Days before the Elections
Well, this post will be the last one I write before the elections. I don’t know if I will be able to make any connection to the internet in the next few days.
We had a water problem for about 4 days. some terrorists destroyed one of the main pipe lines that supply water to Baghdad. Half of the city was without water (about 2 million people). It is a very big pipeline about 2 meters in diameter and 10 meter below the ground. They have put explosions in the man hall and simply blew it. The explosion made a lake of water about 6 km in Diam. I was told by one of the engineers who was working in fixing that pipe. They fixed it now but they are not sure if it will withstand the pressure of water because they did not change the pipeline, the engineer said it will probably take months if this fixing failed. Till now it is working. we had another 50 man halls along that major pipe and I’m afraid that they might be targeted. I did not hear anything about it in the news.
The last few days, we did not have water, but we were much better than the others, we have a low tap in the garden where we can have water from time to time especially at night when most of the people are sleeping, so we used to have water in buckets and used them in the morning for washing dishes, clothes and cleaning the house and the most important thing the toilet. we usually drink mineral water (that is we don’t use tap water for drinking), the first day of the problem my husband went to buy some water for emergency but he couldn’t get any because most of the people bought it, but he bought water the next day on his way to work. I used to heat the water and then make a mix of cold and hot water so I can wash the dishes. I hated this operation very much. it started only two days before Eid, a great gift! I gave a bath to my daughter by heating the water and then put it in a bowel, she was so happy, and she told me to wash her in that way every time instead of the shower.
Other people’s situation was worse than ours. Some people did not have water at all. One of the persons I know very well, told me that she was drying the wet clothes (that had pee on them) for her 2 months old baby on the heater and then made her baby wear them again because she did not have water to wash them.
Although we had a good time in Eid, the first day of Eid all my husband’s family gathered in my parents in law house, also with no water, so we had lunch in plastic dishes to throw them away instead of washing them.
The next day I spent it with my parents. The third day, the weather was so rainy and windy, but nevertheless we went to have lunch in a nearby restaurant with some relatives.
The fourth day we were invited to lunch at my husband’s uncle house.
Tomorrow we will go for shopping to have some supplies since we will have something similar to a curfew for three days, we are not sure what is going to happen during and after the elections so we have to be take care of everything. Some shop owners said that tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the last day to open.
As for my husband, he will go to work till Tuesday and then he will be at home till after the elections. The day before Eid and they day before it, he was lucky to stay safe. Last Tuesday a car bomb exploded at the end of AL-Jadirayh bridge that was targeting one of the Islamic shiat party, my husband was in his car crossing that same bridge, that day he did not get up early and was late for about 10 min. so he was lucky to stay safe, he called me with his mobile and told me that he was Ok and he saw the explosion but he did not get hurt.
The next day another car bomb exploded on his way too, near the Australian embassy but again he was lucky to be alive.
Today, we went to a supermarket that we used to make shopping from, and we found it partially blown up. I don’t know why, it was only a super market.
The electricity was good when we did not have water, we had 3 hours elect. for every 3 hours off. but now we have one hour elect. for every 5 hours off. It seems that we can’t have all the basic things in life at one time.
We had a water problem for about 4 days. some terrorists destroyed one of the main pipe lines that supply water to Baghdad. Half of the city was without water (about 2 million people). It is a very big pipeline about 2 meters in diameter and 10 meter below the ground. They have put explosions in the man hall and simply blew it. The explosion made a lake of water about 6 km in Diam. I was told by one of the engineers who was working in fixing that pipe. They fixed it now but they are not sure if it will withstand the pressure of water because they did not change the pipeline, the engineer said it will probably take months if this fixing failed. Till now it is working. we had another 50 man halls along that major pipe and I’m afraid that they might be targeted. I did not hear anything about it in the news.
The last few days, we did not have water, but we were much better than the others, we have a low tap in the garden where we can have water from time to time especially at night when most of the people are sleeping, so we used to have water in buckets and used them in the morning for washing dishes, clothes and cleaning the house and the most important thing the toilet. we usually drink mineral water (that is we don’t use tap water for drinking), the first day of the problem my husband went to buy some water for emergency but he couldn’t get any because most of the people bought it, but he bought water the next day on his way to work. I used to heat the water and then make a mix of cold and hot water so I can wash the dishes. I hated this operation very much. it started only two days before Eid, a great gift! I gave a bath to my daughter by heating the water and then put it in a bowel, she was so happy, and she told me to wash her in that way every time instead of the shower.
Other people’s situation was worse than ours. Some people did not have water at all. One of the persons I know very well, told me that she was drying the wet clothes (that had pee on them) for her 2 months old baby on the heater and then made her baby wear them again because she did not have water to wash them.
Although we had a good time in Eid, the first day of Eid all my husband’s family gathered in my parents in law house, also with no water, so we had lunch in plastic dishes to throw them away instead of washing them.
The next day I spent it with my parents. The third day, the weather was so rainy and windy, but nevertheless we went to have lunch in a nearby restaurant with some relatives.
The fourth day we were invited to lunch at my husband’s uncle house.
Tomorrow we will go for shopping to have some supplies since we will have something similar to a curfew for three days, we are not sure what is going to happen during and after the elections so we have to be take care of everything. Some shop owners said that tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the last day to open.
