I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but overall the driving here is not as terrible as other countries I've been. In fact, its quite orderly and respectful of other drivers... except for this one quirk. There are generally no lines on the road (save the road just in front of the airport) which fits their driving style fine because there are definitely no defined lanes (even when there are lines). The cars all kind of weave artfully between what would be a 4 or 5 lane highway with no regard for maintining a straight line! If you've ever seen the old men at the 4th of July parade with syncronized riding lawn mowers (maybe this comparison will be lost on those not from the south!), it is not dissimilar to that. It will be interesting when I start driving here, you just have to kind of define your space and the larger car wins! And the best is at traffic lights, everyone just kind of jumbles up towards the front, like Ghanaians trying to be the first in the queue for the tro tro. For now it makes me smile, once I'm driving it will probably drive me crazy!
The owners of my firm flew in today, so I am staying at the official government guest house with them for the evening. Tomorrow after breakfast I'll return to my own hotel. It is good to see them and I hope that while they're here we'll be able to figure out my logistical things (driver and car, or a car for me, how to get into all of my offices, getting a permanent phone, etc). I met another high ranking Kurdish offiicial, who lives permanently at the guest house and let me just say that dinner was fascinating! My professor (and owner of the company) has access to some pretty high ranking US officials (think rhymes with nice...) and military men and just listening to "3 days ago when I was sitting with "nice" and "brocker" blah blah blah", in addition, this Kurdish official not only has access to the highest Kurds, but also meets with some of the same high US officals. Kind of amazing!
Even though today was Friday (the weekend here is Friday and Saturday, work then begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday), I feel like I still did alot of work! However, the guesthouse here does not have wireless in the rooms, only in the business center. So when I retire to my room, I might actually get some reading done, since I've been working on "Love in the Time of Cholera" for about a month and half now! A far cry from the 150 books I read while in Peace Corps, but I can't help it, this internet is just such a pesky time sucker!
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