Between Iraq and a Hard Place

Part 2 of our interview with Erik about life and culture in Iraq. Also, an amazing story of how he survived a 100mph crash on a highway!

Hannah and Colleen interview our friend and teammate, Erik, about his life and experiences teaching and living in Iraq as well as his studies of Kurdish history and culture.

Hannah and Colleen embark on the many uses of the Iraqi Kurdish Park and the many varieties of Recreation available in Kurdish parks. There's workout equipment, food carts, fairs, amusement parks, roller skating, strange statues and more! Come take a walk with us through our favorite and least favorite parks in Northern Iraq.

This is a special update episode! Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who helped SGI rebuild schools in Turkey after the big earthquakes in 1999. Those connections and relationships have opened up paths for us to serve in relief work and hopefully with rebuilding after these more recent earthquakes. We're sending teams to help build shelters in the short term and hopefully continue to serve the area as they rebuild. https://servantgroup.org/relief-work-in-turkey-team-heading-over-soon/

Hannah and Colleen talk about Hannah's trip to visit our team members in Iraq. Where we used to be the ones who were visited, now we are the visitors. And we love taking care of our team members!

Hannah and Colleen continue their conversation about tourist sites in Iraq near Dohuk in this mini episode! Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions!

Hannah and Colleen walk you through the favorite tourist sites for both locals and foreigners in Northern Iraq. Part two with the sites around Dohuk will come next! Some of these tourist sites in Iraq may surprise you! Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions!

Hannah and Colleen have a conversation with Victoria, who went on our teacher training trip back in August of 2021. Hear her reactions, culture shock, what she learned, and whether or not she'd ever go back! Also find out about what to do when you break your ankle on a mountain hike! Lear more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org with questions, comments, or suggestions!

Hannah wraps up her research on the Chaldean Catholic Church with their modern history in Northern Iraq, the destruction by ISIS, and the various diasporas to the West. What is the fate of Alqosh now? What will happen in the future to the church as their numbers dwindle? We don't know, but we do share how we got where we are.  Learn more over at servantgroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah teaches Colleen more on the history and beliefs of the Chaldean Church in this, part two, of a three part series. This episode covers the re-unification of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Roman Catholic Church along with some of the distinguishing features of the Chaldean Catholic Church liturgy and tradition. Keep an eye out for the best sourdough starter ever! Yeah... that will make sense later. To learn more, visit our website at www.ServantGroup.org!

Hannah teaches Colleen about the origins of the Chaldean Church in this, the first episode of THREE episodes on the history and beliefs of the Chaldean Church. The splits, lines, and practices help illustrate how the Christian community in Iraq came to be there and their long history in the area.

Hannah and Colleen share the ways that Iraq shaped small behaviors in their lives including hand gestures, expectations of people, restaurant protocol, and more. These are some of the ways that that Iraq changed us and made us different from our peers here in the US. Also, celebrating 50 episodes!

Hannah and Colleen describe how they observed different skin colors and nationalities are treated and valued in Northern Iraq. How were our black teammates treated? Asian-looking ones? Is there a difference between how men and women of color are treated? We answer these questions and more!

Hannah and Colleen take a trip around the world and into a Middle Eastern movie theater. Sometimes watching a movie in Iraq is like a short visit to the United States, but other times it's more like visiting a different country... or a different planet where the spoken language is Arabic but the written language is Russian. It's exciting. See links to the movies and learn more at www.ServantGroup.org! Contact us with comments or questions at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen interview our office manager, Kim, who tells the BEST stories. Both master story-teller and and hostess extraordinaire, Kim lived in Iraq with her family and taught at the Medes school in 2010. We think someone should pick up her life story as a sitcom, but in the meantime, you get to enjoy the wild and wacky things she has seen! =D Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq! Or email us with questions or comments at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen talk about how they found ways to exercise in Iraq and the cultural stereotypes that accompany men's and women's opportunities to exercise. Should you bring a Wii? Should you plan to run a marathon?

