$250 Million???

So you just never know when changing your currency 3 times in a relatively short period of time will catch up with you. Here in the Sandbox they said they would pay 250 million pounds for information regarding the rebel leader's hideout. Little did they know that the western media would hear that number, apply the current exchange rate based on the current currency (somehow makes perfect sense), and spread the word that they are paying $125 million dollars!! That's a crazy large amount for one guy, surely he can't be worth that much.

Then today they doubled the amount and now they're going to pay 500 million. Those of us who have been around for a while know that they were actually talking in the old, old currency and that 500 million means $250,000 but they didn't clear that up in the first place and now the world thinks that they are shelling out the big bucks to find this rebel leader. I just feel bad for the guy who thinks he's getting $250 million for finding him and then gets handed a check for $250,000. It's a tricky game, this whole figuring out how much the currency is really worth thing.

On a different note, scope out this musical instrument. Sometimes I go to this place on Sunday mornings that is made up mainly of people from the South who came to K-town to get away from the war...the old war, not the current war. They do everything in Arabic but then they translate into a tribal dialect which conveniently gives me time to figure out what they said in Arabic (or more realistically, to write it down so I can ask my language tutor later) so it works.

They have some songs in Arabic and then the women stand up and lead several songs in their tribal language and they use these homemade instruments. They are basically two powdered milk cans pressed out flat and then pounded together with small holes in them and rice inside. It's really cool when they all pull out their...I don't even know the name...I guess their instruments, and get to singing. It can get pretty wild and it's always loud and I love it!

I don't understand a word of what they're singing so I just clap and dance along because it's not difficult to understand what's coming from their hearts and to know that they are singing passionately for the same reason that I am and it doesn't matter what tribe, tongue or nation we are from, we are all here for the same glorifying purpose.

Seriously, it's an amazing thing and sometimes I sit there a little overwhelmed by just the thought that I have been allowed to witness and particpate in such powerful, heartfelt expression. I foresee that when I am back in the States I will have some serious culture shock every Sunday morning.