Category Archives: Guest Blogger

This post is contributed by Dr. Diane Hassan, author of “Angels Among Us Even in Iraq”, who is currently participating in “On Loan at You Served” as a guest blogger.

I was getting used to living in Iraq. I was a second year medical student and pregnant. I delivered my son, Mohammed at the teaching hospital for University of Baghdad College of Medicine.

I had seven doctors with me the night he was born .. Now, I was wife, mother and student.

My husband’s family lived in the south of Iraq, Basrah. I had an Egyptian lady care for Mohammed while I was in school. When my second year was finished, I took my son and left for a visit to Alabama.

When it was time for me to return to Iraq, I decided it would be better if I left Mohammed with my parents. It was the hardest decision I ever made. During my third year at medical school, my son was in America, I had more time to devote to my studies. I visited the states, every summer, Saddam came to power when I was a third year medical.

The killings began the next day when he became President of Iraq. The people were happy,the party members were happy, they didn’t know the cruelty that was about to begin. It was the summer after my third year, my husband took me to the airport  in-order for me to return to Alabama to see my son and family.

He told me Saddam had called a meeting for that night. No one knew why. When I arrived in New York, I read the headlines, “attempted coup on Saddam”. I read all my husband’s closest friends names. That night when my husband went to the meeting, he and three of his friends rode together, two were taken that night and executed.

This post is contributed by Dr. Diane Hassan, author of “Angels Among Us Even in Iraq”, who is currently participating in “On Loan at You Served” as a guest blogger.

When I arrived in Baghdad in August 1976, I was excited about being in the land of Ali Baba and the forty thieves. I never realized at that point the hardship that lie ahead. My husband tried to protect me as much as possible from the dangers of Baghdad. 

I always had that inner feeling that I was in danger.. as the weeks passed and all the invitations to various homes started to dwindle, and my husband became busier; I was alone to wonder my apartment and sit on the floor in my living room and watch the unfamiliar world go by. I saw the numerous cars,people wearing abias, and horse drawn carriages pass my window.

They were unaware of a lonely South Alabama, Arab American watching them and wishing that she was a apart of their life. I was lucky to be able to visit the north of Iraq with my husbands friends. The North reminded me of California, it was beautiful. I was able to see a beautiful part of Iraq before Saddam started his destruction.

My life began in Iraq when I became a medical student. I had so many friends. I was no longer lonely ,I had a part in the ancient city, that i knew so little about. Although I was an Arab American,I did not know Arabic. I learned Arabic from my mother-law who lived in the South of Iraq ,Basrah. She came to visit me often and stayed for long periods of time.

I spoke Arabic with a Southern accent. My husband was Dean of the Dental School in 1976 when I arrived in Baghdad,later to become President of Mustansiriya Unversity ,one of the oldest Universities in the world. We had an apartment on the Tigris river and I had a driver who took me to class and returned me home. When the bridge was completed I was able to walk to class. I was now, a medical student, and the wife of the President of one best universities in Iraq.

I was so busy studying and socializing, I no longer had the time to be lonely. I felt my life was great. I was enjoying my classes and my friends.I was able to visit the museum and all the ancient sites in Iraq. I was able to visit my family in Alabama every summer. Airlines from all over the world flew to Baghdad.Baghdad was a beautiful busy city at night .The people were unaware of the suffering that lay ahead……

This post is contributed by Dr. Diane Hassan, author of “Angels Among Us Even in Iraq”, who is currently participating in “On Loan at You Served” as a guest blogger.

In my book I try to show how good the Iraqi people are ,no matter the type of government the people lived under. Good people are found all over the world,they just become a circumstance of their environment. I arrived in Iraq in august of 1975 at 12 midnight.

I remember vividly how I felt that night, it was like going back in time a 100 years. I was raised in a small town in South Alabama among family and friends. I never realized the cruelty found in the world. My adventure began as an innocent southern girl later to be transformed by the harsh reality of living under a dictator.

The Iraqi people were very kind to me and tried to help me adapt to my adoptive home. When I was shopping in the market they made sure no one cheated me. They were very caring and protective. 

