Iraqi family typical day

I’m sure everyone would love to have a vacation but to make it clear for everyone I’m talking about everyone all overt the world but not in Iraq my wounded country. I was forced since last Wed. to have a compulsory vacation. I stayed home because of the curfew that was imposed after the explosions of the holy shrine in Samaraa city north of Baghdad. I lived the daily suffering of my family for whole three days (I didn’t count Wed because I spend most of the day out). So, I spent full three days with the family started from Thursday until the midnight of Saturday. Here are the activities of me and my family since 8 am until midnight. Its something I can call an Iraqi family typical day.

• The first thing was the daily suffering of the breakfast. My mother were telling my sister and my wife not to waste the cooking gas and to do breakfast for everyone at the same time to save gas because the propane gas cylinder is too expensive (about 30 thousand Iraqi Dinars = 23,8 $ for the cylinder which is really very high price for a propane gas cylinder that lasts for only five days or a week as a maximum period.
• The second activity of the day is the daily cleaning of the house which is a very difficult job because of the lack of water. We had to use the water in the small water tanks that we have which automatically causes a crisis because of the water shortage. I couldn’t have my bath until they finished the daily cleaning which is for my mother more important than my bath. So, for the sake of the family interest, I delayed my bath until after 2 pm.
• During the time since I wake up until 2 pm, I had to live a daily suffering because of the hot weather. We have no electricity and the temperature is about 45 degree centigrade. At 2 pm, the local power generator starts working for three hours. I could have my bath at last and enjoyed having a nap with my son. I just put him between my arms and slept trying to enjoy the moments of having cool air of my room air cooler in spite of the bad smell of the swage system that flow over. The power generator lasts until 5 Pm. We had it back at 8,00 pm until 12 including a 30 minutes rest for the generator. During the 3 hours, we have to refill the tanks of water and of course, I have to check the tanks to be sure that water flows in order to avoid any crisis.
• From 5 pm until 8 pm. I didn’t know what to do. We didn’t have any electricity power. The weather is too hot to go for a walk with my friends. I kept reading one of the books I have until 8 pm. It was a compulsory reading because it kept me busy and I could avoid thinking about the hot weather.
• From 8 pm until midnight, the whole family watches TV especially the news channels to know the last update about they situation in Iraq. I avoid sitting in the same room with my father who insists to watch the news while I want to see a comic movie or a song just to forget for a while the terrible situation of Iraq.
• The day ends when all the family go to sleep on the roof of the house because the owner of the power generator turns it off at 12 or 12,30 am and its impossible to sleep inside the rooms.

I can say that my three days vacation deserves to be No. 1 worst vacation because I experienced the typical Iraqi day.

Comments

[Rebecca del Rio]

For those who live in countries that measure heat in Fahrenheit, 32C is 90F. 45C is quite literally an unimaginable, unbearable 113F.

I will bear witness to your suffering and struggle and do what I can to alert others.

While I appreciate ljm's comment regarding the power stations being bombed by insurgents, it is, in part, incorrect and misleading. Billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars given to the American corporation Halliburton for infrastructure rebuilding have disappeared and cannot be accounted for. These funds were earmarked to repair, replace and build power plants, among other projects.
While I agree the insurgency plays a significant role in this chaos, it was the destablization of the country by the American invasion that set this into motion. To say it is the responsibility of the Iraqi government to clean up this mess is shortsighted.

[Laura]

Sounds more like house arrest than a vacation to me. I wonder how many heat-related and sewage-related deaths are happening in your country right now...and if anyone is keeping track. And just what is the quality of your water now...when you can get it, that is.

How do people who have no jobs endure? Those who can't pay for fuel or obtain electricity from someone's generator? How on earth are they surviving?

When heat waves hit the U.S. or Europe, and people die, it's front page news. But no one talks about the heat in Iraq. Readers, up for letters to the editors of your local papers? A reminder to your representatives of the daily temps in Fallujah and Baghdad?

My prayers are with you and your family dear writer...please know you are not forgotten.

[ljm]

As horrible as it sounds for those 3 days, it sounds like you were in a safe place and didn't have to worry that way. The picture Dulaimy portrayed of Fallujah is just seriously grim. Keep doing what you can to stay cool. Your mother is amazing to be able to clean house in that heat. I know the U.S. military wants to see the power and water situation fixed. If the insurgents would quit blowing up the power lines and stations, that would help. Maybe the surge troops in place there now and supposed to be in areas around Baghdad to root out the AQ guys will help make that possible. Then of course, it's up to your government to get it done, restoring basic services. People in the US know how difficult this situation is for you all over there with the heat. I wish you had power long enough to make ice in your fridge so you could use it as an ice pack to cool down during the hot parts of the day without power. Putting ice or something cold on the back of your neck, inside your elbows or behind your knees helps. Keep on keeping on you and everybody.