Greetings from Umm Qasr! (Umm Qasr – which I believe is Arabic for “all of our thermometers have melted……”)
Well, I hope you have had an exciting week and have lived it up. I am continually amazed that when I write, people “get” what I say (other than Jeanette – she always “gets it" – as she has “put up with it” for about 40 years now…). One of you readers politely noted that my statement of “up front on the bow” was akin to Thoreau and some of his writings (he wrote – MUCH, MUCH more eloquently by the way - about not wanting to “stay below” on the sail ship – he wanted to be up with the mast and see the ocean and be a part of the world)…. and maybe he didn’t say, “Yeah, baby” – but he had the right idea. Life is to be lived and there is so much to see and do before I go “home” – I don’t want to miss a thing…. Yeah, baby.
Well, I hope you have had an exciting week and have lived it up. I am continually amazed that when I write, people “get” what I say (other than Jeanette – she always “gets it" – as she has “put up with it” for about 40 years now…). One of you readers politely noted that my statement of “up front on the bow” was akin to Thoreau and some of his writings (he wrote – MUCH, MUCH more eloquently by the way - about not wanting to “stay below” on the sail ship – he wanted to be up with the mast and see the ocean and be a part of the world)…. and maybe he didn’t say, “Yeah, baby” – but he had the right idea. Life is to be lived and there is so much to see and do before I go “home” – I don’t want to miss a thing…. Yeah, baby.
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| “Life” as seen from the bow…. |
I tried to explain (probably poorly – as I really don’t know all of the Catholic traditions) how before Lent – there is this tradition of having a big party – and then you would “give up” some things for Lent. (40 days – until Easter) The reason for Lent is so that you can be closer to God when you crave those things – you rely on God to help you through the craving. (Okay, all of my Catholic friends, you can stop laughing now – I don’t pretend to know exactly the rules or reasons for this – but I have promised to write what “I see” in this journal – and what I have seen over my lifetime are my good friends trying very sincerely to “do something for their relationship with God.”)
My point is – this is very similar to what Ramadan is (and I will be the first to admit – I always see on TV the nut-jobs flogging themselves – or whackos telling people to go kill infidels) But again – what I SEE IN PERSON – are people wanting to honestly get closer to God. One of my Muslim friends told me that during Ramadan, they want to be “more like the angels” during this month – so the angels don’t eat or drink – so that is one reason they don’t eat or drink during the day.
Ahhh….. but the other part….. once dusk happens….. during Ramadan – the FOOD COMES OUT!!! Amjad, (my senior engineer) said, ”Oh, Mr. Wade….. the food – so much - so good. I wish I could take you to my house…. so much food – every night.” Fakhri (the other engineer) told me, “The food – it is so beautiful - makes it even taste better…. and it make you strong!” The REALLY cool thing is that Amjad and Fakhri are planning to stay overnight a couple of nights (it is easier for them) – so they are bringing some food in – and they have invited me to “break - fast” with them. And of course, you all are so lucky – as you get to see PHOTOS of me eating it!!
I am still learning about all of this – but towards the end of Ramadan there are a couple of holy days and a wild crazy party (okay, now remember, these guys really don’t drink a ton or do drugs and they are pretty modest with women – so “wild and crazy” is probably not the same here as it is there) but, bottom line is – as I experience it or hear stories about it, I will pass them along. To me, this is interesting – to see how “real” Muslims celebrate and I hope you look forward to hearing the stories.
Okay, next thing – we had the “Deputy Commanding General” come down to our little diamond in the desert and get a tour. They showed him the ships, the boats, the training stations, the camp projects….and - so you may ask yourself…..what interesting /most important thing did they give “good ol’ Mr. Wade” to show him?
My point is – this is very similar to what Ramadan is (and I will be the first to admit – I always see on TV the nut-jobs flogging themselves – or whackos telling people to go kill infidels) But again – what I SEE IN PERSON – are people wanting to honestly get closer to God. One of my Muslim friends told me that during Ramadan, they want to be “more like the angels” during this month – so the angels don’t eat or drink – so that is one reason they don’t eat or drink during the day.
Ahhh….. but the other part….. once dusk happens….. during Ramadan – the FOOD COMES OUT!!! Amjad, (my senior engineer) said, ”Oh, Mr. Wade….. the food – so much - so good. I wish I could take you to my house…. so much food – every night.” Fakhri (the other engineer) told me, “The food – it is so beautiful - makes it even taste better…. and it make you strong!” The REALLY cool thing is that Amjad and Fakhri are planning to stay overnight a couple of nights (it is easier for them) – so they are bringing some food in – and they have invited me to “break - fast” with them. And of course, you all are so lucky – as you get to see PHOTOS of me eating it!!