Colleen and Hannah talk about what "going to church" looked like in Iraq. A lot of people have questions about this and a lot of preconceived ideas about what it means to be a Christian living in a pre-dominantly Muslim country. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq! Send us comments or questions at hannah@servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen take you on a trip through the current state of life in Iraq as seen through reports of team members and our former students. Unlike most episodes, this is a little more current news! Learn more about joining our teams over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah with comments or questions at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Lemon, sumac, unripe fruit, pickles... sour food is overwhelmingly popular in Kurdistan. Hannah and Colleen chat about all the foods that make your mouth pucker and water in Kurdistan. Go grab your jar of pickles and join us in the culinary journey through sour foods in Iraqi Kurdistan! Learn more about joining our teams over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah with comments or questions at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen share their experiences of the roles and rules around what it means to be a man or a woman (or boy or girl) in Kurdish culture. Expectations and limitations for both men and women are a bit different than our experiences in the United States and anyone thinking to visit would do well to know what they might be getting into. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq hannah@servantgroup.org

Hannah and Colleen explore the difficult and sometimes humorous world of social media in Iraq. If you've never had a new Facebook friend go through all ten years of your photos and comments and like or comment on every single one, you should check this out! If you have... join us anyway to see your social media posts in a new light. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq hannah@servantgroup.org

Colleen and Hannah talk about how the idea of cleanliness has some interesting cultural rules and expectations in Northern Iraq that make people mop their patios daily but throw trash in the street. What is clean and what is not? How important is being clean? How did we adapt our lives and practices to their cultural standards and did we fight against it? Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to hannah@servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen talk about the beautiful extravagance of Kurdish hospitality and walk you through what it's like to go on a visit to a Kurdish or Middle Eastern home. Hospitality is a key cultural value and is both generous and overwhelming in Northern Iraq and sometimes even when we visit our Middle Eastern friends in the U.S.! Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to hannah@servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen talk about how Kurdish people respond to different kinds of crisis. Some big, some small, some medical, and some military -- the Kurds have seen it all and we have gained some perspective from them. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq

In the US we're pretty used to using our credit cards to pay for things and we're adding all sorts of new electronic payment methods. But in Northern Iraq, nearly everything is still done in cash. Hannah and Colleen discuss a few of the multitude of reasons for this, but more about the effect it has on every day life and how everyone navigates multiple currencies!

Hannah and Colleen chat about several key terms in Kurdish language and culture: sherma, aiba, and haram. All have meanings that connect to honor, shame, and what is allowable and what is forbidden. Cultural expectations and norms are part of what can be a challenge for a westerner. This podcast explores their shades of meaning and how we perceived them as we lived in the region.

Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who (with her husband, Dave) took her two kids to live in Iraq. What did this do to her kids? Her family and their relationships? Listen to us ask her all about her stories and adventures from when she and her family lived in Iraq. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org or ask questions by emailing Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen chat about the various steps to the ever changing process of getting residency in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. This isn't the nuts and bolts, just the experiences from our perspective of foreign bureaucracy and how to walk through it. We are so grateful for our Kurdish friends who made it possible for us to navigate and made sure the government received all the correct paperwork. Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen talk about the blessings and challenges of living on support and what that is. How do we deal with fear, trust, and other people's perceptions? How do we thrive in community as part of the body of Christ and what is the holy handshake? This episode is a personal look at many years of living through the provision and care of God through the generosity of others. Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen bemoan their grey hairs but also wish they'd had some more of them while living in Iraq. They discuss the pros and cons of being younger or older while living abroad, and how you don't have to be one or the other to serve with us in Iraq! Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

In this episode of our podcast, Between Iraq and a Hard Place, Hannah and Colleen tell the stories of how they told their parents that they were applying to go with Servant Group International to go to Iraq. They also have some advice for how to tell (or maybe more accurately, how NOT to tell) your parents that you want to live overseas. We've counseled numerous people through this sticky process and definitely don't recommend telling your parents like a baby gender reveal.

Hannah and Colleen just got back from a wedding, and it's June! So they chat about their various wedding experiences in Northern Iraq, complete with fireworks, cars, photographs, and loud music! Check out some video footage of a wedding: https://youtu.be/PZfB_AXBMzI?t=1153 To learn more check us out at www.ServantGroup.org! Ask questions by emailing us at Hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah interviews our director, John, and his wife, Mary, about how they became parents while living in Iraq and what it was like raising their family there. Living in Iraq has unique challenges for parents. Want to join us? We're always looking for more adventurous families to join our teams in Iraq, Greece, and Nashville! Check out our website for more info! www.ServantGroup.org

Hannah and Colleen share all about the six things you can start doing NOW to get prepared for living overseas. Some of these may seem a bit obvious, others may seem like too much work, but each of these skills we found immensely helpful in our life abroad.

Hannah and our Director, John, recently took a trip to Iraq to visit our teams there and to meet up with old friends. So we asked Hannah about the food, the weather, how things are on the ground in North Iraq, and lots more! If you have questions you would like to ask send them to hannah@servantgroup.org. To learn more, check out our website at www.ServantGroup.org.

