So Halloween is coming up. All I've got to show for the upcoming season is my Nightmare Before Christmas throw that I will hang up for the season, My NBC movie which will be played on a weekly basis from Halloween to Christmas, and Murray, the skull, who has to be relocated from on top of my wall locker to over my curtain/door. I happen to have the darkest out of the cubicles in this room, so I won't need TOO much. I just wish Halloween was celebrated outside of America so that I could pick up some decorations from the locals at the bazaars.
A coffee shop just opened up on the FOB, so I have been helping the guys who run it learn some drink mixes and techniques to better serve the soldiers here. The two I've worked with the most speak really good English, but don't quite have the idea of what American soldiers are going to expect from a cafe. They're used to the Italian cafe crowd, and the Iraqi taste in sweets. Americans, however, have epitomized the cafe experience in Starbucks, and want huge-ass cookies and manufactured cafe couture. It's a little sad to explain, "yes, I know that the way you do things is more authentic, but Americans (especially soldiers) aren't going to respond as well to that." So far, the only big problem is supply. They don't have a reliable source for supply, and need that to improve or else their business will go down the toilet just because we won't be interested in going to a cafe that may not have what we want. I want to see this one do well, since I have to drive down to the embassy in order to get a good cup of coffee here.
If anyone who reads this has some interesting ideas for Halloween in Iraq, let me know. I like to be festive for that particular celebration. I won't be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, either. I should be home shortly thereafter.
A coffee shop just opened up on the FOB, so I have been helping the guys who run it learn some drink mixes and techniques to better serve the soldiers here. The two I've worked with the most speak really good English, but don't quite have the idea of what American soldiers are going to expect from a cafe. They're used to the Italian cafe crowd, and the Iraqi taste in sweets. Americans, however, have epitomized the cafe experience in Starbucks, and want huge-ass cookies and manufactured cafe couture. It's a little sad to explain, "yes, I know that the way you do things is more authentic, but Americans (especially soldiers) aren't going to respond as well to that." So far, the only big problem is supply. They don't have a reliable source for supply, and need that to improve or else their business will go down the toilet just because we won't be interested in going to a cafe that may not have what we want. I want to see this one do well, since I have to drive down to the embassy in order to get a good cup of coffee here.
If anyone who reads this has some interesting ideas for Halloween in Iraq, let me know. I like to be festive for that particular celebration. I won't be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, either. I should be home shortly thereafter.