The Korek Mountain Resort & Spa Bekhal, Rawandoz , Kurdistan – IRAQ 44009
2
+964 750 245 8888 / +964 750 902 6161 Email: fo@thekorekmountain.com
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
3
Letter From
The Editor
Jimmie Collins Editor-in-Chief
An American living in the Kurdistan Region for three years, Jimmie Collins has a vibrant social life, a husband, two massive dogs, and no where near enough free time to do all the things she loves. However, she always makes time for food. Circuit Magazine is a hobby turned passion meant to help share Kurdistan's social scene with anyone who would enjoy it.
So many things have happened since the last issue was released. Some were good things some were not. The world over has seen some major changes and I’m sure before this issue is replaced by the next, we’ll all be wondering what happened again. That said, we keep moving. We keep doing our thing. I think it’s only right. What’s the point of it all if we don’t? However, I’ll not bother your with existentialism. Instead we’ll get right to it. It’s winter. It’s rainy and cold. First things first, don’t complain. Keep in mind there are camps full of people less fortunate than you or I and they could certainly use a helping hand. We’ve highlighted another organization this issue that is helping as much as they can and you can help too. We’ve also outlined a few places you can go play during the winter. If you’re lucky we’ll get some snow here pretty soon. I missed out on the big “snowstorm” last year, but this year I’m looking forward to it. Most people are surprised to find snow at all much less actual snow activities to participate in. Of course the holiday season is not to be ignored. If you haven’t made friends yet or they’re all abandoning you while they go off gallivanting around the globe, make new friends! That’s what EPIC, SPICE, and DICE are there for. Even if you’re in Kurdistan for work instead of at home with your family, you can find a bit of that holiday cheer here. If you’re really nice, someone might adopt you into their celebrations for Christmas and New Year. The longer I’m here the more it feels like home, like the place I’m supposed to be, at least for now. I have a great “family” here. It may be a bit unorthodox, but it functions more or less the same. I hope that for each of you this holiday season as well. Enjoy the Circuit,
4
Circuit Magazine
In This Issue Travel & Leisure:
Korek Mountain Resort
....Page 12
Chai Noomi Basra
....Page 21
Recipe: Kleacha
....Page 22
Food: Issue 6: Winter 2015-16 Editor-in-Chief Jimmie Collins Publisher Lana Yaqo Oliver Writers Luke Coleman Jimmie Collins Lana Yaqo Oliver Jeremy Oliver Tim Saltgrass Photographers Adam Mirani Nils Henrik Designers Jimmie Collins Shara Kenworthey Marketing Department Jeremy Oliver Sabah Makki Contact: info@erbilonline.info
Holidays: Deutscher Hof Christmas Market ....Page 24 Celebrating the Festive Season With Rotana ....Page 28 A Man’s Guide to Valentine’s Day ....Page 35 Business Profile:
Starlight International
....Page 38
Life Support Team
....Page 42
Community:
Critical Needs Support Foundation ....Page 46
Feature: Alan Omer: Representing Kurds in the UFC Octagon
...Page 48
Cover photo provided by: Adam Mirani Special thanks to:
Circuit Magazine is a subsidiary of BWFW Services Co.
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
5
Sundays
BBQ Night @ Erbil Rotana Wine Fest @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Mondays
Quiz Night @ T Bar Curry Night @ Erbil Rotana
Tuesdays
Cocktail Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food Banger Night @ Bar52 Mexican Tuesday @ Erbil Rotana Thirst Tuesday @ Tangram
Wednesdays
The After Work Party @ Deutscher Hof Jazz & Blues Night @ Bar52 Wine-o Wednesdays @ T Bar Date Night @ DC Steakhouse
Daily Happy Hours 4-6 @ T-Bar 6-8 @ Bar52 6-8 @ DC Steakhouse 6-9 @ TangramĂs Olive Inn
Check the Circuit Magazine Facebook page for upcoming December events.
Thursdays
Party Hard all over town!
The Last Laugh @ Bar52 Seafood Night @ Erbil Rotana Thursday Party @ T Bar Bonfire Chill Out Night @ Deutscher Hof Frozen Thursday @ Tangram
Fridays
Family Lunch @ Rotana German Brunch @ Deutscher Hof BBQ Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Saturdays
Open-Mic Night @ Bar52 Cocktail Night @ T-bar Sport Night @ Deutscher Hof
6
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
7
Sundays
BBQ Night @ Erbil Rotana Wine Fest @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Mondays
Quiz Night @ T Bar Curry Night @ Erbil Rotana
Tuesdays
Cocktail Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food Banger Night @ Bar52 Mexican Tuesday @ Erbil Rotana Thirst Tuesday @ Tangram
Wednesdays
The After Work Party @ Deutscher Hof Jazz & Blues Night @ Bar52 Wine-o Wednesdays @ T Bar Date Night @ DC Steakhouse
Daily Happy Hours 4-6 @ T-Bar 6-8 @ Bar52 6-8 @ DC Steakhouse 6-9 @ Tang ramĂs Olive Inn
Check the Circuit Magazine Facebook page for upcoming January events.
Thursdays
Party Hard all over town!
The Last Laugh @ Bar52 Seafood Night @ Erbil Rotana Thursday Party @ T Bar Bonfire Chill Out Night @ Deutscher Hof Frozen Thursday @ Tangram
Fridays
Family Lunch @ Rotana German Brunch @ Deutscher Hof BBQ Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Saturdays
Open-Mic Night @ Bar52 Cocktail Night @ T-bar Sport Night @ Deutscher Hof
8
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
9
Sundays
BBQ Night @ Erbil Rotana Wine Fest @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Mondays
Quiz Night @ T Bar Curry Night @ Erbil Rotana
Tuesdays
Cocktail Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food Banger Night @ Bar52 Mexican Tuesday @ Erbil Rotana Thirst Tuesday @ Tangram
Wednesdays
The After Work Party @ Deutscher Hof Jazz & Blues Night @ Bar52 Wine-o Wednesdays @ T Bar Date Night @ DC Steakhouse
Daily Happy Hours 4-6 @ T-Bar 6-8 @ Bar52 6-8 @ DC Steakhouse 6-9 @ Tang ramĂs Olive Inn
Check the Circuit Magazine Facebook page for upcoming February events.