Part two on re-entry! Did you know it supposedly takes as long as you lived in the foreign culture to readjust back to your home culture? And even then, you are permanently changed. There is no simple "There and Back Again". Hannah and Colleen continue their conversation on how to adjust well and also give some tips on how to help your friends who may be going through re-entry! Also, find this post on April 9, 2019 on FB and comment to get yourself an awesome sticker! =D Submit questions or comments to hannah@servantgroup.org or on FB, Instagram, or Twitter. Find out more on the Servant Group International Website: www.ServantGroup.org.

Re-entry is the evil cousin of culture shock and because it isn't talked about as much, often catches people by surprise. In this episode, Hannah and Colleen share about their own experiences in "coming home" to the United States and the struggles of re-entry. Submit questions or comments to hannah@servantgroup.org or on FB, Instagram, or Twitter. Find out more on the Servant Group International Website: www.ServantGroup.org.

So now that you know all about what culture shock is (see part 1!) now it's time to learn how we responded to it and what are ways to cope and come through. If you have questions or comments please send them to us at hannah@servantgroup.org. Or check us out at www.ServantGroup.org or search for Servant Group International on the main social media platforms. =D

Culture shock is a bit of misnomer, but we're jumping in and using it to help everyone understand what they or their friends go through when living in a foreign culture for an extended period of time. Obviously not everyone follows the same path or has exactly the same reactions, but these are things we've experienced and are reported as common. Learn more on our website: www.ServantGroup.org Ask questions or give feedback to hannah@servantgroup.org Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest as well! @servantgroupinternationl or @servantgroupint

And we're back! Hannah and Colleen share a bit about travel back and forth to Iraq. It's hotels, airports, and lots of hours on the airplane. But if you are wondering how to get there, we know how! Please send comments and questions to hannah@servantgroup.org and check out our website at www.ServantGroup.org! You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook under Servant Group International.

Hannah and Colleen rant a bit about the very annoying Americans they have met or seen in Iraq or in airports flying to and from Iraq. These are the cons of Americans abroad and then some of the good things we bring along with us too! Join us over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq Ask questions or give comments at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen traipse through the world of Iraqi Education! What are public schools? What are private schools? How are things run differently? All these questions and MORE! Learn more over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq. Ask questions or send comments to hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen talk about their many encounters with animals in Northern Iraq, from pets to wild animals, zoos and circuses to flocks in the mountains. Hannah really does hate birds as pets, and neither mind the cats and dogs owned by their friends. Really! It's just that the animal situation in Iraq is very different than in the U.S. For more information: www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq Send questions and comments to Hannah@servantgroup.org.

One of our favorite topics about Iraq is all the ELECTRICITY! Also, the lack of it. It's one of those things that we in the U.S. definitely take for granted and see as our right. Not so in Iraq! Power outages are common and wiring is... creative. =) (Also, there is conversation about the electric slide, which has nothing to do with the actual electricity.) For questions, comments, or suggestions email us at hannah@servantgroup.org. To learn more, check out www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq

Hannah and Colleen continue with Director Dave on their jaunt through history. This episode covers from World War I through to almost present day. They also continue the debate about which Carolina is best. Please send any questions about this material to hannah@servantgroup.org. Read more about how you can join us in Iraq at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq.

Hannah and Colleen have another guest, SGI Director, Dave Dillard, on to talk about the patterns and history of Iraq. Part one takes us from the Garden of Eden up through World War I. Please send any questions about this material to hannah@servantgroup.org. Read more about how you can join us in Iraq at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq.

Many people think that everyone in Iraq is Muslim. And it's true that the majority are. Some people know of some of the Christians even. But there's a long history and heritage of minority religions in Iraq. Hannah and Colleen ran into a few themselves traveling around the area and Hannah actually did some pretty thorough research on the ones they talk about here: Yezidi, Yarsani, and Zoroastrians.  Learn more in the blog posts Hannah wrote about Mystery religions over on the Servant Group Blogs! https://servantgroup.org/?s=mystery+religion

Hannah and Colleen finally dive into the question you have all really been wondering about. Is it safe? What they really wanted to do was give you the statistics about how likely you are to be killed by car accidents, falling pianos, or even your own clothing... but they didn't. Instead, they chat about guards, guns, blast walls, and how they didn't wear bullet proof vests while living in Northern Iraq. Also, what to do when your school principal hands you an AK47 to move to a different office. VERY IMPORTANT Note: This does not apply to all of Iraq, nor is this in any way a recommendation that you go run willy-nilly into Iraq all by yourself. There are cautions and precautions and they talk about those too. Don't get carried away. To learn more or ask questions you can find us on social media as Servant Group International, our website: www.ServantGroup.org, or you can email us at Hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen address one of the most commonly asked questions about living in Iraq: "Do you have to cover your head?" And they give a rough overview of women's clothing in the Middle East with a focus on what they saw and wore in Northern Iraq. Then also a brief chat about men's clothing. For traditional Kurdish clothing head to Episode 5! https://between-iraq-and-a-hard-place.podigee.io/5-beacons-have-been-lit Learn more about life in Iraq and how you could join our team at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq. Help us serve in Nashville, Greece, and Iraq by giving at www.ServantGroup.org/donate.

