Hw 42: final pod cast

Gabcast! A Blog of One's Own #60



This is sarah and my final podcast

Hw 37: Second Podcast

Gabcast! A Blog of One's Own #36




This is Hannah and Sarah's second podcast for Baghdad Burning

Hw 36: baghdad burning podcast 1

http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&b=play&id=8538&cast=49836&autoplay=true

this is sarah and my podcast on Baghdad Burning

Hw 35: Letter to Blog Readers

Over the course of the past 13 weeks, I have learned a lot about maintaining a blog. Before I started "A Blog of One's Own," I wasn't even that sure what a blog was. Now that I have written about many different topics, from other online blogs and the books we have read, blogging has showed me how you can get an opinion out to anyone who comes across my blog. I hope that anyone who reads my blog gets a feel for every topic and subject area we have covered in the class. I wouldn't say that I have a favorite blog, or a blog that I am proud of, but the blogs toward the last few weeks are definitely much better than the ones that I wrote when I first started writing them. Although I thought writing blogs were a very different and interesting way of writing a homework assignment because it was more personal than any other homework assignment that could have been assigned, but I don't think that I will be writing any more blogs on my Blog in the future. On the other hand, if you are someone who likes to get your thoughts and opinions out there, than blogging is something you should definitely take up.

Hw 34: Culture in Iraq

In Baghdad Burning, Riverbend shares Iraq's differences in their culture, such as the importance of date palms and the importance of their custom of evening tea. Date palms are found in Dhuluaya, which is an area north of Baghdad. "Orchards in many areas in Iraq--especially central Iraq--are almost like oases in the desert"(Riverbend 103). Palm trees are very useful to Iraqi people for things that come from dates. "Dibiss," which is a dark smooth syrup that comes from the date is a main source of sugar in their sweets. Another thing that is produced by dates, is "khal," which is vinegar. Many people use for seasoning their. "Areg," which is an alcoholic beverage, and lastly dates can be used as presents. Another custom that is important to the people of Iraq, is evening tea. "In the evening, most Iraqi families gather together for 'evening tea.' It's hardly as formal as it sounds...No matter how busy the day, everyone sits around in the living room waiting for tea"(Riverbend 108). It is also a time for the family to have a conversation together and talk about everything from war strategies to politics. What I found most interesting about their tea, was that they use tea leaves and not tea bags. If you have "teabag tea" they think of it as an insult.

Hw 33: Iraqi Teens Work to Help Their Families

The title of the episode of that I chose was "Iraqi Teens Work to Help Their Families." The title of the series is called "Alive in Baghdad." The podcast was published on October 15th 2007 and the link to the video is http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/10/15/iraqi-teens-work-to-help-their-families/.
The podcast was about three boys in their early teens that are currently working for their parents and not attending school. The three boys that appear in the podcast are names Hussein Kamal, Mustafa Malek Futhullah Ali, and Yousif. Mustafa Malek Futhallah Ali is 14 years old and is in the 6th grade. He worked with his father ever since he was a child and he his currently working for his uncle doing carpentry. The scenery at the places that these teens work are run down and not in the best condition. During Husseins Kamals interview inside his house, it shows his kitchen and it is also run down and in not in very good condition.
From watching this podcast, a viewer may learn how hard it is for teens in Iraq to live, working numerous hours everyday in the conditions of war. It shows a good comparison with how different it is for teenagers living in America today, and what the Iraqi's have to go through everyday. The most memorable thing from the podcast, was when Hussein Kamal said "Stop supporting terrorism because many youth of my people are being killed." This line stuck out to me because of how greatly children and teenagers are being effected from the war, and nearly 50% of Iraqis are unemployed and there is nothing that they can do about it.

Hw 32: Shopping for School Supplies

In Baghdad Burning, Riverbend explains her trip she takes to get school supplies. She goes with her cousin, his wife, and her brother E. so that they can get school supplies for her cousins two daughters. Both of the daughters are not able to leave the house since the war began because their mother won't let them. The 4 of them went to " 'makatib' or stationary shops that sell everything from toys to desks"(Riverbend 94). They all picked out everything from scented erasers and crayons to Barbie notebooks for the two little girls. When the four of them were done school supply shopping, the two girls were impatiently waiting for them to get back, waiting at the door. The oldest was grateful for what she had gotten but the younger one was a little jealous of her sisters Barbie notebook because she had outgrown Winnie the Poo one she had gotten. Getting to school, on the other hand, was a little more difficult than picking out the school supplies. The girls had to me walked by Riverbends cousin S. every morning, and then wait to see when school would be out to walk them back. She explained the school to be full of people, but the classrooms were empty and unfurnished. The school systems had no money to fix it up or for any supplies so the kids would have to pitch in for paint and chalk and everything else that they needed. Her cousin S. is very worried about the girls starting school since she can't keep her eye on them at all times.