Thursdays
Party Hard all over town!
The Last Laugh @ Bar52 Seafood Night @ Erbil Rotana Thursday Party @ T Bar Bonfire Chill Out Night @ Deutscher Hof Frozen Thursday @ Tangram
Fridays
Family Lunch @ Rotana German Brunch @ Deutscher Hof BBQ Night @ American Bar w/ Greek Food
Saturdays
Open-Mic Night @ Bar52 Cocktail Night @ T-bar Sport Night @ Deutscher Hof
10
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
11
Korek Mountain Resort & Spa Kurdistan’s Unique Winter Destination
12
Circuit Magazine
Travel & Leisure
By Jimmie Collins
Photo credit Adam Mirani
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
When it comes to traveling in the Erbil province of Kurdistan, I’ve been to most of the major attractions several times. I’ve probably even managed to visit each one during every season, not that waterfalls are really the greatest winter destinations. Kurdistan isn’t really the first place anyone thinks about during winter, but it actually offers a number of places that can be quite interesting and honestly surprising. There’s a lot more snow around here than most people think and getting up into the mountains is the best way to enjoy it. There are a fair number of places to hike around and have a snowball fight or make snow angels. How many people do you know that can say they made a snow angel in Iraq? One place we make sure we visit each winter is Korek Mountain. While I’ve visited the mountain on several day-trips, I’ve only just had my first chance to stay at the Korek Mountain Resort and Spa. We arrived at the base station for the Korek Teleferic, loaded ourselves and all of our luggage onto one of the enclosed cable cars, and took the trip to the top all the while enjoying a lovely night-time view of the city of Rawanduz. The Teleferic (an enclosed aerial Continued >>
13
14
Circuit Magazine
lift) is a gorgeous and relaxing ride starting at 700 meters at the base station and reaching 1690 meters at the top (but there’s more mountain even further up). The ride is 3.7 kilometers long, crossing over two valleys, and takes around 12 minutes. That’s a long time to look around at the gorgeous mountains, one of the best things Kurdistan has to offer. Just don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights as the cars float 75 meters above the ground. At the top of the lift, the staff helped us take all of our belongings off the lift and put them into a Toyota Landcruiser while we went to check in. We were two couples (and a baby) so we decided to take two single-bedroom apartments just across the hall from one another. After check-in, we piled into the Landcruiser and the driver took us even further up the hill
Photo credit Adam Mirani
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
to our apartments which are in rows of villas over looking the reception and main lodge. The apartments each had a bedroom, private bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a living room with the most adorable fireplace, and a balcony. There are also two-bedroom and three-bedroom villas. After we settled in, we asked to be taken back down to Chiyai Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dinner menu includes local Kurdish favorites, a select few Indian dishes, as well as pasta and steaks. They’re more than wiling to take personal requests if you want your dish a little spicier (or less) or if you have specific dietary needs. While dinner was being prepared, we took the baby over to the kids playroom in the lodge where he Continued >>
Photo credit Adam Mirani
15
Photo credit Adam Mirani
played with the toys and crawled around on the carpeted floor. We also enjoyed sitting by the indoor fire pit and warming our hands. After finishing dinner, chai, and coffee, we got another quick ride up to our apartments, changed into warm pajamas, and settled in. The apartments come with Wi-fi and TVs, but we decided to stay disconnected for the first night so that we could truly take advantage of the peace and quiet. For our entertainment, we brought along some wine, other drinks,
16
basic snacks, and some games. The rooms have packs of bottled water and a small mini bar with sodas, candy and nuts. You can also call for 24-7 in-room service if there is something you need. A few games of UNO later, the apartment warmed up and we were all tired from the drive up. The following morning, I woke up and walked out onto the balcony to find the clearest and most beautiful view of Bradost Mountain and the entire Rawanduz Valley. The mountains farther into the
distance were snowcapped and the air was crisp and clean. It was exactly the kind of morning I had been looking forward to. I made a cup of tea and got ready to go down to the restaurant again for the inclusive breakfast. Korek Mountain Resort offers a few attractions at the top of the hill near the lodge including a few amusement park rides. My favorite is the SkyGlider on which you get to fly like Superman. There is also a paintball arena, a Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
Photo credit Adam Mirani
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
17
playground for kids, a look-out tower, a ski shop, and a spa. The Lower Second Street of the resort is being developed into a bit of a happening area with new features being phased in over the seasons. Upcoming features include a mini-market, a cafĂŠ with room service, and barbecue stations were guests can make their own barbecue using the charcoal grills throughout the park-like area. A full gymnasium with sections for men and women as well as the spa will be opening on the Lower Second Street. The spa, scheduled to open in February 2016, will be managed by an international staff offering a sauna and massage (including couples massages). The highly professional team from India, Thailand and The Philippines will prescribe treatments to guest for relaxation and stress Continued >>
18
Circuit Magazine
busting. The spa will also host Rejuvenation Camps with yoga, special diets and holistic programs. Korek is also well-placed as a starting point to venture to other local sites including Bekhal (9 km away) and Gali Ali Beg waterfall, as well as the cities of Rawanduz and Soran. I highly suggest taking a weekend trip out to Korek arriving there on Thursday evening and relaxing. On Friday, take the day to explore the mountain and all the amenities the resort has to offer. Then on Saturday on your way back to the city, leave early after breakfast and stop along the way at all the interesting sites to see. During Christmas and New Year holidays, the resort will have live music performances and special activities and will offer all-inclusive packages for guests. Make sure to mention Circuit for a special discount.
