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Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

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51–60 of 91 posts

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#51
I'd certainly consider it if I didn't have a wife with her own career here in Australia. If I had a student loan to pay off I'd be even keener.

One suggestion though: get a little bit of training in first (maybe from Suarez International or a similar organisation).

I don't mean high-speed low-drag gunslinging ninja stuff (although their vehicle gunfighting course _does_ look like fun). What I mean is advice on how to keep yourself safe in a foreign, hostile environment. Precautions to take, places to go and not to go ... that sort of thing.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#53

I think you've already decided. Do it.

I agree with you. I am assuming that he does not have kids yet? So do it for the experience.

I did a similar thing. I quit my job at a big company and right now I am in Norway for a few months.

I am from the Philippines and believe it or not, I just experienced my first snow a few weeks ago.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#56

I think you've already decided. Do it.

I honestly think those who clicked up, have no direct or indirect experience of war. If you had the slightest iota of experience you would be writing a comment like this.

War could possibly be the most crude type of expression a human being can display. If you wish to experience such experiences, by all means head on out and do it. For those cooped up in school, playing video games, a war zone is not a form of gap year, lets go holiday in France effort.

If you into startups, head on out to China, where you will be blown away at the types of experiences and connections you can make. Life is much cheaper out there, connections made can set you up for life, learn a new language with a most powerful form of abstraction. I am pretty sure the chance of making decent business connections, in a once beautiful country that was Iraq now turned cess pit by corporate greed is pretty slim.

It is possible; if you wish to set yourself up as a most brilliant entrepreneur for single handedly transforming Iraq into a haven with your innovations, the world stoop before you, those odds are hard.

A place like China is far more advantageous for you, and if you want it... it can be dangerous too.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#57

You can make $150 an hour doing software consulting in San Francisco. Thats 240k a year assuming you can bill 40 full weeks a year.

This thread is making me feel very poor.

to be fair, in San Fransisco its not going to go as far as it would in other parts of the country.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#58
US coder gets sent to the middle east for a bunch of money

Reminds me of Ken Follett's 'On Wings of Eagles' - definitely a recommendation if you're into thrillers! It's about a team of coders from EDS (now part of HP I think) who get sent to Iran to work for the government and are then refused to leave the country.

Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?

#60
It depends on the job.

I don't have any problem going to a non luxurious part of the world thats inhospitable. Not even for an extended period of time.

The only thing that would keep me from going are my 'opinions' about middle east foreign policy.

If its a good opportunity don't not go because you're scared.

If you got a good thing going where you're at, no sense in leaving either. Your call.

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