I am still learning about all of this – but towards the end of Ramadan there are a couple of holy days and a wild crazy party (okay, now remember, these guys really don’t drink a ton or do drugs and they are pretty modest with women – so “wild and crazy” is probably not the same here as it is there) but, bottom line is – as I experience it or hear stories about it, I will pass them along. To me, this is interesting – to see how “real” Muslims celebrate and I hope you look forward to hearing the stories.
Okay, next thing – we had the “Deputy Commanding General” come down to our little diamond in the desert and get a tour. They showed him the ships, the boats, the training stations, the camp projects….and - so you may ask yourself…..what interesting /most important thing did they give “good ol’ Mr. Wade” to show him?
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| Who lit one (literally)?? |
The broken down, burnt-up, dilapidated Iraqi Navy Waste Water Treatment Plant. Yep, I get to tour the 2 Star and show him the stinkiest, foulest-looking spot in this half of Iraq. (Yeah, I know….who did I tick off, right?).
Here is the thing (and I know a month or two ago I said I wouldn’t talk “sewer” anymore…) but what happened is this – I went over to look at the WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant – this is where you take raw sewage, add chemicals and clean up the water and remove the “solids”) and I saw that the WWTP was being run into the ground, was designed improperly, and wasn’t functioning. It was pumping raw sewage into an area that wasn’t designed for it. So I immediately sent up a flag to everyone above me that this was a serious problem. My “personal” chain of command agreed – but the other “bureaucrats” that I deal with were more worried about money (it wasn’t that expensive) and legal issues (since the Iraqis own the WWTP). This got me “screwed into the ceiling” (BTW, that is a term that all of the Iraqi Navy now know – “Mr. Wide got ‘screwed into the ceiling’ today, because….) – but any rate, I got upset that the “cogs” in the system were now “clogs” in the system…(Hey, I just thought of that…can I copyright that??? – but, again, I digress…)
So, what happens? About a month ago, the plant caught fire and is now a big ashtray. And now, everyone is scrambling to figure out what to do…. except for good ol’ Mr. Wide (and his two local engineers). We had already started a design – because we knew it was just a matter of time before the thing went “belly up.” Of course, nobody will acknowledge that (but that is okay….sometimes it is more important to KNOW you are right – than it is to have everyone admit that you were right….). Again, please don’t take this as bragging or being smug. I have done this before and I am good at it. But you don’t hire a dance teacher and then tell her how to do the jitterbug. (Well, you can, but you’ve wasted your money and the teacher knows – you might call it the jitterbug, but really you are wasting energy and making yourself look foolish….)
Okay, so with that background, I am touring the general – we get out of the car (and this place smells terrible) and I start talking to him – and he seems pretty interested. I really can’t explain it without showing him inside – so I ask him if he wants to go in and see it “up close and personal.”
You should have seen the look on the staffs’ faces…. you would have thought I just called his momma “Osama”….. sheesh – but there is a reason this guy got as far as he did….their jaws dropped even further when he said, ”You bet!”
So we go in and I show him how the plant works – and what wasn’t being operated correctly – and show him exactly what the problems were. HE. LOVED. IT! He was asking good (smart) questions and even made some semi-decent comments. After we left, the one-star that was with him said to me, “That was really good…. you know your sewer.” (It was a nice compliment and I took it that way…) But in the back of my head, I am thinking, “Great….first it's 'Mr. Wide' and now it's 'I know my sewer'. Well, I guess we all get known for something…”
BTW, I have a Brazilian photos of the plant…. (Oh…sorry, I should explain that term. This is from a joke about the Iranian terrorist who was arrested – as he heard there were 6 Brazilian diplomats in country – and right before he got “sent to the gallows” – he wanted to know…..just exactly how many is “a Brazilian?”) Sorry – Iraqi humor – so that is our “camp term” when we want to say “a lot” – I would like a Brazilian dollars. So, I have a BUNCH of photos of the WWTP – but I will just show you one – that was taken the day after the fire. I sent this off to some of the geniuses I have been arguing with – with the exact same caption:
So, what happens? About a month ago, the plant caught fire and is now a big ashtray. And now, everyone is scrambling to figure out what to do…. except for good ol’ Mr. Wide (and his two local engineers). We had already started a design – because we knew it was just a matter of time before the thing went “belly up.” Of course, nobody will acknowledge that (but that is okay….sometimes it is more important to KNOW you are right – than it is to have everyone admit that you were right….). Again, please don’t take this as bragging or being smug. I have done this before and I am good at it. But you don’t hire a dance teacher and then tell her how to do the jitterbug. (Well, you can, but you’ve wasted your money and the teacher knows – you might call it the jitterbug, but really you are wasting energy and making yourself look foolish….)