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
19
20
Circuit Magazine
Food
Chai Noomi Basra: Iraqi Home Medicine By Jimmie Collins
Here in the Middle East, most households keep a stock of Noomi Basra, or dried limes. They’re used in local cooking, particularly in stews or rice when you’re looking for a bit of a sour flavor. The “black limes”, as they’re often described, offer a smoky tartness, but careful, the seeds are overwhelmingly bitter. The winters in Kurdistan tend to be cold and wet. The cement buildings make it all but impossible to stay warm even inside. It’s a recipe for ending up sick. There are about a million home remedies for curing illnesses or at least alleviating the symptoms, but you know what they say, “When in Rome.” Noomi Basra are often used in Iraq for medicinal purposes as they’re packed with Vitamin C, so they’re often used as a cold remedy. They’re also rumored to help alleviate digestive issues or bowel irritation. (If you get my drift…) It’s quite a simple idea. Just infuse the dried lime with boiling water and you have a sort of herbal tea.
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
I asked around for methods to find out if there were any specifics you need to know and I found there are about as many ways to make the tea as there are people to make it. Here are the basics. Put a kettle or pot of water on to boil. Once it’s rolling, add the noomi. Here’s where things change depending on who you ask. Some suggest putting it in whole, others say to poke a couple of holes with a fork or knife, and some say to crush it into small pieces. If you decide to crush it, be sure to fish out all the seeds or you’ll be in for an unpleasantly bitter tea. Let the noomi infuse in the simmering water for around 10-15 minutes (some say longer, but I’m impatient). It’s best with a bit of sugar or honey to offset the tartness. Once you get passed the first few tart sips, you get used to the flavor. While the tea may be medicinal, it’s also extremely warming and nice on a rainy, winter day.
21
22
Circuit Magazine
Food
For the dough: 6 cups of flour 1 tsp. salt ¾ cup melted butter and ½ cup shortening 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. ground cardamom splash of vanilla (or vanillin powder) 1 tsp. yeast 1 tsp. sugar ½ cup warm water 2 cups of milk
Kleacha
Iraqi Date and Walnut Cookies Perfect for Any Occasion
By Lana Yaqo Oliver
Kleacha (pronounced “Clay-Jah”) is a traditional pastry that all the Iraqi Kurds, Assyrians and Arabs bake during the holiday seasons, such as Christmas, Easter, Eid Al-Fitir and Eid Al-Adha. It’s also very popular around other parts of the Arab World. It’s an old tradition for which the recipes and techniques are usually passed from one generation to another. It’s simply a dough filled with a date paste or walnuts, although some people do coconut and sesame fillings too. It’s typical for families to bake a large batch of the cookies all at once and then store them in the freezer so they can pull them out whenever they need. People normally serve these delightful cookies with tea for guests who visit during the holidays. Some of the ingredients vary from one home to another, but my mother taught me to make Kleacha with this recipe.
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
In a small bowl prepare the yeast by mixing the yeast, sugar and warm water. Set aside. Mix the first 5 ingredients and start kneading the dough by adding the milk gradually. When the yeast gets foamy, dump it in the dough mixture and keep kneading until the dough is soft (but not sticky) and everything is well mixed together. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and cover it with a cloth, allow the dough to rise for 2 hours. Fillings: Walnuts chopped up and mixed with some sugar to sweeten. Prepared date paste (or make your own with the following steps) 4 cups pitted whole dates 1/8 cup oil 1 cup water ½ tsp. ground cardamom Put ingredients into a pot, bring to a boil, and let simmer until it turns into a soft sticky paste. Set aside to cool flattened out on a plate. Assembly: For the date-filled cookies, roll dough into a thin layer (about 1/8 inch) into a big square or round shape, spread the date mixture all over. Roll it up tightly like a cinnamon roll and slice 1-inch pieces. Lay them on the tray, the same way they were sliced. Brush the tops with beaten egg then bake until browned on preheated 375°F oven until dough is cooked and they are golden brown. For the walnut-filled cookies, take some of the dough and spread it on the work surface with a rolling pin. Cut circles using a cookie cutter or a glass. Put 1 teaspoon of the walnut filling in the middle of the circle. Fold circle in half-moon shape. Crimp the edges. Arrange on a pan. Brush with egg wash and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
23
Holidays
Deutscher Hof C hristmas Market By Jimmie Collins
There is a long line of traditions that take place each year at the Deutscher Hof Restaurant and Bar in Ainkawa. Most of these traditions come in the form of celebrations that have a foothold in European celebrations, especially Germany. Christmas time at the Deutscher Hof is certainly no time to skimp. Throughout the month of December, you can sample glühwein – a mulled wine served warm – as well as other Christmas fare. There are bonfires and decorations that really get you into the Christmas spirit. But it wouldn’t be a German Christmas without a Christmas Market. Each year for one weekend, the beer garden morphs into a Christmas playground with booths to make crafts and purchase Christmas goods or play games. You’ll find German sausages and, of course, the aforementioned glühwein. The atmosphere is family-friendly with a visit from Santa Claus and an opportunity to have pictures taken. And ‘tis the season to be giving after all. Donations are accepted throughout the weekend and a portion of the profits, including those from the market booths, go toward helping those in need, typically helping orphan children and refugees in the region. So come by to bask in the twinkling lights, warm up next to the fire and get into the Christmas spirit. This year’s German Christmas Market will take place December 11.
