Hi:

I am currently working for a finance company and my salary is in the mid 50s. Last week I got an email from a Recruiter for a English and Nepali Linguist position  to work as a contractor in Iraq. They are paying 150,000 dollars for one year. And he tells me that I can terminate the contract anytime. It will take me three years to make what I can make at this contracting job in one year. Then in one year I can come back to the US, pay off my debts and maybe even invest in a house. I have talked with few friends about this and they all tell me that this money is not worth going to Iraq. I am so torn. I need your advice. What do you suggest I should do?

ps. I am a Nepali female and I do qualify for the position.

Hi,

That is a hell lot of money. Why not I apply for the same if you are hesitant ?

Sure I can pass on your information to the recruiter if you are interested. Just send me an email. But I do have to tell you that you have to have either green card or citizenship inorder to qualify for this job. My email add is danke01us@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, I am not in the US nor do I have GC or the like. I am in East Asia and fully conversant in English, French, Hindi , Nepali and a few of them and a qualified linguist without a Ph. D.

The ride from the Iraqi airport to the city is the most dangerous strip of road on earth according to CNN analysts.  This was in a program I watched about the US forces there a few days ago.  Can't believe that you're contemplating $150,000 for your life on the line?  You'll be working for the US/UK based contractors there, so you would definitely be a target for the insugents.  All in all, make sure you get a strong life insurance policy before you go there (and don't ever tell them you'd be going to Iraq as your premium would probably be in the thousands per month then).

And, which field are you currently working in?  Get into the financial field and start making 100K+ right here in NYC.  All you need is the connexx!!

anamika,

Life is so cruel, isn't it? Even in USA.

You probably know how the terrorists killed 12 Nepali in Iraq: in cold blood. We get only one life, and we shouldn't consider it to be so cheap. What if, rather than being killed, you are maimed, and have to be surgically mutilated? Will you limp your way all your life? If you are not married, this life will be a real hell for you after that. We all want to take a risk at some points in our life (not least in Vegas casino or in some indiscriminate lottery purchase), but this risk is too much to take.

We should think about leaving our legacy, no matter where we live. If the salary is 50K, fine, we should think about other things than money. We must channel our energy into some positive things, rather than being bothered about our impoverished state all the time. Take Yoga class, take music lesson, take writing lesson, find a nice man and marry and raise a family, get some semblance of stability in your life, girl. You can't just float around in uncertainty, and toy with risks. Money, as Paul Samuelson says, is worthless in itself. It is valuable only when it is put in the context. (i.e. say when you spend it for your child's schoolbag)

Hope this helps.

Yes, truly said. if you are already earning 50k in peace, why should you be so greedy to get ready to to sacrifice your life ?

Todya's Iraq has been bush fired by the Bushy fella who put the life of 1.5 million Iraqi people  and half a trillion American taxpayer's dollars merely to oust Saddam and to turn a nation of ancient civilization into a living hell.

According to Time, landing into the Iraqi airport is like a free bungy jumpy fall almost 75 to 80 degree headlong down and then the highway stretch to the green zone is the world's worst nightmare journey !

If you are not content contemplating this alone , the green zone now is prone too all sorts of attacks within . And of course , there are occasional friendly (!) fires, the NATO allies hitting each other , perhaps in disgust .

(A) namika, why are you prepared so much to make your name true so early in life ?

Anamika - I think you should take the offer, dont listen to hogwash ...

But before that make sure you ask them the work conditions, exposure to outside dangers etc etc. Reason .. while it can be dangerous on the field, I'm presuming yours would be an admin/office type job mainly inside what you call the heavily fortified 'green zone'. Within this army camp/gree zone, its so secure, no one dares go near.

My father is an ex-Gurkha, currently deployed in a 'green zone' job in the army camp in Basra, he says this is the easiest and the cushiest job he ever done in his life, with so good money. But other hand, there are cases his frens have been caught in the cross fire. So make a judicious decision.

Ex- gurkhas are working illegally in Iraq and dying in hundreds ( by last September it was reported to be some 157) . Because I personally know some of these guys trafickeeing humans there. They give the insurance money that amounts to around 10 to 15 million Nepalese rupees after the death of e mercenary  and the family is hushed up with that death bounty. What a shame for we merceneries !

Don't buy any arguments from Mr. whoever's son . If you are talking about Basra , it is even more dangerous. Now the fanatic Shias have almost blocked the british army within their cantonments and they rarely venture to come out. If Somebody is living his life within the cocoon of Gora's cave alone, shouldn't that job be the cushiest ? But to my knowledge , Iraq now has been reduced to  a living hell  and almost everybody agrees.

He whoever claims that life in Iraq is  the easiest and cushiest , is a total bullshit . If so Anamika , you should not delay any furhter and make a hedlong journey to Iraq to live that happiest and cushiest of life awaiting you there !

My suggestion, if that money 150 k is realy tempting you over your life, you should take it up instantly. But if you enjoy  working in war zones and like to experience the crude and raw adventure like the American football player that died in a friendly fire in Afaganistan , you can still take it up .But if you are earning 50k ,living in peace and if life and living is your priority, you should not think otherwise because you are already better off wherever you are now.

Nevertheless, thousands are still going to Iraq everyday despite all odds.

Anyway , Good luck to you into this ancinet land of civilization of the Tigress and Euphrates valley, the Mesopotamian world !

It is not only about the situation but the emotional torment that you will suffer going there. You will have no friends and family and anyone to voice your fear or joy for that matter.

If you are used to situations like that then go ahead, but i saw so many documentaries where soldiers return from Iraq and were totally lost and suffer huge mental stress after that.

So think of your life ahead and make decisions wisely.

I wouldn't recommend anyone to get a job down there. Especially a hindu man/woman. It's not worth the $$$.

Go for it dude or give it to me. I will accept , Play with risk and enjoy every instant

 

From one Nepali to another with no string attached,

No...It's not worth risking your life.

If you r living comfortabily with your current earnings, i suggest you not to go. Especially when the Americans are planning to withdraw trrops. Less Troops = Less Security

जिउ रहे घीउ पिउला भन्ने उखान सम्झे।
मिठो महको स्वादमा सबै कुरा बिर्सिएको झिङा जस्ताइ पौडी खेली रहौली।
निर्णय आफ्नै हो सल्लाहा अरुको।

150K is a good amount of money...TARA   tyati ko lagi jyanai dinu pardaina ta...:) You gonna die there...

No pain, no gain.

teo recuirter le GC milai dincha bhane ma gaye la. But need GC first.

If its need that is forcing you to contemplate going to hell, I understand.... perhaps money that you owe, maybe you need money for your parents,maybe for your siblings and so on and so forth. Life is cruel and you are not to blame.

If its pure greed, that is, if the only reason you are contemplating this job is to make quick money, i think you are a very ugly soul.  Go ahead! cant even honestly wish you good luck cos you dont deserve it....

Hi Everyone:

Thank you so much for your genuine and heartfelt feedback. When I posted this message, I had not expected such overwhelming response. You helped me put things in perspective. Yes it is true that no money is worth risking one's life. For me death did not pose any fear but the thought of being disabled and having to spend the rest of my life under the dependency of the American system and family was the deciding factor in turning down this offer. I have read and seen many young American men who have lost their limbs and are wheelchair bound for the remaining part of their lives. And I have decided that I do not want to be one of the number.

Thank you again and Happy Dashara and Tihar.

Anamika1