My Trip to the U.S.A. Treasure of Baghdad's Diary
January 1, 2006
This morning I woke up lazy. Of course, I slept at 5 a.m. because I stayed late in R’s house and returned back home at 3:30 a.m. I arrived the house drunk!. Yes, drunk. It was New Year’s Eve for God’s sake and I haven’t had any fun since the war. And of course, I am not in Baghdad to be afraid going out late.
Anyway, I text-messaged O to make him call me. He did and he was asking about the time because he knows the time difference. So, we chatted and all what I remember is that I was lying on the floor when I was talking to him. I was laughing and laughing but I don’t know why. I don’t remember even what we talked about.
Anyway, I was really tired this morning. J noticed this. Watching the TV news made me really mad. Then J gave me a Mimosa which is a New Year’s tradition and to help my New Year’s Eve hangover.
After that I kept most of the day checking emails and reading newspaper and blogs. At 6:30, I took a nap for half an hour and then took a shower to get ready to go to a dinner party. J and I were invited by C, one of my favorite reporters who came to Baghdad last year.
“Ahlan Wa Sahlan,” said C when she opened the door with her great and beautiful smile. It was very nice of her to welcome me in Arabic. I was really impressed and I immediately remembered how nice and beautiful she was when she used to say “Sabah Alkhair” [good morning] every morning in Baghdad. C, won the Pulitzer Prize winner in 1991 for her coverage of Iraqi invasion Kuwait and the first Gulf War. I am very proud to meet her.
When we entered I saw K, a freelancing journalist who was in Iraq few months ago. She stayed in our office all that period where she was very nice and everyone in the office like her. Another journalism student was also invited to the dinner.
At 10 p.m., Th, our friend and journalist arrived. I was really excited and happy to see her because the last time I saw her in Baghdad was in 2003 where I had just started working. I was different at that time, completely different. you know, I had just got my B.A. degree and had no full idea of what does journalism mean. She was really surprised to see the shy B speaking.
While we were having dinner, C played one of my favorite CDs. It was a CD of Sabir Rubae, a Tunisian singer, I gave her when she was in Baghdad.
When we left C’s fancy condo, we looked at our watches and discovered that it was midnight. J drove K back home because it was really late and we thought that it would be very dangerous for her to stay late to get a taxi cab at that time.
January 2, 2006
Today, is my last day in the United States. I spent most of it reading and checking emails. The first thinking I heard was the continuous violence in Iraq.
One of the most things that kept me sitting in front of the computer was the new entry of 24 Steps to Liberty. It was a great and clear description of how life looked like before and after the war.
In blog standards, discussion is a very important thing. But when this discussion starts with an insult, the situation would be different. I left a comment on 24’s blog giving some of the examples that happened to me and my family in the period when Saddam was in power. What surprised me is a blogger called, Jeffrey, insulted me in public. His words were posted on 24’s like this, “I say to your face, Baghdad Treasure, FUCK YOU.”
This morning I woke up lazy. Of course, I slept at 5 a.m. because I stayed late in R’s house and returned back home at 3:30 a.m. I arrived the house drunk!. Yes, drunk. It was New Year’s Eve for God’s sake and I haven’t had any fun since the war. And of course, I am not in Baghdad to be afraid going out late.
Anyway, I text-messaged O to make him call me. He did and he was asking about the time because he knows the time difference. So, we chatted and all what I remember is that I was lying on the floor when I was talking to him. I was laughing and laughing but I don’t know why. I don’t remember even what we talked about.
Anyway, I was really tired this morning. J noticed this. Watching the TV news made me really mad. Then J gave me a Mimosa which is a New Year’s tradition and to help my New Year’s Eve hangover.
After that I kept most of the day checking emails and reading newspaper and blogs. At 6:30, I took a nap for half an hour and then took a shower to get ready to go to a dinner party. J and I were invited by C, one of my favorite reporters who came to Baghdad last year.
“Ahlan Wa Sahlan,” said C when she opened the door with her great and beautiful smile. It was very nice of her to welcome me in Arabic. I was really impressed and I immediately remembered how nice and beautiful she was when she used to say “Sabah Alkhair” [good morning] every morning in Baghdad. C, won the Pulitzer Prize winner in 1991 for her coverage of Iraqi invasion Kuwait and the first Gulf War. I am very proud to meet her.
When we entered I saw K, a freelancing journalist who was in Iraq few months ago. She stayed in our office all that period where she was very nice and everyone in the office like her. Another journalism student was also invited to the dinner.