24
Circuit Magazine
Photo credit Nils Henrik
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
25
26
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
27
Holidays
Celebrating the Festive Season With Rotana Hotel Erbil By Jimmie Collins
Whether you’re in Kurdistan for a rotational shift or you spend most (or even all) of your year here, being away from home at the holidays can be a bit difficult. There’s something about not hearing Christmas carols every single place you go that makes you wonder if Christmas and the New Year really are just around the corner. Without a Starbuck’s Gingerbread Latte to bring in the winter and Black Friday to force you into shopping madness, is it really that time of year? OK fine, I could certainly do without Black Friday, but either way, putting together proper holiday festivities can be a challenge. Luckily, Rotana Hotel
28
has put together a number of activities and parties leading up and through the holiday season to help put you in the mood and help you celebrate. I remember when I was a kid it was always my favorite thing to go and see all of the Christmas lights around town. On December 12th, Rotana will be hosting a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony where you can see the hotel turn into a Christmas wonderland right in front of your eyes. To help with gifts, stop by the Bond Bar between December 10th and January 8th, where Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
29
you’ll find a Gingerbread House and plenty of arrangements and goodies to select from. Now depending on where you’re from, some people celebrate Christmas in the evening on the 24th and some people celebrate all day on the 25th. On December 24th, Rotana will host Christmas Eve Dinners. At Flavours Buffet you can enjoy an International festive buffet and at Basilico Italian Restaurant there will be a specially created Italian set menu. Throughout the night there will be carol singing and children can look forward to a visit from Santa Claus. Both options are $55 per person inclusive of wine and soft drinks, but children are discounted or free depending on their age. If you prefer to celebrate Christmas on December 25th, take advantage of Rotana’s Christmas lunch specials. This is also an excellent option for a kid-friendly adventure. Flavours Buffet will offer a global festive buffet with traditional Christmas favorites and delicacies. Santa will be hanging around for kids to take pictures with. There will also be cotton candy, face painting and other fun and games for children. Once Christmas is over, you have a week to recover and then get ready for the New Year and all of your resolutions. But you have one last night Continued >>
30
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
31
to be bad. Rotana is hosting three separate events on New Year’s Eve to appeal to different tastes. The first option for ringing in the New Year is a Classical Italian Night at Basilico, which offers a 4-course set menu for $80 per person. An organ and violin duo will play through the night, and the countdown to midnight will be complemented by a glass of Italian sparkling wine. If you want a little more spring in your step when kicking out 2015, you might choose to celebrate at the Bond Bar downstairs. The lounge bar will turn into a dance floor with a live Colombian band and live dancers. The drinks will be flowing at the open bar at a price of $140 per person. Private tables can be reserved with a minimum of six people in a group. The most exciting party of the night will be at Rotana’s Arabic-style restaurant, Al-Bustan. A set menu will be offered while the restaurant’s resident Oud player, Amir, serenades the venue. At midnight, Amir will be joined by the singer, Raffa, and an entertaining belly dancing show. The price, including open bar, is $220 per person.
32
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
33
Ankawa Royal Hotel, one of the finest business hotels in Erbil, is strategically located within minutes from the International Airport and the golden Triangle business and commercial center as well. We combine style, innovation and 24/7 convenience to create a perfectly seamless stay with every modern comfort you deserve.
ELEGANT ENTRANCE TO LUXURIOUS LIFE
Ainkawa Main road , Mar yousif St., Darga Roundabout Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq M: +964 771 4781515 T: +964 66 6251205 info@ankawaroyalhotel.com 34 www.ankawaroyalhotel.com
Circuit Magazine
Holidays
A Valentine’s Day Guide
From a Man’s Perspective By Jeremy Oliver
Despite the fact that we’re all the way in Kurdistan, every man in town has to be reminded of Valentine’s Day. You remember, the holiday of “love” celebrated every February 14th. Every woman awaits the pampering and inevitably one of us will slip up and fail to meet expectations, so I’ve compiled a little reminder and some tips from a seasoned ex-pat living in Kurdistan on how to get through it here. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, the first working day of the week here, which will just
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
add to the frustration of putting it all together and holding it all together, but don’t worry, I’ve got you. A few things every man must remember: 1. Flower(s) Gift(s) 2. Dinner 3. Attention to detail 4. Giving selflessly Continued >>
35
Now all of these can be done at a variety of levels. For example, you can pick a flower from a field or buy one off a kid at a 100 Meter Road intersection, or you can go the more classy route and score a dozen roses from one of the many fine flower shops in Erbil, but make sure to get them before they’re gone. Often times they run out before the big day, especially roses and carnations. I personally recommend the shop in the lower floor of the “Lebanese Beauty Center” building on Shoresh Quarter near Royal Mall. They have good quality flowers and arrangements. For the more desperation-infused, last-minute man, it’s also a great location because of the jewelry store right next door. But remember, you can select an arrangement well in advance of the February 14th holiday, so don’t mess around. Making your flower and gift choices earlier will allow you to put more focus into the date. That takes care of the flowers and potentially the gift. Dinner is a bit trickier. My suggestion is to choose a place that is quaint and quiet so that you can give full attention to your date. Considering the down-
36
turn in the economy, it’s a bit easier these days to find a quiet place. It’s best to pick something that both fits in your budget and fits with your and your date’s style. Don’t go all out fancy just for the sake of doing so. If your date isn’t into fancy places, then you might just end up stressing her out. But if she’s into the real fancy stuff and you take her to a kebab shop, she might never call you again. For those who want to go high end and really impress their dates, I recommend the Divan Hotel (literally any of the fine dining restaurants inside). Whether you choose Qi21 (the sushi restaurant on the 21st floor with an amazing view of the whole city) or Seasons Buffet, the ambience is amazing and it has a feel of prestige. The service is always great and that is certainly a plus when trying to keep your stress levels down. If you would like to take a slightly more economic route, I recommend DC Steakhouse. The atmosphere is also very nice and the food is fantastic if you and your date like American-style Steakhouse Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
treats or even local cuisine. Each year, DC Steakhouse hosts a special menu for Valentine’s Day and usually have live music for added entertainment. On the complete other end of the spectrum and equally as classy is cooking a nice gourmet dinner. Choose a quiet beautiful location (preferably one that you know a story about or you and your date have history), and put together a gourmet, three-course meal and pour a couple of glasses of wine. A secluded dinner always impresses. Guys remember, pay close attention to detail. If this is a new love, try to be attentive without being overbearing or creepy. Keep it light, but focused, and end the evening while things are going great. This way she will want to spend more time with you in the future. If your love has matured with the years like old married men like me, then the night is all about the wife. Full attention to detail is necessary and the night doesn’t end until you have pampered her beyond recognition. You can throw in other items to the list, but you must remember the four important points listed above. Most importantly, don’t forget: Plan in advance and be ready. Like all other great reasons to celebrate, planning prevents disaster.
