Between Iraq and a Hard Place
62 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsHannah and Colleen take you on a tour of what life looks like as an American and teacher in Northern Iraq.
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Episodes
Kurdish History with Erik
March 22, 2024 20:07 - 32 minutes - 26.4 MBWe're back with Erik! And he shares a more thorough walk through the old history of the Kurds. Check our our website for links and info about some of the characters Erik mentions!
Car Crashes and Kurdish Culture
October 10, 2023 20:29 - 26 minutes - 21.9 MBPart 2 of our interview with Erik about life and culture in Iraq. Also, an amazing story of how he survived a 100mph crash on a highway!
Being a Single Guy in Iraq
May 05, 2023 17:08 - 30 minutes - 24.9 MBHannah and Colleen interview our friend and teammate, Erik, about his life and experiences teaching and living in Iraq as well as his studies of Kurdish history and culture.
Parks and Rec Iraq Department
March 28, 2023 16:15 - 28 minutes - 23.5 MBHannah and Colleen embark on the many uses of the Iraqi Kurdish Park and the many varieties of Recreation available in Kurdish parks. There's workout equipment, food carts, fairs, amusement parks, roller skating, strange statues and more! Come take a walk with us through our favorite and least favorite parks in Northern Iraq.
Helping After Another Earthquake in Turkey
March 02, 2023 18:35 - 14 minutes - 12.4 MBThis is a special update episode! Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who helped SGI rebuild schools in Turkey after the big earthquakes in 1999. Those connections and relationships have opened up paths for us to serve in relief work and hopefully with rebuilding after these more recent earthquakes. We're sending teams to help build shelters in the short term and hopefully continue to serve the area as they rebuild. https://servantgroup.org/relief-work-in-turkey-team-heading-over-soon/
Visiting the Team in Iraq
February 17, 2023 15:15 - 29 minutes - 24.1 MBHannah and Colleen talk about Hannah's trip to visit our team members in Iraq. Where we used to be the ones who were visited, now we are the visitors. And we love taking care of our team members!
Tourism in Iraq (Dohuk Region)
June 18, 2022 12:30 - 11 minutes - 9.78 MBHannah and Colleen continue their conversation about tourist sites in Iraq near Dohuk in this mini episode! Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at [email protected] with questions, comments, or suggestions!
Tourist Sites in Iraqi Kurdistan (Suly and Erbil)
May 20, 2022 16:10 - 39 minutes - 32.6 MBHannah and Colleen walk you through the favorite tourist sites for both locals and foreigners in Northern Iraq. Part two with the sites around Dohuk will come next! Some of these tourist sites in Iraq may surprise you! Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at [email protected] with questions, comments, or suggestions!
28 Days in Kurdistan (Not a Horror Movie)
March 01, 2022 22:25 - 31 minutes - 25.7 MBHannah and Colleen have a conversation with Victoria, who went on our teacher training trip back in August of 2021. Hear her reactions, culture shock, what she learned, and whether or not she'd ever go back! Also find out about what to do when you break your ankle on a mountain hike! Lear more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq and email Hannah at [email protected] with questions, comments, or suggestions!
What is the Chaldean Church? - Part 3
November 04, 2021 21:15 - 31 minutes - 26.1 MBHannah wraps up her research on the Chaldean Catholic Church with their modern history in Northern Iraq, the destruction by ISIS, and the various diasporas to the West. What is the fate of Alqosh now? What will happen in the future to the church as their numbers dwindle? We don't know, but we do share how we got where we are. Learn more over at servantgroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah at [email protected].
What is the Chaldean Church - Part 2
September 07, 2021 19:45 - 30 minutes - 25 MBHannah teaches Colleen more on the history and beliefs of the Chaldean Church in this, part two, of a three part series. This episode covers the re-unification of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Roman Catholic Church along with some of the distinguishing features of the Chaldean Catholic Church liturgy and tradition. Keep an eye out for the best sourdough starter ever! Yeah... that will make sense later. To learn more, visit our website at www.ServantGroup.org!