Okay, so with that background, I am touring the general – we get out of the car (and this place smells terrible) and I start talking to him – and he seems pretty interested. I really can’t explain it without showing him inside – so I ask him if he wants to go in and see it “up close and personal.”
You should have seen the look on the staffs’ faces…. you would have thought I just called his momma “Osama”….. sheesh – but there is a reason this guy got as far as he did….their jaws dropped even further when he said, ”You bet!”
So we go in and I show him how the plant works – and what wasn’t being operated correctly – and show him exactly what the problems were. HE. LOVED. IT! He was asking good (smart) questions and even made some semi-decent comments. After we left, the one-star that was with him said to me, “That was really good…. you know your sewer.” (It was a nice compliment and I took it that way…) But in the back of my head, I am thinking, “Great….first it's 'Mr. Wide' and now it's 'I know my sewer'. Well, I guess we all get known for something…”
BTW, I have a Brazilian photos of the plant…. (Oh…sorry, I should explain that term. This is from a joke about the Iranian terrorist who was arrested – as he heard there were 6 Brazilian diplomats in country – and right before he got “sent to the gallows” – he wanted to know…..just exactly how many is “a Brazilian?”) Sorry – Iraqi humor – so that is our “camp term” when we want to say “a lot” – I would like a Brazilian dollars. So, I have a BUNCH of photos of the WWTP – but I will just show you one – that was taken the day after the fire. I sent this off to some of the geniuses I have been arguing with – with the exact same caption:
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| Huh…..who’d have thought that this would have happened? |
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| Now for those of you who got on Facebook and saw my “teaser” – this is what happens when sewage sits for a long time and eventually gets so stagnant that all oxygen starts leaving….the longer it sits, the darker pink it gets. You do not want to accidentally drop your keys in there. This took a long time to “brew” – so you see why I have been working so hard to try and get this fixed. It is now going to finally happen. (Yes, it is that disgusting…) |
Alrighty then, on to the next subject – well, remember I told you about the little “Umm Qasr Knot” area that I am developing? Well, I am slowly getting that developed (it is one of my “other duties as assigned” or in my case “volunteered” to do). But, I have told you I am trying to “hire” a lot of the locals – and I am trying to get a “coffee shop” run by them. So I had a meeting with a couple of the local guys and told them what I wanted. Now the area is mostly sand and empty right now (it is getting better – but it is definitely not done) – but I was talking with the local about fixing up the area (as part of his “rent”) – and then he asked if he could bring in hashish.
…..
“WHAT!??!” (my exact quote..)
…..
Well, guess what that started…. (if you are an avid reader, I think you will know….) I started one of my “Mr. Wide Lectures” on how we are on American soil – and how we need to obey American Laws and how drugs will kill our relationships with the Iraqis and how there are ….. on and on…. and then I notice the interpreter (in this case it was Mohandis Amjad (engineer Amjad)) starting to laugh hysterically. He wasn’t translating – but all of the Iraqis were looking at me as I was in the middle of my “lecture.”
Amjad says, -
Amjad says, -
“Mr. Wade….”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Wade. In Iraq….. hashish means grass…”
“Kind of does in America, too…”
“No. It means like grass you cut…. like lawn…”
And in my best “Emily Litella” impression (Saturday Night Live), I say, “Oohhh…that’s different. Never mind.”
And my last story this week. I have told you before about my friend, Haleem. He is the one with the wife, two boys and the little girl who celebrated her birthday with the special cake (and she just got out of the hospital from being sick). Well, any rate, Haleem got an email from the US Embassy the other day. And he came to see me first (he was stuck on camp until later that day) – but… (and I don’t know the whole process) – but, he was okayed by the embassy – and he will now get to work a special program and it looks like he and his family will be going to the US in a few months.