At 10 p.m., Th, our friend and journalist arrived. I was really excited and happy to see her because the last time I saw her in Baghdad was in 2003 where I had just started working. I was different at that time, completely different. you know, I had just got my B.A. degree and had no full idea of what does journalism mean. She was really surprised to see the shy B speaking.
While we were having dinner, C played one of my favorite CDs. It was a CD of Sabir Rubae, a Tunisian singer, I gave her when she was in Baghdad.
When we left C’s fancy condo, we looked at our watches and discovered that it was midnight. J drove K back home because it was really late and we thought that it would be very dangerous for her to stay late to get a taxi cab at that time.
January 2, 2006
Today, is my last day in the United States. I spent most of it reading and checking emails. The first thinking I heard was the continuous violence in Iraq.
One of the most things that kept me sitting in front of the computer was the new entry of 24 Steps to Liberty. It was a great and clear description of how life looked like before and after the war.
In blog standards, discussion is a very important thing. But when this discussion starts with an insult, the situation would be different. I left a comment on 24’s blog giving some of the examples that happened to me and my family in the period when Saddam was in power. What surprised me is a blogger called, Jeffrey, insulted me in public. His words were posted on 24’s like this, “I say to your face, Baghdad Treasure, FUCK YOU.”
What made me really sad is that it is known that all the reader’s of 24’s blog respect each other even if they disagree. I totally understand that everyone has his/her own point of view. But insulting others??!! That was really not in my dictionary. I think the worst thing people may do is insulting others without discussing issues with them in a very civilized way.
As an educated and civilized Iraqi, I replied to Jeffrey’s comment in a very polite and civilized way because this is how my family raised me. RESPECT is above all. And it makes me sad because he is a blogger and many people read his blog. I wonder how would people read for someone who uses words like “fuck You” in a comment on a blog?
Anyway, don't bother yourself. Today I had Indian food for dinner. J and I went to an Indian restaurant, called Tiffin, and bought some delicious Indian food. We went back home, had dinner while we were listening to American and Arabic music. Then J said, we should make Nargeela, Hookah. “This time, I am going to make it,” she said and she did. Yes, she was professional. She made it exactly as I made it the last time. even the way she blows on the piece of the coal was very professional. Heehee.
Hopefully, tomorrow and before I leave to the airport, I shall go to the newsroom to thank the editors and the other journalists there for their hospitality and concern about their staff in Baghdad.
Finally, at the end of my wonderful and successful trip, I say thanks for everyone considered me a brother and a friend. A great thanks to J and her family who surrounded me with their warmth and love. Thanks to my newspaper’s editor’s for listening to my concerns. Thanks to my friend Ivan whose generosity and help in New York City would never be forgotten. Thanks to the staff of the Committee to Protect Journalists who considered me part of their family. Thanks to all the readers who enjoyed my journey and left respectable comments whether they agreed or disagreed on what I wrote. Thanks to the American people who were very friendly and lovely with me. I hope one day we see an end to terrorism and see all Americans and Iraqis friends together in both countries. Finally, thank you AMERICA. Hopefully, I am coming back to you.
See you in Baghdad.
As an educated and civilized Iraqi, I replied to Jeffrey’s comment in a very polite and civilized way because this is how my family raised me. RESPECT is above all. And it makes me sad because he is a blogger and many people read his blog. I wonder how would people read for someone who uses words like “fuck You” in a comment on a blog?
Anyway, don't bother yourself. Today I had Indian food for dinner. J and I went to an Indian restaurant, called Tiffin, and bought some delicious Indian food. We went back home, had dinner while we were listening to American and Arabic music. Then J said, we should make Nargeela, Hookah. “This time, I am going to make it,” she said and she did. Yes, she was professional. She made it exactly as I made it the last time. even the way she blows on the piece of the coal was very professional. Heehee.
Hopefully, tomorrow and before I leave to the airport, I shall go to the newsroom to thank the editors and the other journalists there for their hospitality and concern about their staff in Baghdad.
Finally, at the end of my wonderful and successful trip, I say thanks for everyone considered me a brother and a friend. A great thanks to J and her family who surrounded me with their warmth and love. Thanks to my newspaper’s editor’s for listening to my concerns. Thanks to my friend Ivan whose generosity and help in New York City would never be forgotten. Thanks to the staff of the Committee to Protect Journalists who considered me part of their family. Thanks to all the readers who enjoyed my journey and left respectable comments whether they agreed or disagreed on what I wrote. Thanks to the American people who were very friendly and lovely with me. I hope one day we see an end to terrorism and see all Americans and Iraqis friends together in both countries. Finally, thank you AMERICA. Hopefully, I am coming back to you.
See you in Baghdad.
