Cheryl - Jan. 2009
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Baghdad Bulletin
31 May 2009
Issue 4
Dear Everyone!
It's the end of May and I can't believe I'm starting my 8th week on the ground today! This time I hope you'll enjoy a few photos in the interest of time. Thanks, Diane Paone, for helping me communicate with my loved ones over our website.
By the way - I'm going to start taking a day "off". I also decided to make Saturdays - Sundays! For dinner last night, I had my first ice cream dessert. So good on a hot day. We've had 109 degrees in the morning....
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I managed to catch this Army re-enlistment ceremony in front of Al Faw Palace just after my arrival.
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This is one of the chandeliers in the palace. It's not a very pretty place and it's poorly constructed. Saddam's initials are in every room. This is one of his many palaces. For now it's office space for U.S. military.
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Here are the attacking ducks! The vehicle next to the palm plant is "Serendipity".
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This duck seemed to want to talk..... They are used to being fed but I wasn't prepared.
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An Iraqi soldier feeding the ducks!
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These colorful blooms in downtown Baghdad
are a nice change.
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This is the largest flag I've seen. It was used in a special occasion at Al Faw Palace.
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Early morning on Mother's Day, there was a 5K race.
This was the finish line.
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The University of Maryland University College was one of a dozen colleges to confer degrees to military members in the first college graduation in Iraq! It was quite an event. Several AA and Bachelor's degrees, a few Masters, and even one Doctoral degree!
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This man is an inspiration. Every day, he cleans the marble floors - outside and inside - of the dust. He always smiles back. I'm glad he let me take his photo.
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Here is the "Palm Peace Plant." Whenever there are leftover water bottles in Serendipity, I pour them on the plant.
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This tree is so fragrant at night.
I had to have my picture made with it!
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Here's a thermostat that reads 106 degrees about 8:30 in the morning. In the shade of the afternoon, it reads 109....
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One of my favorite photos. This was Monday, Memorial Day, and an Iraqi and an American are fishing during lunch.
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I attended the Memorial Day service that afternoon. The 56th Army Band is seen below. They sounded great!
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During the playing of our National Anthem, I noticed that our flag and the Iraqi flag were brought together by the wind. I managed to snap this just after the playing stopped, and before the flags stood apart for the rest of the ceremony.
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Have a good week and I'll write again soon. Thanks for your cards and notes. My address may be changing, so stay tuned to this website for the latest. Please keep Pat in your prayers. She's a dear lady from our church who is recovering from a terrible car accident and broken back. Someone ran into her.
Fondly,
Cheryl
P.S. Happy Birthday Brett! I love you (Aunt Cherie)