Ohhh…. my friends……. How I wish I could share that joy with you. This young man (about 25) is going to do great in America. My only sadness is that Iraq needs men like him here as well – but the future for him and his young family is now going to be forever changed. He was so excited – he was telling me how his kids can go to good schools now – how his wife doesn’t have to wear those scarves and he would get a job – any job and work hard and things were going to be wonderful now. And what made me feel good – he wants Jeanette and I to visit him – so he can introduce me to his wife (she was the one who was feeling bad until I spoke to her on the phone in Arabic)…and they can cook samoon and kabab and other food for me. His heart was bursting with joy at the thought of going to America. I know exactly how he feels….mine was too.
We all have had days like that – where we receive great news and our heart is so full of joy – we need to share with someone - or we think the joy will make our bodies burst – that was how Haleem was that day. And I was so proud and happy that he chose to spend those first happy moments with me. I asked if he had shared the news with his family yet (he had not) – so I got to hear him share the news with his mother. I did not understand exactly what she said (I could only hear her voice tones as she talked with Haleem) – but I can tell you this – she was so proud of her boy and so excited for his future. I could hear her voice raise – and the “tremble” in her voice as she held back tears as she was talking.
Just so you know, Haleem is the “oldest” boy – and he quit school to support his family – which includes his mom, dad, younger brothers, and younger sister. He gives them money and stuff all the time. His younger brothers got to graduate high school and they are hoping to go to college – because Haleem quit school and went to work – so they didn’t have to. Haleem’s family knows that life will be a little harder for them now that he will be going to his new home – but they are all so proud of him for working hard and learning English and working with the Americans. Haleem also said he is going to work hard and become an American Citizen – he and his whole family. Like many of us, he will join that great melting pot of Americans – he won’t forget his Iraqi roots or traditions – better yet, he will start new traditions in his new country. I hope that sends chills down your spine as it does mine.
And my last story this week. I have told you before about my friend, Haleem. He is the one with the wife, two boys and the little girl who celebrated her birthday with the special cake (and she just got out of the hospital from being sick). Well, any rate, Haleem got an email from the US Embassy the other day. And he came to see me first (he was stuck on camp until later that day) – but… (and I don’t know the whole process) – but, he was okayed by the embassy – and he will now get to work a special program and it looks like he and his family will be going to the US in a few months.
Ohhh…. my friends……. How I wish I could share that joy with you. This young man (about 25) is going to do great in America. My only sadness is that Iraq needs men like him here as well – but the future for him and his young family is now going to be forever changed. He was so excited – he was telling me how his kids can go to good schools now – how his wife doesn’t have to wear those scarves and he would get a job – any job and work hard and things were going to be wonderful now. And what made me feel good – he wants Jeanette and I to visit him – so he can introduce me to his wife (she was the one who was feeling bad until I spoke to her on the phone in Arabic)…and they can cook samoon and kabab and other food for me. His heart was bursting with joy at the thought of going to America. I know exactly how he feels….mine was too.
We all have had days like that – where we receive great news and our heart is so full of joy – we need to share with someone - or we think the joy will make our bodies burst – that was how Haleem was that day. And I was so proud and happy that he chose to spend those first happy moments with me. I asked if he had shared the news with his family yet (he had not) – so I got to hear him share the news with his mother. I did not understand exactly what she said (I could only hear her voice tones as she talked with Haleem) – but I can tell you this – she was so proud of her boy and so excited for his future. I could hear her voice raise – and the “tremble” in her voice as she held back tears as she was talking.
Just so you know, Haleem is the “oldest” boy – and he quit school to support his family – which includes his mom, dad, younger brothers, and younger sister. He gives them money and stuff all the time. His younger brothers got to graduate high school and they are hoping to go to college – because Haleem quit school and went to work – so they didn’t have to. Haleem’s family knows that life will be a little harder for them now that he will be going to his new home – but they are all so proud of him for working hard and learning English and working with the Americans. Haleem also said he is going to work hard and become an American Citizen – he and his whole family. Like many of us, he will join that great melting pot of Americans – he won’t forget his Iraqi roots or traditions – better yet, he will start new traditions in his new country. I hope that sends chills down your spine as it does mine.
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| My good buddy and soon to be American – Haleem. |
So, my dear reader, I would like to end this week’s update on that happy note. If you happen to know someone who has immigrated to this country, I wish you would take a few minutes and ask them their story. Many, many folks have worked so hard to come to America. Some have had to leave a lot of their family behind (again, I can relate in a very small way to them) – but I am lucky – I will soon be reunited with my family. Many of these new citizens in America will not. But I bet if you ask them, their families back home are proud of them – and want them to prosper, be happy, and live in freedom in their new country. My country. Our country.
God Bless America
Wade “Mr. Wide”
مهندس واد بروير
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