My Trip to the U.S.A.- Treasure of Baghdad's Diary...This morning was different by all means. I was able to sleep well because I spent the night in Ivan’s apartment which is really nice and comfortable.
I finished working today early because I was invited for dinner by Mad Canuck, a friend of mine who is a blogger and whom I never met in person previously.
The first time I read Mad Canuck’s blog was months ago through Hassan’s blog which I frequently read. As a reporter, I always focus on how to associate what is going on the ground with the event and the story. And that’s what made me feel interested in talking to Mad Canuck. The first thing I read for him was Saddam Trial: "I Want My Blankie!!" where he associates his two year old daughter’s love to her baby blanket to the insistence of Awwad al-Bandar, who was the president of the Revolutionary Court under Saddam, to get his Agal (Arab head-scarf). I laughed out loud for five minutes dragging attention of everyone around me in the office.
After that, I started reading his blog regularly and became good friends who share ideas and opinions about a lot of things in our lives.
Last month, I told him that I am going to the United States and that New York City is included in my schedule, knowing that he lives and works in New York City. So, we planned to meet each other. It was nice feeling when I was talking to him from Baghdad about our meeting because this time I was confident that it would happen. This is why I love blogging and anything that has to do with internet as it makes you be among people you did not see and never thought you are going to see one day.
While I was working on the project at the CPJ’s office, I chatted with him about our meeting. His first choice was Peter Luger, a famous steakhouse in Brooklyn. He called in the afternoon, but they were booked solid. Then he called Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Midtown and was able to get a reservation for dinner. So, we decided to meet each other at the building where the CPJ is. I went down, gave him a call to tell him I am waiting outside. When he arrived, he gave me a call and told me he pulled over on 7th Avenue. That was the first time I see him. He was elegant and prestigious as I expected him exactly. When he was driving, we were talking about my trip and he was talking about New York City and its people.
M C and I drove near Central Park and through Times Square, which I was really amazed to see. He parked his car in a garage and he and I walked over to the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. The restaurant was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city where only rich are able to visit. I was really impressed of how nice the restaurant was. I’ve been to high class restaurants in Baghdad and Amman, but this one was different. It was full of joy and elegance.
Before, we went to our table, we waited in the bar area and ordered drinks. MC ordered apple martini and I had Heineken. This area was full of people and we were barely able to stand as it was very crowded. We stood there and talked about different topics, topics like “terrorists, Muslims, Christians, sects, Blogs, explosions.
When we went to our table, we sat down and started chatting. MC asked me if I’d like to have wine. I did not hesitate at all as it is one of the favorite drinks I like to have at dinner. He looked an expert in picking up the best kinds of wine so we had a very nice bottle of 2001 vintage Chateauneuf du Pape. At the table, we had along conversation over a meal of filet mignon, asparagus with hollandaise sauce.
After we had dinner, we walked to Time Square. I was shocked. The lights were so amazing to the extent I didn’t know how to look and what to look at. Everything was shining. Lights were so colorful that make everything there colorful as well, including the people whose most of their heads were looking up at the buildings and the skyscrapers. Whatever I am going to describe now would be considered nothing to its real sight. I took pictures of the wonderful Squarre and MC took some of them for me in it.
After that we entered Broadway Cameras and electronic, a store of electronics but also had souvenirs represent New York City. I bought some souvenirs and presents to friends and family.
After we finished from the store, MC took me for a wonderful tour around Manhattan. When we reached Ground Zero where the World Trade Center used to stand, I remembered O who once told me that he felt he couldn’t breathe when he saw it for the first time earlier this year. When I looked at the empty area, the footage of the two buildings falling down flashed into my mind. I was in college at that time. I remember I woke up at the loud sound of the TV as my parents were watching the breaking news. when I first looked, I opened my eyes well to see and then discovered that this was true, not a joke. Damn these terrorists.
MC continued his tour through Battery Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, up Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn and across the Manhattan Bridge back to Manhattan, through Chinatown, then up FDR Drive and Harlem River Drive past the United Nations and Yankee Stadium, then cut through Washington Heights to the Henry Hudson Parkway, past the George Washington Bridge, then back down to the Upper West Side where he dropped me off at Ivan’s apartment that was staying at in town.
It was a great trip that I ever had. I really feel grateful to MC who made me see almost all NYC. Though, my meeting with him was the most exciting thing.
When I went up to the apartment, I sat and talked to Ivan about this wonderful trip. Ivan said it seems MC is really a good friend to have. Ivan was excited to the idea that two bloggers from different and far countries meet each other and have dinner together. Isn’t that exciting and fun?!
December, 8
Today’s morning was almost as everyday, work and just work. I am working at the CPJ on a project about two Iraqi journalists in Wasit province who might be imprisoned for seven years just because they criticized the governor. I will talk in details about this project in a separate post where I am going to mention the case in details.
The guys at the office are so friendly and nice. Alexis is a 24-years old girl whose smile never left her face, Kristine a quiet and nice girl who looks like a nice and cool delicate wind, Nina whose Bulgarian vital laughter and smile could never leave her happy and vivid face, and Heidi whose Dutch beauty is very obvious. This is the group of staff I meet everyday in addition to the bosses who always like friends more than bosses dealing with employees.
After we finished our work, Ivan and I accompanied a new Colombian researcher, Maria, to a toys store where she was buying toys to her cousins. Then, Alexis and Kristine called Ivan and asked if the four of us can have dinner. I was very excited to the idea. So we met them in one of the areas and then went to the Korean neighborhood where I felt I was in Korea more than in NYC. Being in such a place for the first time, I had no idea what to eat. Alexis said although it was a challanging thing to do, but she suggested one of the Korean dishes to me. I don’t even remember what its name was. We were happy and excited; we took pictures, talked and laughed a lot. Then we went out walking till we reached Barens & Noble boostore again. But now not for buying books, It was for sitting in the café and have some coffee in a quiet and nice place. We sat down and we started the conversation about Friends and Opra Show. Alexis was shocked when she heard that Opra is very famous in Iraq and that many people watch her show.
After that we talked about how I, as an Iraqi reporter, covers the news. We also talked about J’s book which is coming in the coming few months. I told them the story of the book’s title. They were really thrilled by this book and they told me they want to buy it whenever it goes out in the bookstores.
Today was Nina’s 30th birthday. She invited all of us for her birthday party in a Bulgarian bar in New York. Alexis, Kristine, Ivan and I went there to say Happy Birthday and share her her happiness. She was very happy to see us. She looked so beautiful standing next to a Russian friend who came from Moscow to say happy birthday to her and attend her birthday party. The party was fun. We oredered beer and then danced as the DJ was rocking the bar. By that time, I was introduced to Alex, Nina’s boss at the CPJ whom I did not have the chance to meet. He looks a very educated and friendly man in his 35 years old. I wanted to stay more but I had work to do at the office before the weekend, so Ivan, Alex, and I congratulated Nina on her birthday and left back home.
