An American diplomat in Iraq:

I don't know if this blog entry makes people more enthusiastic about joining the FS [Foreign Service] or coming to Iraq. At this point, it is just a lot less exciting in Iraq - and less dangerous - than people back home think, or than it was just a few months ago. Iraq is like any post or any place else. You can travel thousands of miles, but you always have to take yourself along. It is up to you to get a life and make it a good one not matter where you are. Living in the dust of Iraq just makes that clearer.

Mr. Matel has a nice article in the State Department's blog, Dipnote. But check out his personal blog, Matel-in-Iraq, for some fascinating accounts and neat photos. I particularly was taken by his delicate description of "breaking bread" in Iraq (Goat Grab), since, my experience has been that the eating process is reminiscent of another era.

Dipnote Matel Provincial Reconstruction Team Iraq