From 8th to 22nd octobre 2003, I will stay in Baghdad, Iraq, within the framework of a humanitarian action organized by ABIR association, in company of three other female members. Every day, on this weblog, I will pass the message from the heart of the Iraqi capital... http://www.centifolia.com Mon, 20 Oct 2003 23:00:00 GMT en-us When my watch strikes this morning, I don't know where I am. I have the feeling that I have dreamed all the night of Qassem, Oum Aya, Aya, Omar, Hanna, Zeïna, Hayssam, all those I met and with whom I shared so many emotions in Baghdad... http://www.centifolia.com I slept four hours this night. I am still full of yesterday's emotions when we clasped our friends to say goodbye. Even Oum Aya snuggled up in my arms though I had never shaked her hand before. Aya gave me a big kiss and went back with her mother in the street. The Al-Amal association will take care... http://www.centifolia.com We had some boxes left which we intended to give to the family and to the neighbours of Qassem, one of the waiters of our hotel with which we struck up a friendship. Therefore, Dalila, Hayssam et Qassem left this morning to another district of Saddar City: One hour driving in very dense traffic and bottlenecks... http://www.centifolia.com 9:15 AM this Friday, day of vacation and prayer for Iraqis, we run towards the warehouse where are stored the last boxes which we will give to the "Al-Amal" (the Hope) association. There are a few cars in the streets. The air is always unbreathable... http://www.centifolia.com 9:15 AM, Haytham awaits us in the hall as usual. We exchange the same smile and the same gesture of the hand to show our recent and fraternal friendship. Our "driver", this is a word that I reject. He's much more than that. We go to the Switzerland Embassy to greet Sylvana, Dalila's Iraqi friend... http://www.centifolia.com This Wednesday October 15th, it's oppressively hot. Our driver says that the temperature gets over 40 degrees. We don't have any news from Anaa Edward, the president of the "Al Amal" female association for which we brought material. At 10:00 AM we go in search of her with only the name of the area where she lives... http://www.centifolia.com Yesterday, around 4:00 PM we went to carry food and clothes to the woman who lives in the street with her daughter. We also bring a book and crayons. Dalila starts to discuss with the mother while I try to show her daughter which is three years old and a half how to... http://www.centifolia.com While the sky was overcast yesterday, announcing a cooling with a risk of rain, the heat is again everywhere today and stifling. At 9:30 AM, we welcome in the hall the representatives of the orphanage Dar an-Najat... http://www.centifolia.com Yesterday evening, provided with a little food, Dalila and Evelyne went to meet street children who sleep every night at the hotels' feet. As we would do with savage animals, we will need a few evenings to bring them out of their shell... http://www.centifolia.com While we have breakfast in our hotel, Dalila realized that our new driver his awaiting us in the hall. The inside octagonal architecture of our hotel allows us to see the people who are at the lower levels... http://www.centifolia.com