Wednesday, May 27, 2009
My How Things Have Changed
Used to The Land of Sand meant camel spiders, sand fleas, and basic tents. If you were lucky, you got a mud hut and a MRE but you still had to burn your own excrement. It was referenced as The Litter Box, as in cat shit. Nowadays its trailer parks surrounded by free (only in some areas) WiFi, swimming pools, gyms, music and dancing, occasional alcohol, movie theaters, beauty parlors, rec centers, and multiple food options from salad to gyros to chicken wings to burger king & pizza hut to just about any kind of dessert imaginable. Sounds like a vacation, complete with pool side eye candy. Seriously, don't send care packages with snacks, send condoms instead (never mind, they sell condoms in the Px). I could handle a vacation! Except for the fact I couldn't take my kids and I would really miss them. A lot.
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8 comments:
I'm not sure if this is up your alley at all, but I recently read Halliburton's Army, which details many of the abuses, mismanagement of funds, and just general creepiness in the creation of these pleasure domes. It was fascinating and appalling.
Guess my hubby is in the wrong unit because his land of sand sure as heck isn't like that.
I've heard of things like that, NUTS! By brother is in Afghanistan, he goes back and forth between an office-like base and his FOB. The "office" is a okay in that at least it has running water and electricity...most of the time. But the FOB is no water, hardly any electricity, crappy food and the litter box. No fun. But his 18 month tour is over in about 3-5 weeks! Hurrah!!
Wifi isnt free.. Dh is paying 88.00 a month for internet in his room... Trust me there are still soldiers living in tents and dont have the luxuries..
I also must say to motherissues.. These are not pleasure domes.. My husband has woken up from his tent every morning to the lovely sound of mortar rounds on his camp, also just had to pick up a 19 year old, that had his head blown off.. So if he wants a burger, or some ice cream or get on the internet, I think he deserves it..
Anonymous,
WiFi is in fact free in some areas. You might have to sit at a table with 5 other people in the rec center, or sit on a picnic table outside a fast food restaurant, but it is free in some areas. Some people get WiFi in their sleeping quarters, others don't. Some people have toilets near their sleeping quarters, others have to walk a ways to shower and piss. Some even have cleaning ladies. Yes, it's true. Different people are in different countries, within each country there are different installations, and within each installation there are even differences.
Also, if you had read the book MotherIssues referred to, you would know why she called them pleasure domes.
Thanks for stopping by!
no wifi isnt available were DH is, nor is ac, etc.. I understand what you are saying, but :pleasuredomes"?
im fully aware things are different in different areas, we are doing our 5th deployment.. I have my son, husband and son in law all deployed at the moment.. I just dont see the big deal in soldiers having these luxuries when available..
Maryellen
Maryellen from SilentWarriors?
I wasn't complaining about nor making a big deal about soldiers having "luxuries" overseas. In fact the most luxurious stuff seems to be around Air Force and Civilians. I simply thought it blog worthy when I found out about it.
I joke that it's like an upgrade ... the pool is bigger, the internet faster, the food always available, the room cleaned for you, and you even make a little more money. If you don't mind the heat, the dust, and the danger & death. It's how I deal with things, through joking and laughter and snarkiness.
How are things at SW, by the way?
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