The Luck of the Irish

I know I have a little Irish in me, I mean my dad does have red hair! Everyone else celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day so why would it be any different in Afghanistan. Saint Patrick’s Day fell on a Saturday, which I’m sure made for a very interesting night out in the States, however it was much more subdued here in Afghanistan. Saturday night is normal Navy night. Each Saturday, the small contingent of Navy personnel on the base get together to share in Navy comradery. We use each other to stay sane and combat the craziness of the Army. Since it was Saint Patrick’s Day, we did a special dinner. We had Arian, my rug guy, order us Afghan food from off the base and he brought it in for our Saint Patrick’s Day party.

 

The food was amazing. I really enjoy the spices the Afghans use, especially on their rice. We had rice, lamb and chicken kebabs, bread, and bean cakes (I also love these), and a very delicious mint sauce I put on everything. Since the air quality has improved over the last month we were able to enjoy the meal on the rooftop of the USO. It has gotten a lot warmer, so the locals are burning a lot less trash to stay warm. When we finished eating we enjoyed a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity. Prior to coming to Afghanistan, I had never played Cards Against Humanity. We have a great time playing. I’m excited to play when I get home with my friends and some adult beverages. I imagine the game gets even funnier with adult beverages. I do enjoy the laughs and the downtime with my fellow Sailors.

 

Our Sunday morning fun run this last week was Saint Patrick’s Day themed. The weather is much nicer which means we don’t have to fight the smog when it’s time to run outside. We dressed up in our themed attire and did a 5K. This time we just ate mint Oreos post-run rather than eating the entire time we were running. The mint fit the theme of green for Saint Patrick’s Day. I really do enjoy the late mornings running outside with friends I’ve made over the last ten months. I may not miss a lot about Afghanistan, but I will miss these runs. Maybe I can start something when I get home?

 

 

 

 

One day last week Timyra found leprechaun coins on the playground at school. In her mind this was proof that leprechauns do exist. When she got home she told her dad she wanted to make a leprechaun trap. So I ordered a stuffed leprechaun off of Amazon and had it delivered to be the victim for the trap. On Saint Patrick’s Day she decorated an Amazon box (probably the one he came in) and set the trap. Upon completion she set it up and waiting till the morning of March 18^th. To her surprise, we think, she found the leprechaun in the trap. Timyra may be getting too old for things like this, but Buddy and Taylyn were certainly surprised. Buddy wanted to put the bait coins out a second night to see what they would catch. Although through it all Timyra said nothing and let the magic continue for the little ones!

 

This last week I did come across some Irish luck of my own. Since I left home last June I have not had the best of luck with roommates. It started when we arrived in South Carolina for three weeks for our Army training prior to coming over to Afghanistan. The berthing (what the Navy calls your place to sleep) was open bay bunkbeds and there were no rack (what the Navy calls the bed you sleep on) assignments, it was first come first rack. On the list of personnel I was listed as a male so I had to ask which building I needed to go to prior to entering the open bay berthing. By the time I arrived, I was the last one and was blessed with the top rack by the door. The part about this that irritated me the most was that there were only three female officers and about eighty enlisted females. Since there were only three of us we were lumped in with the enlisted. Not only that, but I was the most senior female by two ranks and at least four years. I probably would not have been so upset about the arrangement had the men been treated the same. Of course the male enlisted and the male officers were separated and each had their own berthings. We were told it was because there were only three of us and they didn’t feel the need to open another berthing just for three. In the end I sucked it up, and slept the worst three weeks of sleep probably ever and I’m a surface warfare officer, and we’re known for not sleeping for years. I also found out that the classes after us were separated even when the female officer population was low. At least we paved the way for the classes after us.

 

So back to my luck, my first seven months here I had a roommate. She occupied the rear part of the room, which is the more desirable location. She was here before me and earned the spot. The problem with her was that she really didn’t have a job. She was sleeping when I left in the morning. She was sleeping when I got back in the evenings. She ate every meal in the room and was just generally dirty and inconsiderate. Although I rarely saw her awake and out of bed I was honored with hearing her alarm go off for at least three hours most days, yet that didn’t get her out of bed. When she left in January, I moved to the rear of the room. I quickly learned how nasty she really was. She left old towels, sheets, and didn’t take out the trash when she left. Since she ate in the room her trash was no gross it spread mold at least a half of an inch think on the floor. Now I had found the source of the lingering smell in the room. After serious disinfecting, I moved to the rear of the room and made my own little sanctuary. The best part is, for now at least I have my own space. I may have a roommate tomorrow, but for now I’m going to enjoy of luck.

 

I don’t necessarily believe in luck. I’d like to believe everything happens for a reason even if you’re not sure of the purpose initially. Although I have to say I have lucked out lately, especially in the roommate department.