What is the Chaldean Church - Part 1
June 17, 2021 13:00 - 31 minutes - 26 MBHannah teaches Colleen about the origins of the Chaldean Church in this, the first episode of THREE episodes on the history and beliefs of the Chaldean Church. The splits, lines, and practices help illustrate how the Christian community in Iraq came to be there and their long history in the area.
Ways Iraq Changed Us
May 17, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 25.7 MBHannah and Colleen share the ways that Iraq shaped small behaviors in their lives including hand gestures, expectations of people, restaurant protocol, and more. These are some of the ways that that Iraq changed us and made us different from our peers here in the US. Also, celebrating 50 episodes!
Racism in Northern Iraq
April 17, 2021 10:00 - 27 minutes - 22 MBHannah and Colleen describe how they observed different skin colors and nationalities are treated and valued in Northern Iraq. How were our black teammates treated? Asian-looking ones? Is there a difference between how men and women of color are treated? We answer these questions and more!
Going to the Movies in Iraq
March 17, 2021 20:55 - 28 minutes - 23.3 MBHannah and Colleen take a trip around the world and into a Middle Eastern movie theater. Sometimes watching a movie in Iraq is like a short visit to the United States, but other times it's more like visiting a different country... or a different planet where the spoken language is Arabic but the written language is Russian. It's exciting. See links to the movies and learn more at www.ServantGroup.org! Contact us with comments or questions at [email protected].
Kim Stories
January 21, 2021 18:40 - 28 minutes - 23.2 MBHannah and Colleen interview our office manager, Kim, who tells the BEST stories. Both master story-teller and and hostess extraordinaire, Kim lived in Iraq with her family and taught at the Medes school in 2010. We think someone should pick up her life story as a sitcom, but in the meantime, you get to enjoy the wild and wacky things she has seen! =D Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq! Or email us with questions or comments at [email protected].
Getting Exercise in Iraq - Work it Out
November 12, 2020 21:50 - 23 minutes - 18.7 MBHannah and Colleen talk about how they found ways to exercise in Iraq and the cultural stereotypes that accompany men's and women's opportunities to exercise. Should you bring a Wii? Should you plan to run a marathon?
Church, People!
October 02, 2020 18:51 - 24 minutes - 19.4 MBColleen and Hannah talk about what "going to church" looked like in Iraq. A lot of people have questions about this and a lot of preconceived ideas about what it means to be a Christian living in a pre-dominantly Muslim country. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq! Send us comments or questions at [email protected]!
Iraq in the time of COVID
September 15, 2020 18:59 - 21 minutes - 17.4 MBHannah and Colleen take you on a trip through the current state of life in Iraq as seen through reports of team members and our former students. Unlike most episodes, this is a little more current news! Learn more about joining our teams over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah with comments or questions at [email protected].
Super Sour Surprise!
July 14, 2020 21:46 - 20 minutes - 16.3 MBLemon, sumac, unripe fruit, pickles... sour food is overwhelmingly popular in Kurdistan. Hannah and Colleen chat about all the foods that make your mouth pucker and water in Kurdistan. Go grab your jar of pickles and join us in the culinary journey through sour foods in Iraqi Kurdistan! Learn more about joining our teams over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq or email Hannah with comments or questions at [email protected].
Gender Rules in the Middle East - Men and Women in North Iraq
June 22, 2020 22:00 - 25 minutes - 21.2 MBHannah and Colleen share their experiences of the roles and rules around what it means to be a man or a woman (or boy or girl) in Kurdish culture. Expectations and limitations for both men and women are a bit different than our experiences in the United States and anyone thinking to visit would do well to know what they might be getting into. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq [email protected]
Social Media in the Middle East
June 08, 2020 21:24 - 26 minutes - 21.2 MBHannah and Colleen explore the difficult and sometimes humorous world of social media in Iraq. If you've never had a new Facebook friend go through all ten years of your photos and comments and like or comment on every single one, you should check this out! If you have... join us anyway to see your social media posts in a new light. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq [email protected]
Cleanliness is Next To Godliness - Being Clean in Iraq
May 06, 2020 17:43 - 27 minutes - 22.3 MBColleen and Hannah talk about how the idea of cleanliness has some interesting cultural rules and expectations in Northern Iraq that make people mop their patios daily but throw trash in the street. What is clean and what is not? How important is being clean? How did we adapt our lives and practices to their cultural standards and did we fight against it? Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to [email protected]!
