Anne's blog travel 06-07

Sunday December 31st 2006 – Last day of the year…

This morning I sit on my balcony pouring myself green tea and notice that the Thai man who was sweeping the leaves has stopped and is sitting or squatting and just watching me from his vantage point near the villa next door. I haven’t looked at him directly but I’ve seen him and he knows that I’ve seen him and yet he stays there. And I notice there is gentleness in these people, a total absence of intrusion in the way they are. I feel no threat and no discomfort whatsoever and I just continue doing what I’m doing. It’s a bit like he’s having a break and just looking in my direction or perhaps there is a bit of curiosity but that’s it.

And then later in the fitness centre of the resort, I start doing my exercises while no one is present. But, soon one of the Thai man who works in the fitness centre shows up. Last time I came two days ago, he sensed when I might need help and was there before I could even fathom asking for it. I have trained on my own in gyms forever and I never think I need help and so the first time he comes to help me it almost bothers me. I speak no words to him but he sees what I’m doing and is there to help with the weights and spot me when I bench press or shoulder press. And when he sees he might not be of help anymore he disappears. So this time he shows up again and says hello. “What’s your name?” I ask. “Bao” he replies. And so this time we talk. His eyes light up when I tell him I was in Doha working at the Asian Games. There is no jumping up and down- this is a culture of relative calmness- but he tells me he used to wrestle competitively and he watched the Games everyday or as much as he could. He is of small stature- most Thais are- so I can’t imagine him wrestling but again this is a preconception. And again he is there whenever he can help and disappears whenever I cannot be assisted. It’s easy to grow fond of these people and their ways.

The day before yesterday, going through my papers, I fall on the email from Ahmed (my Iraqi friend) which I transcribed in my blog. And I realize I never replied to it and left Doha without giving him my contacts. And so I email him. “It’s Anne from the Work room…Remember?” I start and then I tell him about my experience in Doha and how I’ll never forget it either. I wish him Happy New year although I say it may not mean anything to you but Happy Eid in any case. I wish him all the best for the heart operation and ask him when it is and leave him on that.
The reply comes yesterday and makes me smile from ear to ear at the internet café. It is just so “him”. He sends photos too so I’ll include one or two (in the middle on both photos):

"From Doha with Love"
Beautiful Anne
How can I not know you? And why do you think that the new year will not mean anything for me? Iraq has lots of Iraqi Christians and we were used all our life to celebrate Christmas & New Year with them. This is one of the good things in Saddam Hussain. He encourage Christian celebrations.
Anyway, in case you still don't know much about your Iraqi friend, here is some details about me:
I have not been home for almost 12 years. My parents, brother & sister are still surviving in Iraq (the other sister is in Germany ).
I am so sorry for what's going on. Iraq is the land of the great 2 rivers & the oldest civilization on earth (Mesopotamia/Babylon). It is also the wealthiest country in the world: oil, minerals, uranium, rivers, fertile soil, agriculture, unique geography, rich civilization, well-educated people...name what you like. And if the wealth was distributed fairly on the people, we will be the richest. I mean in the good old days (70's) the simplest school teacher can afford to spend a 3-month vacation in Europe , with the family.

I am registered as an Arabic man from a Muslim culture but I am not religious. After 40 years of being rooted in this society, I can confess that it is not easy to cope, at all. Too much restrictions, too much complications, to much censorship, too much suffocation. I’m a free spirited man.

It is not easy to cope even with the mentality of our women! Where is the freedom of affection & intimacy? That's why I promised myself never to marry an Arabic/Muslim woman again. I tried it once and I've had enough. I want to have kids and I want them to be enlightened by their “western” mom’s culture & have their freedom to choose their paths when they grow up. I will never have them being narrow minded by some strict regulations.

I am a son of an ex-diplomat. We have visited a lot of places, I studied in Iraqi schools & in American schools (in Sri Lanka), mixed with different people and understood their cultures, and I have done a good job on educating myself & being wise in judging good things from bad things. I may like some aspects from your culture, and may not like some. Same with my culture.

I am a very romantic man from the old school. I still believe that love can move mountains, and that if I found my woman/soulmate, no age, religion, distance, culture or beliefs will stand in my way as long as love is the motive. I will have her run to me wherever I am, or I’d run to her wherever she is. Doesn’t make any difference with me. I am used to adopting to new environments, appreciate what I was afforded, and never fuss. At least. this is the discipline I learned from my tough years in military training.

I love the ocean, green areas, nature, animals. I am crazy about Australia & NZ (from photos I've seen), but lately friends showed me photos of SA & it seemed like an amazing country. I instantly fell in love with Cape Town . Don’t know why!

Oh Anne...just put me with my woman/soulmate in a small wooden hut/cottage facing the ocean (in Rio ), with a small garden, a dog, palm trees, and a hammock…Wow! I bet you I can die old & smiling.......meanwhile.......my operation is on 10th Jan.

Thank you so much for your lovely words and for being this wonderful friend in my life.

XXX
Ahmed...Your arabian knight

And when I reply today I mention Sadam’s execution and how somehow it hurt me to my core (sorry everyone I can’t believe in capital punishment) and I know it will have saddened him. I also tell him I love his honesty and always admired the fact he says it like it is and that’s how I’ll always remember him. And of course this time I wish him Happy New year and that all his dreams may be fulfilled. The answer is fast to return to me and here it is (word for word). I hesitated in transcribing this but decided I would:

Yes Anne
I am very sad, angry, furious & bitter since yesterday. They not only hanged him but they did that on the 1st day of our Eid. This is a big insult. They have no idea about the seed of hatred they have planted in us which will grow into a big tree from generation to another. The people will revenge even after years, and they will call those people "terrorists" and start to fight them...and so on. They have erased all possibility of peace or love to prevail in this world. They can never understand why an arab to use his body as a bomb when it comes to his dignity. They can never understand that if standing for your rights is called "terrorism" then the people are proud to be "terrorists".
They have fabricated a lot about him & about Iraq to brain-wash the people. We are well-educated people and we know that weapons of mass distruction, human rights for Iraqis, democracy in Iraq...etc is all bullshit & a big lie. We are certain they want only 2 things: the safety of Israel by making Iraq weak (now it's Syria's & Iran's turn to surrender), and of course the oil of Iraq (the biggest reservation in the world).
Even if Iraq had weapons of mass distruction. So what? Who was the only country that used nucular bombs on the Japs?
Even if we had no human rights. So what? Who was the only country that treated its black people in a shameful manner & had them as slave which led to a civil war between the north & south states?
Even if we had no democracy. So what? Who was the only country that had its Holywood actors, producers, directors in a black list in the 50's and were banned from entering Holywood just because the were SUSPECTED to be communists? It seems that their democracy demands republicans & democrats ONLY.
The whole world is crying for the rights of our Kurds in the north who have cut part of Iraq now to start their country "Kurdstan" while Turkey has much more Kurds who are even not allowed to use any kind of media, or even write any document using their Kurdish language!!!
These things that makes you really angry & mad; when they do these things and take you for a fool and underestimate your brains.
I know I have bored you with this. But listen mon amie...if you ever want to visit here again, you will always have a place in Doha...I have a spare bedroom and I live alone so no one will bother you.
Have fun in your travels, but there MUST be a time to settle down.
My kisses & hugs to you and to all your family. I am so glad to have known you.
I will keep you posted on the operation.
XXXAhmed

Bye for now