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
37
Business Profile
Starlight International Providing For Clients Even During Difficult Times By Lana Yaqo Oliver
I first met Mr. Firoz Majeeth at the German Restaurant where I often see him with clients from the oil & gas industry. We had a little chat about the company he works for and the services they provide for other companies in the KRG and also many other countries. Mr. Majeeth is the Regional Manager for Starlight International heading offices in both Dubai and Kurdistan. He started working with the company five years ago and played a big role in establishing the business in the Middle East, especially in the UAE and Kurdistan. Starlight International is affiliated with Al-Abdulkarim Holding (AKH), based in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest of its kind in the country. It has more than 1800 employees who have intense knowledge about their products and can offer the best solutions. The company is specialized in the supply of oilfield equipment, electrical instrumen-
38
tation and telecommunication for upstream as well as downstream, and supports many of the major operators here in all of their locations. The company represents more than 150 international companies  in Saudi Arabia, GCC countries, Iraq, Jordan, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, UK, France India, Libya, Egypt and USA. The Group has a network of branches and warehouses in KSA, UAE, Libya, Qatar, Bahrain, UK, USA, Italy, China, Japan and Kazakhstan and has 35 years of experience serving these markets. Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim is the president of Starlight International Company and the vice chairman for AKH. He received his degree in London and specialized in Business Administration. AKH significantly invests in human resource development for its services, which is in-line with supporting the busiContinued >>
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
39
ness growth and challenges they always strive to rise to, aiming to satisfy all of their customers’ needs. The Erbil branch was established in 2013. They started the business providing services for the oil and gas sector in 2014, which was a very successful year despite the fact that the security situation was unstable in the area. There were many other challenges too but the company managed to grow and maintain good relations with the operators in the KRG. Mr. Majeeth also talked about Mr. Al-Abdulkarim’s future goals in the KRG and said that they’re looking forward to working with several operators to provide great services that meet all the international standards for various types of materials. He also mentioned that they are focusing on hiring more local nationals and conducting different kinds of trainingprograms for them to be fully prepared in their jobs. It is a very important part of Starlight’s vision to give back to the community and focus heavily on the socio-economic aspects of operating in foreign countries.
40
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
41
OIL WORLD INTERNATIONAL SMART, CREATIVE, COST EFFECTIVE We do work for some of the biggest names in the oil and gas industry. Oil World International (OWI) specializing in smart service providers that makes a difference
Camp Construction & Life Support
Logistics
OWI is an indigenous company which provides various products and technical services to the Energy industry. At OWI, we focus on excellence. In addition to this, we have employed proven business strategies, which distinguish our quality of services. Management team with vast experience in Power and Energy Sector Employee proven business strategies to distinguish our quality of service Encourage "hands-on", dynamic and entrepreneurial management style Maintain a work environment that motivates and rewards employees Evaluate research and development of technological advances in the industry Deliver novel technology of products and services Committed to safe system of work, safe equipment, personal protective equipment and appropriate training to all staff to ensure that gains derivable are adequately harnessed
Industrial Maintenance -
Services for NGOs
English village, Villa #228 Erbil, Kurdistan Iraq info@oilworldintl.com www.oilworldintl.com 42
Oil & Gas Services Circuit Magazine
Business Profile
LST’s Growth Supporting Kurdistan By Tim Saltgrass
Life Support Team celebrated its fifth anniversary providing medical services to the international community this year. They have established a service that is second to none in their opinion, and indeed the opinion of many others. So they decided to celebrate their achievements in the Rotana Hotel on the 06th November 2015. They invited guests from all areas of industries that use their services and support them completely. They had speakers from the Representative of the Mayor of Erbil and British FCO Consulate General. DNATA Travel and ZagrosJet kindly donated prizes for their free raffle which included flight tickets to Dubai and Turkey and 5-star hotel rooms for two
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
days in Dubai. There were food and drinks available for the more than 100 accumulated guests. The event allowed for a great opportunity for people to network and the evening was a great success enjoyed by all. The main thoughts LST had was to let everyone know where they came from and how they managed to get to where they are today. They feel that it is important for people to know about their beginnings and their growth so that there is a better understanding of what they are and what they represent. They are completely driven by client needs and 100 percent client care in a professional manner not otherwise seen in Iraq from a local provider.
