very self conscious about feeling like a burden. I did not want to make one of our security chaperones stuck with me as some sort of assistant. I knew they were watching me closely, so I had to prove I could be self-sufficient immediately.
I grabbed a basket. More accurately put, I attempted to grab a basket, but these kind of baskets, have never been experienced before. They are rather large and have wheels on them. This was not the basket I imagined slipping my forearm through with my fingers free to grab my forearm crutch handle. Security could clearly see my struggle.
Hence, within the first or second minute, I had two staff members coming to my aid. I didn’t want to force anyone to follow me through my whole shopping experience but that’s exactly what happened. The staff made sure to provide this essential assistance without me feeling like I had ‘belittled’ them.
Now I’m back in my apartment, with a sufficient stock of food, and preparing my Sunday lesson :)