Hannah and Colleen bring along the amazing and talented Steve, who has been learning and speaking Kurdish for many many years. He shares with us about the history of Kurdish, the various dialects/languages that are part of Kurdish, and some of his own experiences speaking the language. To learn more go to: www.ServantGroup.org

We all know that some words are not easy to translate into other languages. People collect these words and make lists of them (see here and here). But most of the time these words are used quite rarely, like Gokotta -- to wake up early in the morning with the purpose of going outside to hear the first birds sing. It's a beautiful thought, but not terribly practical.  The word we discuss in this podcast is a term that describes something that affects nearly all of Kurdish culture and behavior. Hannah and Colleen give a try at explaining "wasta". There are many more layers to it than this, we promise. There are even some we've never discovered we're sure! But this is enough to get you started.  When your friend says, "Oh, he has wasta," you'll know, rather than staring blankly or doing that thing where you nod and smile but don't know if you should.   Remember to send Hannah your Kurdish language questions or any other questions you might have at hannah@servantgroup.org! You can learn more about SGI at www.ServantGroup.org or on our FB page https://www.facebook.com/servantgroupinternational/?ref=bookmarks

Hannah and Colleen tell stories about their many sporting experiences (playing and coaching) in Iraq and how they are both in love with the World Cup, because it is the best. Topics mentioned are Messi, the World Cup, Volleyball, Messi, Michael Jordan, Basketball, Messi, soccer, and, of course, Messi. =D If you'd like to learn more about living and teaching in Iraq, head over to www.ServantGroup.org

What do frogs, fire, and the Odyssey have in common? Hannah and Colleen remember the adventures of each of their first years teaching in Iraq. Thanks to Julia for suggesting this topic. It had us wandering down the road of memories and how both of us had unusually strange first days of school. But moving on from there we talk about some of the biggest differences from American school culture. Please write and send us more questions! hannah@servantgroup.org Or learn more at servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen hesitantly bring you their small understanding of Islamic holidays and how these holidays affected their lives while living in Iraq. We did some research for this one, and there are many interpretations of how and why and when for these holidays and we can't promise that we got it right. But we did experience these celebrations and festivals. And if you go to Iraq, you'll run into them as well. Let us know if you have questions! Email us at hannah@servantgroup.org or check out the Servant Group International Website at www.ServantGroup.org.

When you think about weather in Iraq you probably imagine a hot desert and sand dunes. Is that accurate? Hannah and Colleen take you through their favorite and least favorite seasons of the year (yes, there are seasons!) as well as the political implications of the weather. To learn more or get involved head to ServantGroup.org. Send questions to Hannah@ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen have guest star and fellow SGI alumnus, Katrina, on to talk about one her favorite things, the bazaar. A place of wonder and mystery, goat heads and amazing bargains, there's no one better to navigate the maze than Katrina. We only wish we could somehow transmit the smells for a more three-dimensional experience. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen take you on a trip to Kurdistan for the biggest and most popular Kurdish holiday. History, clothing, food, dancing, and most importantly... FIRE! To learn more head over to Servant Group.org.

We bring on a guest, our friend and co-conspirator, to talk about friendships and relationships while living in Iraq. This applies not only to friendships with other people in Iraq, but also how we deal with relationships with those back in our home country. Want to learn more? Check out servantgroup.org/iraq/!

Hannah and Colleen start with Valentines Day and move through the year to touch on combined Halloween/Thanksgiving parties and finally the great Christmas massacre! Learn how you can get involved at www.ServantGroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen wander through various food experiences ranging from chicken and chocolate to eggnog and mastau. Welcome to the world of Kurdish food. Go to www.ServantGroup.org to learn more!

Two grown women talk about their time living and working in Northern Iraq. They laugh, they cry, there's drama, there's kittens. There are no dragons. Sorry about that.... We're disappointed too. To learn more go to ServantGroup.org It's pretty cool.