Hello again,
I received my first piece of mail yesterday since arriving in Iraq. My cousin Danna sent me a DVD of taped TV shows. I am looking forward to watching some mind numbing sitcoms in the evenings to remind me of home.
It was like a big party by the mail room, everyone was excited to get letters and packages from home. The mail truck had been stopped outside the gates to the Baghdad IZ (International Zone) because the Iraqi National Assembly was meeting, increasing the risk of attacks by insurgents. People got everything from a simple letter from home, to food and miscellaneous sundry items. Alot of the sundry items (toothpaste, razors, shampoo, wet wipes) are given to the Iraqi workers who consider them more valuable than gold. Even the garbage men go through the trash and pull out many items before dumping it in the truck. What we consider trash and they consider trash is very different. I have shared the "No Girl Scout Cookies rule" with several folks. This is because Girl Scout Cookies are about the most popular mailed food item. Yesterday one soldier received an entire case of assorted GS cookies!
What I would most like to receive are cards and pictures to hang up on my prison-like white walls. I can't put my address up on the blog, but I can send it to anyone that requests. Thanks again to everyone for the emails about what is happening on the home front. Keep them coming.
Heidi
I received my first piece of mail yesterday since arriving in Iraq. My cousin Danna sent me a DVD of taped TV shows. I am looking forward to watching some mind numbing sitcoms in the evenings to remind me of home.
It was like a big party by the mail room, everyone was excited to get letters and packages from home. The mail truck had been stopped outside the gates to the Baghdad IZ (International Zone) because the Iraqi National Assembly was meeting, increasing the risk of attacks by insurgents. People got everything from a simple letter from home, to food and miscellaneous sundry items. Alot of the sundry items (toothpaste, razors, shampoo, wet wipes) are given to the Iraqi workers who consider them more valuable than gold. Even the garbage men go through the trash and pull out many items before dumping it in the truck. What we consider trash and they consider trash is very different. I have shared the "No Girl Scout Cookies rule" with several folks. This is because Girl Scout Cookies are about the most popular mailed food item. Yesterday one soldier received an entire case of assorted GS cookies!
What I would most like to receive are cards and pictures to hang up on my prison-like white walls. I can't put my address up on the blog, but I can send it to anyone that requests. Thanks again to everyone for the emails about what is happening on the home front. Keep them coming.
Heidi
posted by Heidi O at 3:11 PM
1 Comments:
jan bogle said:
Hi Heidi!!
I just got your blog from Gretchen Torline and was so thrilled to read all that you have written. I am going to send you an e-mail also and, hopefully, you will get it soon. Don't know how quickly e-mail goes through.
I am praying that your time on the other side of the world goes quickly for you and that you're back home before you know it. Will write you more in an e-mail.
Thinking of you ---
Jan & Ron
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