conceited about construction
Can anyone explain to me why the birthplace of civilization still hasn’t wrapped their minds around the concept of a sewer trap? Actually, there’s a bit more than plumbing when it comes to construction, but that’s the first one you notice. It doesn’t matter where you are, whether the facility is rich or poor, old or new, they put a straight pipe from sink to sewer.
For the unplumbers out there, the sewer trap (P- or S- trap) is a wonderful invention that’s ubiquitous in the western world and often mistaken for decoration. It’s a U-bend in the drainpipe that holds a puddle of water, which prevents sewer gases (and other pleasantries) from coming up out of the sewer. Arab plumbers omit this part. Arab toilets don’t have gas traps. Arab urinals go straight into the goddamned, stinking, mosquito breeding sewer. Everywhere, even back in Kuwait. I’m starting to think they enjoy the smell.
Other than that, construction here is about the same as in the states, but without the wood. Or unions. The New York Times ran something from a state department (commie) official who was lamenting the lack of civil institutions in Iraq, such as unions. I thought.. “well, of course”. A union protects you from having to work a 10 hr day just because there’s a line of folks who’d gladly work a 10 hr day. No one here would do 10 hrs. You’re lucky to get six from them. They’re done by 3:30, and you won’t see them again until the next morning at 9.
You’ve probably guessed that I’ve been working a little bit with a construction project of some sort. I’m pretty removed from the process, because despite my Arabic classes, I still can’t say one word. In fact, my role is left to more of a “initiate and watch” position. And it’s like watching grass grow. Like grass growing here, in the summer, on a rocky hillside. Sure, they’re working, but it’s getting to the point where I’m thinking I could have done it faster myself and alone.
I have to admit, they do come up with some ingenious ways to do stuff, and can get by without much in terms of tools. There’s no substantial wood to speak of here, except what the Army ships in on its own. Sticks and thin trees that would be in the brush pile to be burnt back home are used as bracing for concrete forms here. And used over and over again, since without any rain, not much rots.
The concrete leaves something to be desired, but I have empathy for them. I think I used to make the same type of concrete in my Tonka concrete mixer.. ok, ok, so they use actual lime, and make something that at least chemically resembles cement. But you can walk by one of their pours and pull a chunk off with your hand. I was trying to figure out if this was standard practice or just a case of “yeah, we’ll make some ‘concrete’ for the Americans.. where’s the cash”. It seems like standard building practice, though, even for the buildings that Saddam built for his military. By the way, Saddam, the army thanks you for the nice living quarters; did you know you could order drain traps from homedepot.com?
Alright, enough of me being a conceited western-centric ass. I’m going to bed.