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I just came back to this journal after having been away from it for over 7 months. After the trip, I just needed time to let everything sink in. I have an update on Hussein (the Iraqi gentleman I wrote about so much in this blog), and unfortunately his story does not have a happy ending. On May 10th, 2007, Hussein was fatally wounded by a snipers' bullet near his home. He didn't die right away, which is both a tragedy and a blessing. It pains me to think of him suffering in his final hours, knowing the inevitable that was coming, but yet, it is fortunate that his friends and family were able to be there with him during those final hours. I've had a very difficult time coming to terms with his death. On one hand, I felt so profoundly moved by having met him, even before tragedy struck him and his family, and yet, I didn't know how to justify these feelings because our meeting and interaction had been so brief. I've finally come to realize that even a brief and seemingly simple interaction can leave someone changed forever, and the length of time of our interaction does not determine the depth of meaning or significance. I am a different person for having met Hussein. I have worn the ring he gave me ever since that day (January 18, 2007). It is a constant and daily reminder to me of the life and spirit that can be found in even the most bleak of conditions. Although he is gone, his spirit lives on. 
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Thursday, February 1, 2007 - 12:15pm EST
I just found out this morning that the Iraqi gentleman, Hussein, who sang with us on stage while we were in Iraq (pictured below in my most recent post) lost two uncles yesterday in a mortar attack. If that weren't enough, 15 or so Sunni insurgents came to his home last night, beat his father and sister, told them they could no longer live in their home and gave them two days to leave the premises. They were also looking for Hussein (who wasn't home at the time) and said that they knew he was working in the Green Zone (someone in his neighborhood gave him up), and that they would get him eventually.
They've had to leave their home and most of their belongings behind, and their hardships are far from over. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
I can't even put into words fully, how this has affected me. At the end of our show that day, Hussein gave me a ring as a token of his appreciation and admiration, and I have been wearing it ever since. I look at my pictures daily, and the picture of him and I together is one of my favorites because of the impact he had on me. It breaks my heart to know he and his family are going through this and must live in fear.
I also just recently watched a National Geographic special entitled, "Inside Saddam's Reign of Terror", which shows how Saddam came to control the country by instilling fear in everyone. It shows actual footage of beatings, torture, executions, and the results of chemical weapons which wiped out entire towns (I had to close my eyes during some of it). Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people were killed, and there wasn't a single person who hadn't lost someone they loved. It was mind-blowing to realize the extent of what has been happening over there, and how much these people have already suffered. And although Saddam is gone, there are still people who want power and control, who will use violence and fear to try to get it.
I just pray and have faith that the love is stronger and will prevail.
Adriana
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Monday, January 29, 2007 8:47am EST I have officially been home for 1 week now, and I am still trying to process all that I experienced as a result of this trip. I just received a wonderful email from Maj. Mike Pacheco (who's still stationed in Baghdad), that said that he was stopped the other day by a few soldiers who thanked him for giving them the best time they'd had since they'd been there. They said the music brought them home for just a little while, and it was greatly appreciated. He also got an email from a gentleman who works in the Green Zone and who writes for the Engineer Journal. He wrote about our performance for local Iraqi workers, and he touched on one of the most significant events for me personally, which was the young Iraqi man who got up and sang a song during our show. He captures the depth of impact that it had on not only me, but on everyone in attendance. Here's the link to his entry: http://www.armyengineer.com/husker.htm#husker_6 Just scroll down a few paragraphs to see his entry related to our performance. This is the gentleman, Hussein, who serenaded us:  It is things like this that have made this trip worth it for me. If you're interested, here's also a great article which shows a different side of Iraq and it's people. It reflects more of the type of interactions we had with Iraqis we met, in that they were open, warm and caring. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16356220/It's always good to hear the other side of Iraq that's not all about the bombings and death. Love, Adriana
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Last night, Fox 25 News did a segment on our band, Groove Alliance and our trip to Iraq. They interviewed Ray and Jesse (keyboardist and guitarist), and showed pictures from our trip. You can even hear our demo with me singing in the background! You can view the spot at: http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2166178&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1 Check it out!! Also, here are some more pictures: Groove Alliance at the Hands Of Power  Right before we boarded the "Rhino" on our last night in the Green Zone  At our GRD show for local Iraqi workers  Mike and I, reunited again.  "Saturday in the Park"  Our traditional Jordanian meal hosted by Lonnie Bergeron from ECC. 
