Non-typical Saturday

This Saturday I was able to get around the base and see what all there is out here. I had a few things I had to do and once I was done I was able to wander around a bit. If you never left the wire here you would never realize there is even a war going on. This place is ridiculous.

On my list of things to do was get a haircut. I didn’t see any barber shops but I did see a “Beauty with Spa” sign and figured that it would suffice. I got a great haircut, I got my hair washed, and a massage for $10. This is an obvious step up from trading Redbulls to my roommate to cut my hair while in Iraq. Next I wandered around a fairly large PX and looked at all the countless ways I could waste my money, and at all the other soldiers that had successfully found ways to waste theirs. From there I stepped over to what has become all too familiar at big air bases like this, Pizza Hut.  I figured I would treat myself to a slice while I was out and maybe a Coke too so I headed inside. (Side note: Up until this point have not had any soda since I left the US. For me that’s pretty tough. I love sodas.)

While standing in the rather long line I began watching the rugby match that was on the TV. It was France vs. England, live from Rugby World Cup in New Zealand being shown on some sort of hotwired Indian Dish Network.  As I am watching this match a large group of French soldiers get in line behind me all ready to order pizzas and watch the match. As I am standing there in line I am routing for England quietly to myself.  A French soldier who speaks English about as well as I speak French, starts asking me about the match and then ask “who am I for…” I am by myself here and don’t really care to tell this group of guys that I don’t like the French or their rugby team, so I make a motion to the group and say “well, I guess I am for the French!” With that news they cheer and all want to shake my hand. Then one offers to buy me lunch and eat with them. I am not one to turn down Pizza Hut in Afghanistan so I agree and spend the next 80 minutes watching a great rugby match with about a dozen French soldiers and two Norwegians that later joined us. It was an awesome experience and has begun to change my view of the French. Oh, and the French won if you were wondering.

Later that day I was able to top it all off by watching OU dismantle Texas on my little 15” screen. It wasn’t in HD, I didn’t have surround sound and the picture is what I would describe as “crappy” at best. But despite all that I was able to watch the game and loved every minute of it. It was a little bit of home over here and was great.

So by the end of the day, I had the French buy my lunch and got to watch some rugby. I got a cell phone and my hair cut and washed. Then capped it all off with watching another great Sooner victory.  Doesn’t really sound like a warzone to me. At least not what I am use to. This pilot gig really is pretty nice.

“I know you feel it too, these words seem so untrue…” Tegan & Sara