Job Discussion Forums

Alfie · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 30

For all you out there in Kurdistan, what's the situation like these days? Mainstream media reports that there is overall less violence in Iraq lately. Would you agree with this? Or perhaps you never have felt unsafe where you are at.

What is the sentiment of the general population toward foreigners, particularly Westerners?

Does anyone know of some websites that have pictures of the region?

Thanks.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Well, according to the news reports, there is the little detail about Turkey invading and bombing from the north. It is hard to predict how that is going to all play out and how far into the Kurdish areas it may spread.

VS

Alfie · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 30

Oh sure. That is one of the things I am wondering about. I've been reading the posts about Irbil and Suli, but what is happening with the Turkish troops isn't near there. Or is there some sort of effect from all this in other areas of Kurdistan (in Iraq)?

But even before what is now happening with the Turks, how's the situation been? Do foreigners move about freely within the cities they are living? Are the people friendly? The students?

Kirkuk is in the headlines a lot and that is near Suleymanie. Will it spread beyond Kirkuk? Any word on the street from those living in the area?

hawlermonkey · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 34

I walk around freely in Erbil and Sulimaniya night and day. I haven't felt in the least bit threatened apart from once and that was by some foreign private security guys. I haven't heard of any crime, theft is virtually non-existent. There is quite a lot of security and it can feel a bit like a police state especially when someone important is in town.

sassifrass · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 5 Location: U.S.

i've been in hawler/erbil for several months. the turkey thing was going on them, way before and probably way after i leave.
i know it is cliche, but you can't believe everything you hear in the news. really.

mistral · Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Herat Afghanistan

Hawlermonkey is right. Erbil is now very safe. However, security has been stepped up at ukh. Students now use swipe cards to enter the campus. Teachers don't have IDs. The university accepts anybody. Management swipe cards are issued by American Express so they can keep an eye on their Swiss bank accounts.

kurd · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

The departments are organised by kurdish men who lived in other countries for manny years. They earn much more, and work much less, than the foreign english teachers.