random friends...
OK, quick update for those who don't know, I'm at Camp Spann, Masare Sharif, Afghanistan, the Chaplain Assistant for this camp and four FOBs, it's a pretty good time, I lead the music, mainly on piano, and besides the death of my grandpa and separation from my family during our time of loss, I've been keeping busy and generally enjoying life.
whew
But what I really wanted to talk about...is it weird when the closest friends you have usually live half a world away and barely speak your language? That's right...even though I'm 24/7 surrounded by other Americans, some of whom are nice and I can talk to, the people I really look forward to seeing and talking to most are the Afghani people. The interpreters mostly, but also the local contractors. Sure, some of them just ignore me or laugh at me, but most of them are amazing. I love just walking into Terp Village...everyone is just so gosh-darn FRIENDLY. As soon as I walk in and stand in place for over a minute, I've got a crowd of no less than 3 Afghans around me, all wanting to know my name, where I'm from, how long I've been here, how I like Afghanistan, where I learned that little phrase in Dari that I just said, on and on and on. I've held conversations with these guys for much longer periods of time than almost any American on post, and they barely know a thing about America. They speak English...sort of. But it doesn't matter. We joke, we laugh, we talk, I've even eaten lunch twice in their DFAC. And I love it! The food is definitely second-rate, yet it seems delicious when I'm surrounded by these smiling, friendly, wonderful men.
Most of them want to come to America, and I desperately hope that it works out for them. Something tells me these guys might be the best friends I'll have here. Which makes it a little difficult, cause I can't really invite them over to my room to watch a movie or play cards. I really should make some friends with the other soldiers...it just seems like none of them are really interested in actual friendship. Being friendly, chatting a bit here and there yeah, but...I'm the new guy, and we don't work in the same section. Makes it hard. So...I guess I'm just glad for my Terp buddies. My "buchayses", as it were.
Khoda hafez.
whew
But what I really wanted to talk about...is it weird when the closest friends you have usually live half a world away and barely speak your language? That's right...even though I'm 24/7 surrounded by other Americans, some of whom are nice and I can talk to, the people I really look forward to seeing and talking to most are the Afghani people. The interpreters mostly, but also the local contractors. Sure, some of them just ignore me or laugh at me, but most of them are amazing. I love just walking into Terp Village...everyone is just so gosh-darn FRIENDLY. As soon as I walk in and stand in place for over a minute, I've got a crowd of no less than 3 Afghans around me, all wanting to know my name, where I'm from, how long I've been here, how I like Afghanistan, where I learned that little phrase in Dari that I just said, on and on and on. I've held conversations with these guys for much longer periods of time than almost any American on post, and they barely know a thing about America. They speak English...sort of. But it doesn't matter. We joke, we laugh, we talk, I've even eaten lunch twice in their DFAC. And I love it! The food is definitely second-rate, yet it seems delicious when I'm surrounded by these smiling, friendly, wonderful men.
Most of them want to come to America, and I desperately hope that it works out for them. Something tells me these guys might be the best friends I'll have here. Which makes it a little difficult, cause I can't really invite them over to my room to watch a movie or play cards. I really should make some friends with the other soldiers...it just seems like none of them are really interested in actual friendship. Being friendly, chatting a bit here and there yeah, but...I'm the new guy, and we don't work in the same section. Makes it hard. So...I guess I'm just glad for my Terp buddies. My "buchayses", as it were.
Khoda hafez.