HospitaliTEA - Kurdish Hospitality
April 01, 2020 15:29 - 35 minutes - 28.1 MBHannah and Colleen talk about the beautiful extravagance of Kurdish hospitality and walk you through what it's like to go on a visit to a Kurdish or Middle Eastern home. Hospitality is a key cultural value and is both generous and overwhelming in Northern Iraq and sometimes even when we visit our Middle Eastern friends in the U.S.! Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to [email protected]!
Crisis, Isis, and Corona Virus!
March 11, 2020 22:03 - 29 minutes - 23.9 MBHannah and Colleen talk about how Kurdish people respond to different kinds of crisis. Some big, some small, some medical, and some military -- the Kurds have seen it all and we have gained some perspective from them. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq
The Cash Economy in Iraq
December 13, 2019 18:45 - 31 minutes - 25.1 MBIn the US we're pretty used to using our credit cards to pay for things and we're adding all sorts of new electronic payment methods. But in Northern Iraq, nearly everything is still done in cash. Hannah and Colleen discuss a few of the multitude of reasons for this, but more about the effect it has on every day life and how everyone navigates multiple currencies!
Sherma and Shame in Iraqi Kurdistan
November 19, 2019 22:31 - 25 minutes - 20.9 MBHannah and Colleen chat about several key terms in Kurdish language and culture: sherma, aiba, and haram. All have meanings that connect to honor, shame, and what is allowable and what is forbidden. Cultural expectations and norms are part of what can be a challenge for a westerner. This podcast explores their shades of meaning and how we perceived them as we lived in the region.
Taking the Kids to Iraq - An Interview with Robin
November 05, 2019 20:28 - 22 minutes - 18.3 MBHannah and Colleen interview Robin, who (with her husband, Dave) took her two kids to live in Iraq. What did this do to her kids? Her family and their relationships? Listen to us ask her all about her stories and adventures from when she and her family lived in Iraq. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org or ask questions by emailing Hannah at [email protected].
Getting a Visa in Kurdish Iraq
October 22, 2019 17:32 - 35 minutes - 28.6 MBHannah and Colleen chat about the various steps to the ever changing process of getting residency in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. This isn't the nuts and bolts, just the experiences from our perspective of foreign bureaucracy and how to walk through it. We are so grateful for our Kurdish friends who made it possible for us to navigate and made sure the government received all the correct paperwork. Ask questions or contact us at [email protected]! Learn more over at ServantGr...
Living on a Prayer - the blessings and challenges of living on support
September 17, 2019 20:09 - 32 minutes - 27.4 MBHannah and Colleen talk about the blessings and challenges of living on support and what that is. How do we deal with fear, trust, and other people's perceptions? How do we thrive in community as part of the body of Christ and what is the holy handshake? This episode is a personal look at many years of living through the provision and care of God through the generosity of others. Ask questions or contact us at [email protected]! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.
What's Age Got to Do With It?
August 15, 2019 19:55 - 23 minutes - 19 MBHannah and Colleen bemoan their grey hairs but also wish they'd had some more of them while living in Iraq. They discuss the pros and cons of being younger or older while living abroad, and how you don't have to be one or the other to serve with us in Iraq! Ask questions or contact us at [email protected]! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.
