2009.02.11
11FEB09--Interviews
Today, I met with some local Iraqi business owners to help interview them for a program to help businesses. Most interesting was my dialogue with the only woman of the group.
The dialogue was interesting, because it was nearly nonexistent.
The program is a sort economic stimulus. Local business owners can get a small grant for a few thousand dollars in order to improve their business which would greatly benefit the community.
The woman is the owner of a tailor shop for women and children. Dialogue would go like this:
Me: "How do you plan to spend the grant money?"
Interpreter: Translates my question into Arabic.
Woman: Stares at the interpreter then at me then back to the interpreter then at the head man in the room.
Head man in the room: "She will use the money to buy...."
After two or three questions, I got the drift and just talked directly to him. I suppose that I could have picked up on this from her all black, robe-like dress and black headscarf, but I have conversed with women before in similar attire. Rarely, of course. Anyhow, just something that I found interesting.
These men run markets and repair shops. We are in my Iraqi Army counterpart's office. Notice the Iraqi Soldier guarding the door.