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Monday, January 22, 2007 - 6:55pm EST Chris Elliott (the trumpet player who came with us to Baghdad) has a new article on Boston.com. Check it out: http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/01/19/i_play_that_funky_music_as_copters_roar/It captures his experience of waking up to the "Incoming" message I wrote about in my blog, and some other thoughts. I've still got lots more to share but so little time at the moment, so here are some things I don't want to forget to elaborate on: - Singing "My Heart Will Go On" in the laundry room for 2 Iraqi workers who were servicing the washing machine. (When they found out I was a singer, they asked me to sing for them. I asked them what song they wanted to hear and one of them answered, "Titanic... my heart...".) - The Rhino ride back from the IZ to the base at the airport and those who came to see us off. - The coldest night of my life in a military tent on an army base at the airport, in what I've affectionately nicknamed, "Mud City". - My first MRE ("Meal Ready to Eat). - Steve's deportation scare at the airport. - The 5-star accomodations and delicious cuisine at a French restaurant in Amman, Jordan on our way home, hosted by ECC International. Until then, take care! Dri
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Monday, January 22, 2007 - 9:23am EST
Well, after 30 hours of continuous travel, we arrived at my parents house at 4am this morning. I opted to stay here and get some sleep, and will be heading home in a couple of hours. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed (especially after that last leg of travelling).
All of our travels (from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, to Paris to NYC) went fairly smoothly, and then at 8:30pm last night, we got to JFK airport only to discover that the last leg of our journey - our flight to Manchester, NH had been cancelled (due to the flight crew not showing up over labor disputes). And the only other flight to Boston had been cancelled as well.
So, instead of staying overnight in NYC and possibly not getting out again (because we were on stand-by), we opted for a road trip. We rented 2 cars and drove from NYC, to get home at 4am this morning. The only band-member who didn't come along for the ride was the drummer, St. James (a.k.a. Jim MacConduibh). He opted for the hotel and attempt to fly out today.
So, there will be TONS to follow up on, with photos, videos and more stories, so keep checking back often. I can't wait to give you all a glimpse of some of the experiences we had. It was absolutely amazing!!!
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers and support. It made all the difference!
And I'm not usually one to sound patriotic, but God bless America!! We are all very fortunate and very blessed.
Love,
Adriana
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Friday, January 19, 2007 - 12:36pm Baghdad Time (4:36am EST)
One of the most widely used and relevant sentiments that we have learned here this week is, "In Sh'a Allah", which means, "If God wills it". It is used in almost any and every situation which is out of your control, and we have heard it from almost every different type of person you can imagine, in almost every situation, at least 20 times per day (since nothing ever goes exactly the way you plan - especially not in a war zone!).
The airport is closed and you can't get in or out... in Sh'a Allah. You have to wait around for hours only to find out that something is cancelled... in Sh'a Allah. You fry 4 pieces of expensive sound equipment because you can't figure out the 220 to 110 conversion... in Sh'a Allah.
And the most recent occasion for the use of this sentiment is our schedule for today. Originally we were scheduled to donate platets and play for the Combat Support Hospital, but the person at the hospital who needed to do all of the coordinating on their end to make that possible didn't do anything, and therefore, both activities had to be cancelled. In Sh'a Allah!
Even more interesting though is that we just found out that this may have cost us the biggest P.R. opportunity of our lives! Good Morning America will be here at the Combat Support Hospital this afternoon at 1pm (right about the time we would have been playing!). How's that for an ironic twist?!
As much as it gives me a knot in the pit of my stomach to realize the magnitude of such a missed opportunity, I just keep telling myself, "In Sh'a Allah. In Sh'a Allah.".
We did everything we could have possibly done on our end to make this happen. Everything that was in our control was handled and coordinated to the fullest extent, and it was the piece that was out of our control that failed us. In Sh'a Allah. For whatever reason, it must not have been God's will for us.
So, I can sit here and sulk and lament over such a perceived loss, and wonder why God chose to snatch this opportunity from us, or I can choose to look at this from a bigger perspective and say that at this point, it must not have been God's will for us, and that when and if the time is right, it shall be so. That wasn't the reason we were coming here anyway. Our motivation for taking this trip was not for the publicity. We all did this out of the motivation in our hearts, and I would have hated for it to have been perceived otherwise.
In Sh'a Allah!
Adriana
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