Let me bring you up to Speed... May 2015

End of April 2015 to May 2015

So, after I had been dismissed, I had a conversation with the Director at my taxi which would take me to the airport in Erbil, which is 2.5 hours by car-give or take 30 minutes. He says to me, "I wish you could stay, but you will thank me for this later."

I said, "If you wish that I can stay, why send me away; just change your mind. You are after all the director of the school."  

He said, "It was not my decision to let you go. I did fight for you, but it was the principal's decision who said that you should go." 

"Okay, but you can like veto it and say, 'we should give her a warning'. I did not commit a crime. I did not drink alcohol on campus. I did not molest a child. I just browsed the internet and checked my email. Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me even finish the year? I started this school. Please reconsider. I love this school. I love the children. The parents are great and I love Abu Barzan's family." I said as I sat in the taxi in tears. 

He remarked, "I cannot go against my colleagues. It was an unanimous vote against me 2 to 1. Don't ever change your way. You are strong and you will get far." 

So, my best friend, Nasser, AKA Freddy, accompanied me to a street outside of the complex and knew I was very upset and said, "Suzy, don't cry. I am not happy you are going, but I will feel better with you in Oman because at least you will be safe. ISIS is only 1.5 hours away. I would kill myself if I found out that you were ever in danger and could not save you. You will be fine. Let me know when you land in Muscat." He said this as he got out of the taxi to where he was being dropped off.

I asked him, "Please Freddy come with me to Erbil. Don't let me get on the plane alone." 

"I can't Suzy. I cannot see you cry."

I watched as he disappeared in the distance, as the taxi drove forward, taking me onward to Erbil. I swear I cried the entire day. My tears never stopped coming that day. I would sleep in the plane and wake up with tears in my eyes. I had transit in Dubai and had to wear sunglasses because my eyes were red, swollen and watery. This was so hard to leave Kurdistan.

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I arrived in  Muscat at night. One of my best friends, Sulaiman was there to pick me up at the airport. He helped me with purchasing a SIM card and took me to a place where I could sleep. It had been a treacherous and tormenting day, but I had survived to start my new adventure in Oman.