HW 34: Respond to Riverbend

Gold plays a big role in Iraq with their families and it shows how much a family has saved up and has right now as status concern. People pulled their money out of banks before the war, and bought gold instead (Riverbend, 100). When there is a rumor going around that a house will be invaded women often hide all their gold and valuables so it is not taken. Riverbend also stated that "Gold can be shown off and worn, but in times of economical trouble, a few pieces can be sold to tide the family over. Tea is also important and valuable in an Iraqi's life. The tea they drink isn't like in the US from a teabag, and if you serve them a teabag you risk scorn and disdain. It is an important time durning the day for them all to sit down together and catch up. "In the evening, most Iraqi families gather together for "evening tea. Its hardly as formal as it sounds...No matter how busy the day, everyone sits around in the living room, waiting for tea" (Riverbend 108). The time they spend together drinking tea is like a way for them to escape from the war and be in their own little world with the people they love just for a little while where there is no harm to them.