Jun 14 2008
Relaxing in Erbil
I spent a few days this week visiting projects in Dahuk and Erbil. COL Pfenning, my boss, is due to return to the US next month. So he is making his last visit to all of the USACE offices in GRN, which he commands. On Thursday, we had lunch with Governor Nawzad Hadi, Governor of Erbil. I was intrigued by the invitation he extended because he told us to bring our swim trunks if we were interested in swimming.
The lunch venue ended up being the Hawler Water Park. Erbil is also referred to as Hawler by most Kurds. The water park is a public park owned and operated by the government in Erbil. The main attraction is a giant pool with water slides. Fortunately for everyone around, I did not bring a pair of swim trunks.
We arrived at the park a little early. So while we were waiting for the governor to arrive, the park operator showed us his bowling alley. How many people do you know that have gone bowling while deployed to Iraq? Maybe the Army will have to take back my Hazardous Duty Pay (HDP) and Danger Pay (DP) for that day. Since I get $100 per month for HDP and $225 per month for DP, I stand to lose about $10.83 for one day. I definitely prefer the danger pay the Aussies receive!
It took me a little while to get warmed up. But I blame that on having to use an alley ball. It didn’t fit right and kept slipping off my thumb! COL Pfenning looks like he has spent some time in bowling alleys in the past. After the governor arrived, he and COL Pfenning bowled 5 more frames together. Governor Nawzad uses the brute force approach to bowling and slings the ball down the alley as hard as possible. He reminded me a lot of Jeff!
Happy Fathers Day, Dale. Reading this today reminded me of you. The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7 How thankful we are as grandparents to see the result of your “walking in integrity” May God Bless Your Day with reminders of His love for you.
Thank you. My quiver is full!
Hello hello — I’ve found this post as we look for updated contact information for Nawzad Hadi, and I’d love to ask if you have any current phone numbers for the governor or his staff. I’m writing as the Executive Producer of a new American television pilot shooting this summer in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The show is about getting a truer sense of places with reputations (in the West) of danger, chaos, uncertainty, etc — these lands of our fears. Even travel shows like CNN’s No Reservations and HBO’s VICE tend mark the greater Middle East with a sign that says don’t go here. We’re finding all the reasons to go.
We’ll be connecting with locals, groups of friends, to follow them deeper into their world, and to break down our assumptions about the place: the Mideast isn’t all any one thing; “Iraq” is not everything you’d expect; Kurdistan is full of surprises, too.
We’d be very happy to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Drop us a line by email anytime, at the address listed, or: outreach@a-vl.com
Very kindly,
Adam