LST’s Beginnings LST’s journey started in the year 2010 when they formed a board of directors/investors with the vision of providing a high quality medical service in Kurdistan, catering mainly to international companies exceeding all others. They understood at that time that the formation of the company would be an uphill struggle but they gained clients and revenue. They had to decide where to start and how to market not only their products but their overall intentions. They started with very humble beginnings having negotiated a one-room office with access to the wards of a local hospital. They also Continued >>
43
purchased one ambulance and set up their own ER in that facility. Their very first international client was a member of the British FCO staff. He was treated by the new LST and had a speedy recovery. This was a great opportunity for them to take care of not only a Western patient, but one from the FCO. This was a make or break situation and of course they made it. As time moved on they had marketed their services and were gaining clients after a great deal of effort and sacrifice was made by all involved at that time. So they made a conscious decision to move to their own facility. The Next Phase LST moved completely to the Italian Village occupying a two-bedroom villa, as they were gaining contracts with the international companies they had to offer a more robust service. They managed to open their own pharmacy with brand-name products only, had in
44
place a General Physician’s room, an Emergency Room, a small lab and physiotherapy. This was the greatest move they could have made being primarily located near most of their potential customer base and having the ability to offer, at last the dream they had envisaged, the best facility and service available in Kurdistan. Little did they know the expansion had only just begun. Reinvesting profits back into the company was paying off and they quickly had to move to stage three occupying a second villa inside Italian Village and they were on their way as they had the ability to expand their services even further. Now they could expand all departments and offer the dreaded, but much needed, dentistry services. The final countdown There they were happy in their new empire then came along the final booster to hit the moon, Sabis University was moving out of their
building. After long discussions and a lot of shouting, it was decided they would move into the much larger facility. There was no way they could pass up on the opportunity to get everything under one roof and expand even further. So here they were making the greatest step to the end of their journey moving into a one-stop shop facility. This was going to take even more hard work and dedication than they had been subject to before. The main problem they had to face is how to move with a smooth transition having minimum impact on their clients. With persistence they achieved the move maintaining their treasured clients with a smile, although internally they were under great pressure. After all the planning, moving, cleaning, restructuring the building and settling in, they were able to expand their services further. So then came along the devastating problem across the Middle East Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
known as Da’esh. LST is proud to have been one of the first responders to the front line supporting the Peshmerga and displaced people since the onslaught of the aforementioned created a nightmare they all needed to support. These efforts supporting the fight and displaced people continue to date with the help of international companies. They have even managed to gain medical care for one of the Peshmerga martyrs families in partnership with TBA, a Jordanian company, offering his widow and three children full medical care covered by insurance for one year. After the Mount Everest-sized struggle LST faced, they are now at the stage where they can offer a complete one stop shop with a full range of services not found in any other facility. They are extremely proud of their achievements and always welcome feedback whether that is positive or negative. Negative feedback, so long as it is constructive allows them to improve even further.
Continued >>
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
45
Community
Critical Needs Support Foundation Helping Those in Dire Need
By Jimmie Collins
More than two million displaced people have inundated the Kurdistan Region over the last few years. Refugees from Syria found help among the Kurds and last year Iraqis began trailing into the region. The lucky ones have family here who will provide them somewhere to live, sharing their home and their hospitality. Others wind up in camps set up by international organizations and the government. More still find themselves holing up in unfinished buildings, no walls, no windows, and certainly no heating. Winters here are cold, wet, and hardly bearable for those with all their income at their disposal. Imagine what it would be like without the luxuries of 24/7 power in the higher-end housing compounds or even a kerosene heater. While refugees could use the help year round, winter brings a level of desperation many didn’t realize they were capable of having. It also reveals needs that many, including the organizations whose mission it is to care for them, hadn’t even considered. “When Da’esh arrived to Kurdistan, I started to see the real needs of people. They get help, but not the real help they need,” says Ammar Faily, the director of the Critical Needs Support Foundation. “I started as a volunteer with an international group going to places that were difficult to get to. For example going on helicopter missions to Shingal. Eventually, it became overwhelming and I started to contact NGOs for help.” While he partnered with several organizations and facilitated a number of programs, Ammar, who is a mere Continued >>
46
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
47
25 years old, eventually decided he needed to start his own fully-registered foundation so that he could professionally provide the services he saw missing. The organization started out focusing on emergency relief, the kind of help that rarely makes it on the list because of the difficulty of reaching the area or the kind of assistance that is needed. Ammar has been on helicopter missions to Shingal to drop off goods to the people who have been trapped there since the city was taken by Da’esh. In coordination with the RISE Foundation, CNSF provided emergency relief of food and fresh water to IDPs (internally displaced people, those who are seeking shelter and safety within their own country) near the Zebiz Bridge. About 1,000 families from the Fallujah were trapped, unable to go back to their homes, but also blocked by the government from crossing the bridge and entering Baghdad. Ammar says emergency relief projects will continue in the future with plans to provide water purification systems and flour mills in Shingal where there is plenty of wheat, but no way to make it into flour for cooking. “We have a very strong network of connections and access to remote areas because we’re such a small and independent organization, but we work alongside
48
