Week 30 - My Week In Iraq

Greetings from Umm Qasr!  (Umm Qasr, which I believe is Arabic for…….”would you like FLIES with that?? “)

Yes, that is one bad thing about the weather dropping below 120 degrees. The flies come out…in droves. And these little suckers are Iraqi flies. They are small, quick, and persistent – they don’t “go away” when you swat at them. After I go jogging, I try to walk the camp to cool down. By the time I walk the big circle, I have a “following” of flies – they will fly in my ears and up my nose and they really don’t care if I swat at them….actually, I think they kind of like it – because they seem to go back to the exact same spot I just swatted them out of – and they are so fast, I don’t come anywhere near to hitting them. Right as I am finishing up my “cool down” walk, I usually just wave my hands around frantically– and then run inside and slam the door to my hootch. Sometimes….I believe I hear them sitting right outside my door….waiting for me to come out….

So anyrate, it has been another interesting week. As you probably know, the military is getting the heck out of Dodge….and that has nothing to do with the automobile….we had the last US Marine Corps members leave this past week. And the last of several other groups are going to start the process of moving out – I don’t have exact dates and times – but soon. And as stated last letter, I don’t know what my status is. I was told verbally that I am good here until the end of December – but that could change any day. My goal is still to stay until my year is up (in March) – but as any good employee – I serve at the pleasure of my boss…(the American People) and ultimately, it is up to you where I go and what I do….

But over the years – in working for the Dept. of Defense, you get used to that – not sure of where you are going or people moving around and promoting or changing jobs – so it is not that unusual for you to be working with different people in short time periods. It is sad – many of these friends I have made, I will probably never see again – especially since they are Navy/Marines and in my “normal” job, I work for the Air Force –so unless it is a fluke, I will just carry fond memories (of most) of them…..

Okay, so what fun things has Mr. Wide been up to? Well, a couple of things – I told you how I am working on the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP)? I don’t know if you remember me mentioning about the “cutting of the sheep” when a new project starts…. Well, the Arabic name for “cutting of the sheep” (or at least the slang of it) is pronounced “Khozi”  (the KH is that guttural Q sound that we don’t have in the English language – so it is kind of pronounced “Quo-“(as in quote) and “zee” (as in zebra) – so QuoZee). Since this particular contractor has started two projects on base – we were long overdue for our Khozi…..and I had been told (several times) by the local engineers and interpreters that this Khozi is a GREAT FEAST – and was always looked forward to with much anticipation.

So with that cultural lesson….you may be asking yourself…. “Self, ….just what the heck is this Khozi that Mr. Wide is talking about???” Well, let me show you….

Oh – and caution….if you are a vegetarian….you may want to turn away…..or flip through fast – because this is ALL MEAT BABY…..Whoo-hoo! Well, All meat – with a LOT of rice…..

Khozi – Lamb stuffed with rice – actually Kharoof stuffed with buriani.  Note the raisins and the pine nuts in the buriani….so good – also note the whole chicken on the plate behind the Khozi….yep…it is that big.

So my only restriction with the Khozi – was we had to do it somewhere OTHER THAN the WWTP (I was kidding – we had the conference room here scheduled….).  But it was not just the Khozi that the Iraqis provided us – they had Simka (fish), dejudge (chicken), fresh fruit (good yellow bananas – not green hard ones like they serve at the DFAC – and wonderful pomegranates) – as well as Laban (yogurt), torshi (pickled vegetables), samoon and hobis (flatbread)  - as well as baklava for dessert….

The local Iraqis were correct – this was a great feast and the food was wonderful.

So I think I am going to be bringing several “traditions” back to the US….first – taking a nap during the heat of the day….(and putting a mattress in your office) and next is when a big project starts – the contractor provides Khozi!!!

Yes, not a pretty sight – the “scene” after the carnage was completed….oh…and don’t worry - that half empty box of baklava sitting right there up front?  Well, it found a good home……trust me on this one….

Now since you all know what a mild mannered soul I am, I was, as usual, my reserved…. respectful… mellow, laid back  self…during this great feast…..

So here is what I was up to…….

Now you know why they REALLY call me Mr. Wide!!

Of course, we did work on the plant – really. As I told you last week – the MOST important thing you can do for the proper operation of the plant – is to get it clean and to keep it clean. We have spent a lot of design time and effort to ensure that once the plant is up and running – it stays that way. And I am spending a lot of time reviewing designs and determining best ways that we can economically and efficiently run the plant. And the local engineer I hired – Mohandis Amjad – is spending a lot of time watching them clean the plant. The below photo is of the contractor cleaning one of the large “aeration tanks”. It is hard to tell – but those “pipes” that go down the right side of the tank - are pipes that carry oxygen to the bottom of the tank – so the water can be “bubbled” – and consequently, it increases the oxygen content of the water – and makes it so the water can sustain life.

You would NOT BELIEVE how filthy and cruddy this tank was before they started cleaning.  Notice the metal pipes?  They head down to the bottom of the tank to the “aeration jets” – so the oxygen bubbles through the water.  As stated before, this is a very economical and efficient process.

Here you can see the “aeration jets – they look like little shower heads – that point “up” into the water.

One more thing that I think you will find kind of interesting – the “norm” here is for concrete roofs. They are pretty flat (it doesn’t rain a lot here) and it withstands the winds very well. Well, originally the pump-house roof was metal – and when it caught fire, the metal warped and it basically became no good. But I thought it would be interesting to show you how they frame up and prepare for the concrete pour for the roof…

Here is the framework for the concrete roof….there will be walls eventually to help support the concrete roof

I am hoping next week to have photos of how they pour the roof. And also – one of the REALLY nasty tanks that they need to clean (I will keep it non-gross). Additionally, I think I am going to have a surprise for you in the coming weeks – as far as the updates…. I can’t let the “cat out of the bag” just yet, but I am hoping I will have a really interesting thing to share with you…..

So, my time for this week is gone. I always enjoy sharing these stories/thoughts with you – and, as always, I hope you are enjoying in “sharing” in my adventure. Know that even though I am 8000+ miles away, you are in my thoughts and prayers constantly – as are my Iraqi friends and colleagues. I am lucky. I get to come home to you eventually….and you don’t know how much I look forward to that day.

God Bless America

Mr. Wide

مهندس  واد  بروير

BONUS PHOTOS 

(you don’t have to pay extra for these!)

Wade is caught – everyone was wondering where his emergency stash of Starbuck’s coffee was…..

That’s right…..cool sunglasses AND we are trained to kill.  (Of course, it is hard to pull off the “tough guy” look when you are wearing a black “floatie” around your neck….)