I work in an interesting place. One gentlemen that works for me is Lebanese. Another is Syrian. We'll go out for lunch at times and realize that our countires have a severe dislike for each other, but yet we can work together.
This week, my client is from Iraq. But since going to Baghdad isn't optimal, we're meeting in Kuwait. Kuwait decided to deny any Visa application from Iraq during Ramadan, and so my client was rejected 5 times during the last month. After you're rejected 3 times in a year, you're pretty much rejected permanently. So they tried getting a Visa with another employee. She was successful on the first attempt and made it here on a 30 day Visa. This poses an actual time constraint for our project. Many times, you'll have artificial time constraints - "I need this ASAP!!!!" or "I need this yesterday". But when you have 30 days, and you know that Kuwait won't allow an Iraqi citizen into the country again, there really is a deadline.
It was definitely odd talking with her, especially during the week where Saddam was given the death penalty. She apparently lives by the green zone and people are quite happy by the ruling. But they don't think anything will change. Any big news is bad news for them. Someone will be upset and then they have to hide in their houses until it passes. Baghdad before the war was open - women could drive and walk without a Hijab. Now, women need a Hijab or risk getting attacked or at the least harrassed. After the war it was great for a year. Then all the turmoil started and it has been getting worse since.
that's it.
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