How to Tell Your Parents You are Moving Overseas
July 30, 2019 21:58 - 26 minutes - 21.5 MBIn this episode of our podcast, Between Iraq and a Hard Place, Hannah and Colleen tell the stories of how they told their parents that they were applying to go with Servant Group International to go to Iraq. They also have some advice for how to tell (or maybe more accurately, how NOT to tell) your parents that you want to live overseas. We've counseled numerous people through this sticky process and definitely don't recommend telling your parents like a baby gender reveal.
It's a Wedding!
June 19, 2019 21:48 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MBHannah and Colleen just got back from a wedding, and it's June! So they chat about their various wedding experiences in Northern Iraq, complete with fireworks, cars, photographs, and loud music! Check out some video footage of a wedding: https://youtu.be/PZfB_AXBMzI?t=1153 To learn more check us out at www.ServantGroup.org! Ask questions by emailing us at [email protected].
What is it Like Parenting Internationally?
May 29, 2019 18:23 - 27 minutes - 23.2 MBHannah interviews our director, John, and his wife, Mary, about how they became parents while living in Iraq and what it was like raising their family there. Living in Iraq has unique challenges for parents. Want to join us? We're always looking for more adventurous families to join our teams in Iraq, Greece, and Nashville! Check out our website for more info! www.ServantGroup.org
Six Things You Can Do to Prepare for Life Overseas
May 14, 2019 14:52 - 43 minutes - 35.2 MBHannah and Colleen share all about the six things you can start doing NOW to get prepared for living overseas. Some of these may seem a bit obvious, others may seem like too much work, but each of these skills we found immensely helpful in our life abroad.
An American Girl Visits Iraq - An Interview with Hannah
April 25, 2019 22:11 - 28 minutes - 23 MBHannah and our Director, John, recently took a trip to Iraq to visit our teams there and to meet up with old friends. So we asked Hannah about the food, the weather, how things are on the ground in North Iraq, and lots more! If you have questions you would like to ask send them to [email protected]. To learn more, check out our website at www.ServantGroup.org.
And Around and Around...
April 09, 2019 19:35 - 28 minutes - 22.7 MBPart two on re-entry! Did you know it supposedly takes as long as you lived in the foreign culture to readjust back to your home culture? And even then, you are permanently changed. There is no simple "There and Back Again". Hannah and Colleen continue their conversation on how to adjust well and also give some tips on how to help your friends who may be going through re-entry! Also, find this post on April 9, 2019 on FB and comment to get yourself an awesome sticker! =D Submit questions...
What Goes Around Comes Around
March 26, 2019 17:28 - 38 minutes - 31.1 MBRe-entry is the evil cousin of culture shock and because it isn't talked about as much, often catches people by surprise. In this episode, Hannah and Colleen share about their own experiences in "coming home" to the United States and the struggles of re-entry. Submit questions or comments to [email protected] or on FB, Instagram, or Twitter. Find out more on the Servant Group International Website: www.ServantGroup.org.
Culture Shock Part 2
March 05, 2019 22:10 - 22 minutes - 18 MBSo now that you know all about what culture shock is (see part 1!) now it's time to learn how we responded to it and what are ways to cope and come through. If you have questions or comments please send them to us at [email protected]. Or check us out at www.ServantGroup.org or search for Servant Group International on the main social media platforms. =D
Culture Shock, Part 1
February 19, 2019 21:33 - 26 minutes - 21.7 MBCulture shock is a bit of misnomer, but we're jumping in and using it to help everyone understand what they or their friends go through when living in a foreign culture for an extended period of time. Obviously not everyone follows the same path or has exactly the same reactions, but these are things we've experienced and are reported as common. Learn more on our website: www.ServantGroup.org Ask questions or give feedback to [email protected] Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter...
On the Road? Again?
January 30, 2019 23:08 - 37 minutes - 30.2 MBAnd we're back! Hannah and Colleen share a bit about travel back and forth to Iraq. It's hotels, airports, and lots of hours on the airplane. But if you are wondering how to get there, we know how! Please send comments and questions to [email protected] and check out our website at www.ServantGroup.org! You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook under Servant Group International.
