The sun is up here in Ramadi. The sky has that light blue tint to it of clean clear air and the sun is just starting to warm the 63 degree air.
The cats are playing with a dust bunny (no wait, that is one of the kittens) out in our dirt yard and the pigeons are searching for something up in one of the two palm trees next to the building across the way.
Our Iraqi students are going to be here for the first day of their week, ready to learn. Friday is their day off. Now don't get all concerned thinking they get only one day off. Friday is like their Sunday, and that is the day all of them expect to have off.
Our students split their six day work week. Half of them work Saturday through Monday and take Tuesday through Friday off while the other half of them work from Tuesday through Thursday and take Friday through Monday off. By the way, they work from 9am through 3pm on a long work day.
I know at this point you are saying that is a pretty sweet deal, an 18 hour work week and all, but when your division of the government doesn't have a budget to pay you from, and you are working for very little money, even 18 hours a week seems a little much.
Anyway, it is back to work for Sgt Garrett, Yoda and me, so have a wonderful weekend!!!
Semper Fi,
m
2 comments:
Mark,
Do these Iraqis have other jobs? Do they garden or grow their own food? I know they have a water shortage. What about jobs putting in sewage systems, water lines, air conditioning units, power sources, etc. I would think solar energy would be a big source of energy for them. Why is their government so "broke" that they can't pay them? Where is all the oil profit going? Could it be that they have "philosophical" problems brought about by political corruption - a concept that we in America are somewhat familiar with just don't know how to fix????
Mom
Mom,
Depending on who you ask, Iraq has a national budget surplus of potentially $79 billion US dollars(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398464,00.html) and (http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/10/13/iraqi_minister_refutes_budget_surplus/09b7/).
In your comment, I am not sure what you mean by "these Iraqis". Yes, Iraqi's have jobs, some of the Doctors and Lawyers. Some have gardens, but as you mentioned, there is a large water shortage overhere. Most don't have the training or technology to do the work you are suggesting here. Solar power costs money.
Their government HAS money to pay the people I am working with, it is just putting that money into other projects and hands.
The government has one square peg and 20 square holes to put it in. That peg can only go into one at a time and where they decide to put it is up to them. Furthermore, those holes without pegs are going to demand they get a peg until they do.
Of course they have philosophical problems, but so do we (our stock market is not doing so well these days). They have political corruption and so do we.
I will hit on this more later.
m
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