Bye Bye beloved South Africa.

You have probably all been wondering what happened to me? There is no short answer to this question and I’m not too sure where to begin actually! Since my last Ghana Friday post, I got married, packed up my Johannesburg home, moved Morgan into an apartment of her own, spent a very emotional Christmas saying good bye to my loved ones and here comes the kicker…. boarded a plane to Dubai to start my new life and new job in Al Hillah Iraq!

This all happened at the same time that the world was experiencing the second and new highly contagious strain of the dreaded corona virus. I was booked to fly to Iraq via Dubai on the 29th December 2020. On Christmas Eve I received a panicked phone call advising me that the Iraq borders were planning on shutting down and that no South African, USA or UK passport holders would be allowed entry. It was decided that I should fly earlier. I took what was left of my life in two suitcases and headed for the airport on Christmas Day. At the airport I stood in a queue for over an hour before finally reaching the check in counter, only to be told that they would not be allowing me on the flight as my ticket showed my final destination as Baghdad. Without my knowledge, the night before Iraq had closed their borders and I could only get on the next flight to Dubai the following day. Thank goodness Nicholas had decided to stay in Johannesburg after dropping me at the airport, rather than return back to the Vaal to comfort Morgan. He quickly came to my rescue and was the perfect calming host for the evening.

On the 26th December 2020, the Emirates ground staff allowed me to board a flight to Dubai, however my length of stay in Dubai was uncertain, pending my approval to continue my journey to join Colin in Al Hillah, Iraq. I ended up spending a week in Dubai before my approval to fly into Najaf was given by the Iraq Health Minister and Iraq governmental officials. I must add here that during my one week stay in Dubai, I had to have four covid tests, excluding the one I had in South Africa before I left. After five tests in total, my nose was raw and threatening to fall off! My arrival in Najaf was a bit of a cloak and dagger affair, accompanied by strict security, I edged my way to my driver waiting outside who transported me safely to the compound in Hillah.

Now the adventure really begins. I want to write as often as my busy work schedule will allow, documenting my stay and many experiences in Iraq, as well as my travels around the Middle East. I have therefore changed my every Friday schedule for the Ghana postings to as often as possible, as I need to complete that story before moving onto the next. Come with me and we will take this wild journey together.