Day of firsts!

Yesterday was a REALLY interesting day.  I was treated by my buddy here (another Canuck) to my first Tim Horton's Coffee at the Kandahar Tim's.  It was surreal - it was just like at home!  I mean, we line up, ask for a double-double, and presto - we're holding a real Tim's cup while looking at a wall menu JUST LIKE AT HOME!  It's awesome!  The troops here love it - and it is a big hit with the other nations too.  The coffee tasted exactly the same... delicious!  I didn't order one, but we could order doughnuts and anything else -like at a normal Tim's - if we wanted!  This may not seem like a big deal to you if you're sitting in a clean, safe place at home.  But under the circumstances here in this dusty, smelly, and desolate place, it's a really big deal here for us Canadians.  It's one real piece of home.  Some homesick Canadians even made a Hockey Rink here.  From the distance (if you ignore the heat) you can imagine the hockey players (who do bother to suit up with full hockey jerseys in 40 degree plus heat) playing on nice ice in a cool arena - just like at home.

Funny thing yesterday, I went to the British store here to see what they had.  The dust was getting kicked up by the traffic so badly, that it was like walking in a cloud... albeit a really polluted one!  Anyhow - when I finally got there, I was really dehydrated from the walking and the heat.  So - I decided to buy myself a nice cold drink!  Well - I have the mentality that if you're in a foreign place - try something new.  The Brits have Brit drinks there, so why not?  I reach for a drink called "Robinsons Apple and Blackcurrant".  Looked good to me - so I paid for it and walked outside into the blazing sun.  Boy - was I parched!  So - I crack open the tall 1 litre bottle and took a long draw of the fluid down my throat.  UGH!  It was SO sweet!  I thought - what's with these Brits?!  The sweetness didn't go well in the hot sun at all!  Anyhow - I walked the 15-20 mins in the 45 degree heat back to my room.  I got to my bedspace and reached into the fridge for a cold bottle of water.  Then, I thought about the Robinsons.  So I pick up the bottle and notice the marking: "Purveyors of fine beverages to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second."  Then, in really small words at the bottom of the bottle - what do I read?  "Mix 1 part with 4 parts water".  Well no wonder I almost hurled!  I was drinking concentrate!  Nowhere on the front of the bottle did it say that!  Oh well - I was OK... except for when I read the part (also tiny) "Not to be given concentrated to toddlers".  Why not?  Is it dangerous?!!!

I was tasked to meet some really interesting people yesterday.  If you watch CNN, some of those people may be ones I met.  What a privilege!

Keeping you all in my prayers.  Please don't forget - the 26th of June is the Feast of St. Josemaria Escriva!  I will try to celebrate it in a small way here with the Daily Mass celebrated on base.  Maybe, I'll treat myself to some Tim's!  Mmmm!  I encourage you to pray the prayer card to St. Josemaria.  Perhaps say a novena (9 prayer cards).  He is known as "The saint of miracles".  St. Josemaria - Pray for Us!  Happy Feast Day!