New Experiences...

I'm at the airport in Baghdad. It was quite scary saying bye to all my team...I had kind of got used to having them around. I'm very much looking forward to meeting Robert in Entebbe International Airport. I hope I've made the right choice!

My special little ticket...

Bye for now,

Jess

Opportunity of a lifetime!

Ok some reali reali good news....and some bad news. I've been invited by Robert Watt, a Professor in our school of psychology who has moved out to africa to study to go and join him and see what he has been doing. The tickets arrived this morning, my UKSRI leaders came with them today. I am so nervous... I am going to be leaving the group and going on my own to Africa although I know the experience and especially the expertise of Robert would be without value to not only my PhD but to my own personal learning. bad news...I will be having to leave adam and I feel that we have built up a really good relationship, as friends that is. I hope I don't loose that because I don't have too many people who I can call a friend.

Anyway I think I am going to grab this opportunity with both hands and just go for it. It will be for 3 months so I think I can learn loads in that time.

Wish me luck!!

Jess

March already!

I was really bad last month and this month so far of writting what my experiences are. We've been visiting so many places and I've been doing loads of testing and analizing that when I get home I just want to sleep. So I've been away from home for about 8 months now...I'm sure there's no-one missing me much...probably haven't even noticed that I've gone.

I've picked up a few sneaky samples and have been keeping them in the bottom of my rucksack. I hope to study them more when I get home ( a little side project to keep myself amused at night's)

I have been thinking that I might come back here again...the whole experience has been amazing but there's a couple of little place's that I would like to revisit. Adam and I have been getting on really well at the minute and I think he is a very genuine person who like's me for being me! Maybe he would come back and re-visit with me....we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, Bye for now,

Jess

University of Baghdad

Today was a very exciting day! We visited the University in  Baghdad today. I was very informative and helpful. They have a college of medicine where they mainly concentrate on pathology and forensic medicine. They also have a Centre of Baghdad for Strategic Researchers and Studies that concentrate on Establishing a centre for strategic researchers and studies at Baghdad University. It's a very interesting place and there's a lot of good work going on there in such difficult circumstances and places.

This is one of professor's that showed us around, he was lovely and very helpful. He showed us around the university and then took us out for coffee...i think it was coffee it did taste a little off.

Bye for now,

Jess

BAGHDAD!

Baghdad is such a pleasant change! We've been in small villages for a long time now...even though I do love villages and towns but Baghdad being a city is good for a change for a while. It is located along the  Tigris River so I even get to see some water here!YAY! The only problem with here is that since 2003 it has had large infrastructure problems. I've taken a few snaps, posted a few of the most beautiful areas!


Bye for now,


Jess

And on we go...

We're leaving Samarra...and not a moment too soon! I really hated this place! It's so scary...the locals are very rude and not inviting into their country. I understand to an extent that they may feel threatened but I am definitely glad to be leaving and traveling further south. We're heading on to Taji which isn't far away from Baghdad itself although we are only stopping here overnight to break the journey up and then we're heading on to Baghdad which I am quite looking forward to.

Bye for now,

Jess

Samarra The Holy City

Samarra is one of Iraq's four holy cities and it is definitely very evident by the amount of mosques and how religious the people are here. Although the mosques are very beautiful buildings unfortunately alot of them have been damaged by bombs and fighting that has been going on here. It's quite a scary place and we certainly stand out from the crowd. I hope that we don't stay here too long.

There's nothing really for me to research here and I have become increasingly interested in water and how it has effects the people it surrounds so hopefully we will get back near some river's or lakes soon (and if for nothing else then just to cool down...it's sooo hot and my pale skin is sorched even though I am applying my suncream every hour) Oh well.

Bye for now,

Jess