other NGOs for funding and support,” Ammar says. The organization truly is small with only five people working directly for CNSF although all have other jobs and don’t take a salary at this time, so 100 percent of all donations go toward programs and relief efforts. Their access to remote areas also allows them to help the Peshmerga who are fighting to keep Kurdistan safe and to take back the areas many refugee and IDPs fled. CNSF offers emergency medical training program to the Peshmerga. “I am ex-military and I know each person is in danger on the front lines. First Aid is so important,” Ammar says. “Many soldiers have no first aid training. They don’t know what gauze and tourniquets are.” After contacting a Peshmerga commander he knew, Ammar was able to get permission for himself and other former military personnel from America to have access to the front lines. “Many of the fighters were saying, ‘No, we need weapons,’ but now they understand that it’s necessary.” The program quickly evolved. Using donations, CNSF has provided 2,000 trauma medical kits so far. They train a few people in each unit and then those people go back and train the rest in their unit. Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
“It’s like a train the trainer program,” he says. They have given training in Shingal and on the frontlines near Gwer, Makhmour, and Bashiqa. The biggest testament to the value of the program came from Peshmerga in Shingal. “We did the training at 3 p.m., and then the next day, maybe 36 hours later, they were using the medical kits. They all say now how they appreciate it and how they use the equipment often and it saves lives,” Ammar says. Aside from providing emergency provisions, the organization has a number of interesting programs looking to help victims get their lives back and become independent again. Among those programs is the Safe House Project, which provides a safe space and trauma assistance to women and girls who were captured and held by Da’esh. The program runs in partnership with the KRG and an American organization called Crisis Response International. “We have taken in 100 women and girls up to now,” Ammar says. The victims receive trauma treatment from licensed professionals, housing, food, medical treatment and have someone there to take care of them around the clock. The people running it are qualified professionals from the USA and Germany. Unfortunately due to limitations (both monetary and otherwise), the program is only 10 days. In spite of that, Ammar and the staff say they have seen great progress in many of the girls entering the program who range from ages 10 to 50 years old. One of the most significant activities they do with the girls during their program is called “Tree of Life” which is a group therapy activity that allows the girls to draw out a tree that contains various elements to express different parts of who they are as well as their emotions. The roots of the tree represent their past and history, the ground represents their present circumstances, the trunk represents their skills and abilities, the branches represent their hopes and dreams, the leaves represent people in their life, and the fruit represents advice or gifts that have been imparted to them by others. This activity provides the girls an opportunity to express more of who they are and what they love and it even provides a space for them to share the hard things in their life, as well as their hopes for the future. After each girl shares, the other girls that are attending the program spend time encouraging the one who just shared her tree of life. This activity has helped bring freedom and encouragement by speaking life and hope over each girl during a dark time in her life. “I am honored to see these hurting women gradu-
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
ally come back to life and realize that they are significant, beautiful, strong, and have a hope for the future,” says the logistics coordinator for Safe House Staff, who works for Crisis Response International. Another program that focuses on the future rather than the darkness of the past is the New Life Project. The idea of the project is to provide people who have no resources and no network with new skills so they can make a living. “We went into the camps and began teaching skills for jobs such as sewing and cosmetology to many of the women. Some of the men were taught carpentry,” Ammar says. One woman who benefitted from the program is Khalida Hassan (whose face has been obscured in the picture for her protection and privacy). Khalida Continued >>
49
and her family worked a small farm near Shingal when Da’esh arrived and took over the village. Like so many other families, her brother and father were killed, while she and the other women in her family were taken to Mosul and sold. Bought by a Mosul resident to be enslaved as a housemaid, Khalida’s fate seemed doomed. Yet the courage of the wife of the man who bought Khalida turned things around; “the lady gave me enough money for a taxi and told me to run and take a taxi as far away as possible”. The taxi driver drove Khalida as far out of town as he safely could and pointed her in the right direction to start walking. As an Arab shepherd roamed through the countryside he came across Khalida and escorted her safely to the nearest Peshmerga checkpoint. Khalida now lives in a refugee camp in Kurdistan with one of her sisters who also managed to escape, though the fate of her mother and other sister is still unknown. CNSF provided her with a sewing machine and taught her the skills she needs to use it. She now earns a modest living providing basic sewing services, such as repairing tears in donated clothing for other refugees in the camp. Another aspect of refugee life that seems to be very close to Ammar’s heart is their program helping orphaned children. He has taken personal responsibility for six children so far, placing them with families,
50
generally providing for their needs, and checking in on them from time to time. CNSF sponsored a surgery for a 9-year-old orphan whose broken feet healed improperly. This winter CNSF alongside the RISE Foundation is focusing their efforts on orphan children. “There are a lot of orphans in the Dohuk-area camps whose parents were either killed or kidnapped by ISIS,” Ammar says. Many of these children live with extended family and others are living with strangers who are willing to help them. The goal is to raise enough funds to help at least 300 children, but Ammar estimates there are more than 700 orphans in the area. Children and the families they’re living with will receive a standard kit comprised of food, blankets, and a hygiene kit for the entire family. Then each orphan will receive a thick winter coat to help them stay warm. Ammar has plenty of ideas for the future including putting together an orphanage to house children more permanently. But the organization works entirely off of donations and while they’re currently not spending anything on overhead, he understands that while that is the most charitable route, it may not be the most sustainable as they begin to offer more permanent projects. “In the beginning, we were doing a lot of different projects. It was all quantity and doing as much as we could, but now we’re focusing on quality.”
Circuit Magazine
WINE ENTHUSIAST RATINGS SCORE OUT OF 100 POINTS
PTS
My American Handmade Vodka beats the giant “Imports” every day. That’s because it’s distilled six times, we use old-fashioned pot stills we built ourselves, and taste test every batch to make sure you get only the best. Try American! Tito’s is made from corn, so it’s naturally gluten-free.