Americans Don't Travel Well
December 05, 2018 19:56 - 28 minutes - 23.1 MBHannah and Colleen rant a bit about the very annoying Americans they have met or seen in Iraq or in airports flying to and from Iraq. These are the cons of Americans abroad and then some of the good things we bring along with us too! Join us over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq Ask questions or give comments at [email protected].
The Square Root of Learning - Iraqi Education
November 20, 2018 23:07 - 33 minutes - 26.9 MBHannah and Colleen traipse through the world of Iraqi Education! What are public schools? What are private schools? How are things run differently? All these questions and MORE! Learn more over at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq. Ask questions or send comments to [email protected].
We Don't Actually Hate Animals... Probably.
November 06, 2018 22:21 - 30 minutes - 24.5 MBHannah and Colleen talk about their many encounters with animals in Northern Iraq, from pets to wild animals, zoos and circuses to flocks in the mountains. Hannah really does hate birds as pets, and neither mind the cats and dogs owned by their friends. Really! It's just that the animal situation in Iraq is very different than in the U.S. For more information: www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq Send questions and comments to [email protected].
It's Electric!
October 23, 2018 18:10 - 29 minutes - 23.6 MBOne of our favorite topics about Iraq is all the ELECTRICITY! Also, the lack of it. It's one of those things that we in the U.S. definitely take for granted and see as our right. Not so in Iraq! Power outages are common and wiring is... creative. =) (Also, there is conversation about the electric slide, which has nothing to do with the actual electricity.) For questions, comments, or suggestions email us at [email protected]. To learn more, check out www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq
The History of Iraq - Part 2
October 09, 2018 17:18 - 31 minutes - 26.1 MBHannah and Colleen continue with Director Dave on their jaunt through history. This episode covers from World War I through to almost present day. They also continue the debate about which Carolina is best. Please send any questions about this material to [email protected]. Read more about how you can join us in Iraq at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq.
The History of Iraq - Part 1
September 28, 2018 17:26 - 29 minutes - 24 MBHannah and Colleen have another guest, SGI Director, Dave Dillard, on to talk about the patterns and history of Iraq. Part one takes us from the Garden of Eden up through World War I. Please send any questions about this material to [email protected]. Read more about how you can join us in Iraq at www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq.
Mystery and Minority Religions in North Iraq
September 15, 2018 18:18 - 34 minutes - 27.5 MBMany people think that everyone in Iraq is Muslim. And it's true that the majority are. Some people know of some of the Christians even. But there's a long history and heritage of minority religions in Iraq. Hannah and Colleen ran into a few themselves traveling around the area and Hannah actually did some pretty thorough research on the ones they talk about here: Yezidi, Yarsani, and Zoroastrians. Learn more in the blog posts Hannah wrote about Mystery religions over on the Servant Group B...
Is it Secret? Is it Safe?
August 28, 2018 15:00 - 32 minutes - 26.2 MBHannah and Colleen finally dive into the question you have all really been wondering about. Is it safe? What they really wanted to do was give you the statistics about how likely you are to be killed by car accidents, falling pianos, or even your own clothing... but they didn't. Instead, they chat about guards, guns, blast walls, and how they didn't wear bullet proof vests while living in Northern Iraq. Also, what to do when your school principal hands you an AK47 to move to a different offic...
Keep Your Shirt On (and Tucked!)
August 14, 2018 17:20 - 33 minutes - 26.8 MBHannah and Colleen address one of the most commonly asked questions about living in Iraq: "Do you have to cover your head?" And they give a rough overview of women's clothing in the Middle East with a focus on what they saw and wore in Northern Iraq. Then also a brief chat about men's clothing. For traditional Kurdish clothing head to Episode 5! https://between-iraq-and-a-hard-place.podigee.io/5-beacons-have-been-lit Learn more about life in Iraq and how you could join our team at www.Serv...