Blogging From Baghdad

It's been a while since my last post, so I figured it was time for an update (at least so everyone knows I'm still among the living). Things have been relatively quiet. I'm currently blogging from our Baghdad office, where I've been for the past ten days. It's been nice to get out of Basrah and have a change of scenery. The office here is run by four thirty-something female expats, and it's been great to have more estrogen in my surroundings ... and to watch them all at work, amazing and talented women running an operation in one of the world's most difficult and dangerous places.

I don't have photos to share since we have even less mobility here in Baghdad. The compound is lovely, with lush gardens and lots of classic, tall palms. I've enjoyed evenings spent sipping cocktails, enjoying a few beers over a game of Scrabble on the main house porch, a few rousing games of badminton, and cooking dinners with my colleagues (peach cobbler, anyone?).

The rest of the experience shall not be posted here, as it contains details of the variety you never tell your mother.

My work time has been spent developing some adjustments to our literacy program in the south, the daily operations of which I will now be in charge of managing. I'm looking forward to implementing some valuable changes and helping to strengthen the program.

That's it for now. Tickets to France on the 9th have been procured, where I'll be meeting Mom and Dad for a lot of wine and sightseeing.