2015
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
51
Feature
alan omer Representing Representing Kurds Kurds in in the the UFC UFC Octagon Octagon By Luke Coleman
“Fighting is better than a job,” so goes the well-known Kurdish phrase. I’m reliably informed that some Kurds are inclined to also say that “Neither fighting nor farting are under a man’s control”, but for the purposes of this interview with Alan Omer, a mixed martial artist originally from Erbil and now living in Stuttgart, we’ll stick with the first. Even so, it’s probably unfair to categorise Omer in this way – he comes across as dynamic as his fighting style, looking to make Continued >>
52
Circuit Magazine
Photo credit Adam Mirani
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
53
Photo credit Adam Mirani
54
the first move, bend the odds in his favour. His MMA career, now ascending into the big leagues with two under card appearances with the leading Ultimate Fighting Championship to his name, has to find room in his life alongside his business and his studies. Admittedly the business is running a gym, giving him time to practice at work. However, this has to fit in with full time studies in his adopted city. “I study mechanical engineering, and I also have my own gym here in Stuttgart. I have quite a lot to do - going to university, finishing my degree, taking care of my gym and training, so I’m quite busy.” Understatement is Omer’s signature, out of the ring. An unusually rounded range of skills in it. For those that don’t follow MMA, it’s an empty-handed combat sport, with fighters combining elements of boxing, kick-boxing and wrestling, commonly specialising in one or two disciplines. Boxing can be further reduced to orthodox (left hand leading) or southpaw (right hand leading). Likewise wrestlers can be said to work well from their backs looking for submission holds, or prefer to “ground and pound” their opponents from above. Seek out Omer’s highlight video online, and you’ll see extravagant flying knees, hammer fists raining down on a floored adversary, switching stance from orthodox to southpaw, looking to choke from a position on his back, brutal head kicks – he likes to mix it up. Like many from the diaspora, Omer’s family was peripatetic in its search for a new home. They left Erbil in the early ‘90s when he was two years old, landing in Yemen. Three years later they moved again, this time to Germany in 1994, where they have been based ever since. As a youngster Continued >>
Circuit Magazine
Omer was sporty, particularly enjoying football, but also using the gym. It was there, in 2006, that friends introduced him to MMA. “I was playing football, it [MMA] came by accident. Back in 2006 it was not popular in Germany, they didn’t even call it MMA, they called it ‘free-fighting’. Nobody knew what MMA was, or UFC, and a couple of friends were training in a gym, just themselves - watching YouTube videos and trying the techniques. “A friend of mine took me to the gym and they said ‘hey come on, train with us,’ so I started and I liked it. We were really unprofessional, we didn’t have a coach or anything like that, we were just learning through YouTube.” And so began the career that boasts a record of 18 wins and 5 losses. He has lost both of his UFC fights, in the UAE and GerContinued >>
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
Photo credit Adam Mirani
55
Photo credit Adam Mirani
56
Circuit Magazine
many, and is clearly frustrated. “I signed with them in March last year. Both fights were very frustrating, because the first fight was in Abu Dhabi, and I actually ‘won’ the fight you know, but they gave a split decision win to my opponent - actually I was winning the fight and everybody saw that.” Things didn’t improve on his second outing, in Berlin in June 2015. “I fought against a British guy, I was winning the fight you know and in the last two minutes he was doing nothing, but he caught me in a guillotine choke.” A guillotine choke typically happens when a fighter on his back is able to tuck his opponent’s head down under their armpit, bending the neck to a level uncomfortable to watch, resulting in a tap out (submission). Like so much of MMA, it’s brutal, but technical. Also on the card that evening was another Kurdish fighter, Makwan Amirkhani. Based out of Stockholm, but brought up in Finland, Amirkhani fared better, winning the Performance of the Night prize. Elsewhere on the UFC roster, Sirwan Kakai is undefeated, proving the fighting spirit of the diaspora. Omer, though, is not a dedicated fan of MMA, rather a competitor who watches UFC “maybe once or twice a year. I met Sirwan six or seven years ago, and I met Makwan in Berlin because we were on the same card.” Is there anyone in the game that he does admire? “My hero? This Russian guy, Fedor Emelianenko – he was big time my hero, this guy was really good. It was before UFC got very big. I’m a featherweight, and Connor MacGregor is taking UFC to another level, he’s good.” So, outside of the octagon, the classroom and the gym, what’s life like for a Kurd living in Germany? “My life here is very good, I can’t Continued >>
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
57
Photo credit Adam Mirani
complain. We have a very big Kurdish community in Stuttgart, especially Kurds from Turkey. Every week there is a Kurdish demonstration or a Turkish demonstration and you know, all these racists Turks they come here to demonstrate against Kurds, there are a lot of fights.” Laughing, he continues, “But the Kurds, you know, they have this city under control. There was a video a few days ago [this was in early October, before the events in Ankara], on Sunday, big clashes between Kurds and Turks. A few hundred police officers had to come and bring the situation under control.” But home is where the heart is, and Omer is a regular visitor to
58
Erbil. Circuit missed him on his last trip, which served as a respite from the regime he is committed to in Stuttgart. “In Erbil I just enjoy time with my family, because I’m not often with them. I like to travel around Kurdistan, go to Soran, Suli, Dokan. I like the mountains, I like it when its quiet, the nature. The city is nice, but there’s not much difference from here in Germany. Nature is great, mountains, deserts and lakes and caves, I really like that. I didn’t train much [in Erbil]. I was doing a little bit of weight lifting, running. There’s a kick boxing school in Erbil, close to Iskan, I was once there. There’s an MMA gym too, but they are not training partners as they are all beginners.
That’s a real negative on Kurdistan you know, there’s no good MMA gym or wrestling or boxing gym.” Is that something he can see himself changing? “I was thinking about it, but you know how Erbil is, if you want to open a gym or something like that, it’s very expensive, so right now it’s impossible for me to open a gym in Kurdistan. But I’m looking forward. I have my UFC career, so I want to focus on that and maybe one day change the situation in Kurdistan, bring in real martial arts to Kurdistaan.” Omer is waiting for his next UFC match, but expects it to be this winter, prehaps in January. He hopes afterward to return to Kurdistan. “When I’ve got my first UFC win.”
Circuit Magazine
Photo credit Adam Mirani
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
| info@lst-medic.com | +964 750 361 204059
60
Circuit Magazine
Puzzles
Locate the Christmas Carols listed below: Away in a Manger Silver Bells Jingle Bells Do You Hear What I Hear? Feliz Navidad Frosty the Snowman Santa Claus is Coming to Town Hark the Herald Angels Sing Up on the Housetop God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen The First Noel
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear O’ Little Town of Bethlehem Deck the Halls Silent Night O’ Christmas Tree Joy to the World Little Drummer Boy Sleigh Ride We Wish You a Merry Christmas Nuttin’ for Christmas Santa Baby
61
Solutions
62
Circuit Magazine
Issue 6 - Winter 2015-16
63
64
Circuit Magazine