As for my husband, he will go to work till Tuesday and then he will be at home till after the elections. The day before Eid and they day before it, he was lucky to stay safe. Last Tuesday a car bomb exploded at the end of AL-Jadirayh bridge that was targeting one of the Islamic shiat party, my husband was in his car crossing that same bridge, that day he did not get up early and was late for about 10 min. so he was lucky to stay safe, he called me with his mobile and told me that he was Ok and he saw the explosion but he did not get hurt.
The next day another car bomb exploded on his way too, near the Australian embassy but again he was lucky to be alive.
Today, we went to a supermarket that we used to make shopping from, and we found it partially blown up. I don’t know why, it was only a super market.
The electricity was good when we did not have water, we had 3 hours elect. for every 3 hours off. but now we have one hour elect. for every 5 hours off. It seems that we can’t have all the basic things in life at one time.
posted by rose at 11:54 PM
14 Comments:
Hi Rose,
If you don't get back on before the elections, good luck, to you and your family.
I can understand that you are apprehensive as election day approaces, though probably not the full extent of your anxiety. Being Sunni Muslim I suppose you are under even more stress that the other Muslim groups because of the "terrorists."
While I understand that you have to do what you must, if the Sunni are severely underrepresented in the new Iraqi government, It would be bad for Iraq. The new government whose job it will be to write a draft constitution cannot be and should not be overwhelmingly Shiite. Such a government might be seen as illegitimate, and would guarantee continued violence for the foreseeable future.
As I read on the "Free Musllim Coalition" website, "For Iraq to succeed all Iraqis must be fully represented and no Iraqi should feel disadvantaged because of their religion or ethnicity. Iraq must be a shining example of tolerance, pluralism and diversity." And also "...the Free Muslims congratulate the Shiite political parties on their recent agreement to turn Iraq into a secular state. Their appears to now be a consensus by the majority of Iraqis that an "Islamic" state cannot work in the 21 century. These emerging policies appear to be a rejection of an Iranian-style theocracy".
I suppose I typed a lot of that as an appeal that you should vote—yet I don't know what I would do in your place. I would like to think I would vote, but truthfully I am not a very brave person.
Best wishes, your family and all of Iraq are in my prayers.
Sandi - Vista On Current Events
I think you have a ways to go before Iraq becomes normal again, but I think you have made that start. I don't think the elections will end the meaness of the terrorists, but I think they will give your country a boost in spirits! I hope, as you probably do, that people who oppose the views of others in your country will one day realize they can register their views much easier and much more effectively with a vote than with a gun!
Good luck!
Hi Rose,
It must be stressful for you living in Baghdad during these times. I do hope you and your family keep safe through the elections.
If things seem depressing, there is one positive thing you may want to think of: for better or for worse, the elections will probably be a pivotal point in the history of Iraq. In another 50 years, you will probably be watching the awe in your grandchildren's faces as you describe to them what you are living through today.
I wish you and your family all the best.
Shawn.
Rose thank you for the update. Hang in there and take good care of yourself and your family.
What you said about your daughter made me laugh. I have an 8 y/old and a 4 y/old and they see the darndest things as 'adventures' - when to me it is a crisis!
All eyes are on Iraq and millions of people over the world have you in their thoughts with best wishes and lots of hope and love.
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A simple hot compress applied to the face is very soothing to those throbbing aches and pains of a blocked sinus, while a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief can provide welcome relief for similar conditions. While supplements of vitamin C, D and zinc will shorten the lifespan of a common cold, a hot lemon drink is also extremely good. And be sure to cuddle-up in bed when you have a cold, as it will make the body sweat out the germs.
Cool lemon juice and honey are a great soother for a sore throat and gives the body much-needed vitamin C at the same time The juice of one lemon in a glass of water is sufficient. Melt the honey in a little hot water for ease of mixing.
A smear of Vaseline or petroleum jelly will do wonders for those sore lips and nose that often accompany a cold.
A 'streaming cold' where the nose and eyes water profusely, can respond to drinking onion water. Simply dip a slice of onion into a glass of hot water for two seconds, then sip the cooled water throughout the day. Half an onion on the bedside table also alleviates cold symptoms because its odor is inhaled while you sleep.
People prone to catarrh may find that chewing the buds from a pine or larch throughout the day will clear up their condition in just a few days.
Do you suffer from sore eyes? If your eyes are sore from lengthy exposure to the sun, try beating the white of an egg and then spread it over a cloth and bandage the eyes with it. Leave the preparation on overnight. Soft cheese (quark) is also a good remedy for this condition.
For those unpleasant times when you suffer from diarrhea, two tablespoons of brown vinegar will usually fix the problem. Vinegar can be rather horrible to take, but who cares! The problem is more horrible. Vinegar can usually be found in most people's cupboards, so you don't need to worry about finding someone to run to the shop for you in an emergency.
Sleepless? Instead of reaching for sleeping pills, which can quickly become addictive, try this: Drink only caffeine free tea or coffee starting late in the afternoon.. Go to bed earlier rather than later, as being overtired tends to keep people awake. Make sure the bedroom is dark and quiet. Use only pure wool or cotton sheets and blankets. Polyester materials can cause sweat and make you thirsty (if your child constantly asks for water throughout the night, this could be the reason).
And don't watch those scary movies just before retiring! If you still can't sleep, make a tea of lemongrass or drink a nightcap of herbal tea containing chamomile. It's easy to grow lemongrass in your garden or start a flower pot on the balcony for ease of picking. Simply steep a handful in boiling water for five minutes. Honey may be added for a sweetener.
Of course there will be times when you do need modern drugs, so if these simple remedies don't have the required affect, be sure to see a health care professional.
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