When Saddam came to power, things began to change in Iraq. He caused a division in the Baath party. He knew that he would eventually place family members in position of power. As an outsider looking in to what was going on in Iraq, I felt the evil that would take place in Iraq. Saddam started the Iran war and was the cause for Desert Storm I saw a country that was very rich in resources become a land of beggars because of the leadership.

As a medical student, I treated patients that were dying from malnutrition because of the embargo. Simple medications were not available, that could save many lives. The people suffered in silence. The most important freedom we have in America is the freedom of speech, which was unknown in Iraq.

As the years went by,one learns to survive by not having an opinion, not trusting one’s closest friends or relatives. People become robots, learning to say everything is great. Freedom is not Free!!!

As much as I try to limit our restaurant eating, there are three events that seem to increase the number of times we eat out:  birthdays, traveling, and moving.  With four kids and two adults, eating in restaurants gets expensive pretty quickly.  There are a couple of strategies that we use to make sure that our final bill doesn’t exceed our budget.  Check them out: 

Buying things is an inevitable part of life.  I mean, I’ve heard of people who scrounge everything from street corners and dumpsters, but most of us don’t have the time or inclination for that sort of lifestyle.  Therefore, we buy things.  There are, however, quite a few things that you don’t need to buy brand new.  Buying used is economical and it’s also environmentally friendly.  What are the best bets for buying second-hand?

1. Books, CDs, DVDs, and Video Games:  Used media is a huge business, which makes it easy to track down the stuff that you want at a discount price.  If you want to read the latest bestseller, see if your library has it.  For things that you want to own, check out the amazing number of online sources that sell used items.   Amazon.com, eBay, and half.com (owned by eBay)  all offer great deals on used media.  Just tonight, I went online to order some classic books for my kids on Half.com, and I spent less than four dollars per book, including shipping and handling.  Most of the books were priced at 75 cents each, and because I was able to get them all from the same seller, shipping and handling was only $1.89 per book.
2. Baby Gear and Kids Toys:  Let’s face it, baby stuff and toys are a huge expenses, especially considering the short amount of time that most of it is used.  Check out yard sales and consignment shops for great deals on all the stuff you’ll need for babies, and most toys until they are about 5.  I did purchase new car seats for my children, for safety reasons, and a new stroller because they tend to get awfully icky.  The crib and all the other gear was obtained from yard sales.  Be sure to check the recall list on any baby gear you buy.
3. Clothing:  Obviously, there are some things that you certainly want to purchase new, but consignment shops and thrift stores can be a fantastic way to fill out your wardrobe without emptying out your wallet.  Most towns and military bases have a thrift shop and consignment shops are a big business across the US.  Women’s and children’s clothes tend to be easier to find than men’s clothes.  Keep your eyes open for discount days and markdown schedules.  At my husband’s last duty station, the thrift shop had a dollar day where all clothing was one dollar per item.  I happened to find a huge stash of cute summer dresses in my size and I doubled my wardrobe.  The best part is that you’re not out a lot of money if the clothes don’t work out for you.  How often have you bought something only to discover that you don’t like it quite so much once you get it home?  At thrift store prices, it isn’t such a catastrophe if you make a bad choice.  Things that are particularly great to buy used includes winter coats, snow clothes, and dressy dresses.  I’m not a big fan of buying used shoes, but I will pick up a like-new pair if the size and price is right.
4. Cars:  New cars have that lovely new car smell, but that is a very expensive smell.  The average car loses at least ten percent of it’s value as soon as it is purchased, and the depreciation the first few years is quite steep.  Whether you choose a year-old model at a 20% discount, or an older car for a few thousand dollars, you’ll save quite a bundle on the up-front costs and your insurance rates will be lower, as well.  Check the CarFax report and have a used car inspected by a trusted mechanic, or consider purchasing a used car certified by the manufacturer.
5. Exercise and Sports Equipment:  Sporting gear can be expensive, and a remarkable amount of it is rarely used.  There are tons of places to find sports gear:  yard sales, Craig’s List, freecycle, thrift stores or a Play It Again Sports store.  Obviously, you want to avoid buying used footwear and anything else that has molded itself to the player’s body. 

I’m sure that many of you have things that you wouldn’t buy new.  Share in the comments and help us all save a little money!

For more ideas on stretching your paycheck, visit The Paycheck Chronicles.