Most of you know how observant I am. I never fail to miss when someone happens to where the same shirt, 2 days in a row or if someone were to wear something gawd awful. I’d be the first to point it out and say, “Seriously, what the heck are you wearing???” ….”What? Did you get dressed in the dark?”
Anyhow, I’ve continued my observant ways over here, and most notably I’ve noticed how all the trucks & SUVs are the same as you would see in the states. It’s actually the trucks and SUVs that are one of the things that keeps me grounded, and away from thinking how far I am from home! It all started in Kuwait when we got off the plane and into the first SUV (a Chevy Suburban). On our way to the hotel, all I saw was Toyota Prados. In actuality, they were Lexus 470s( the bigger Lexus version). All the cars that you would think they would have (a tad bigger than Cooper Mini) they didn’t. I mean I know that Kuwait is a very wealthy country, but that just didn’t register. I guess that without knowing, I had a ton of pre-conceived notions about foreign lands. In Kuwait, I still think they need Minis it isn’t as if they’ve got to climb a mountain to get to that ski resort?? Or maybe they just need it in case they stuck in the sand? I truly felt as if we may have had bullet proof glass in the Suburban, especially as we entered into our hotel compound and were met by a fully armored Hummer. The guards at the gate actually wisked our car with a mirror that looks much like a super large version of the little mirror that the dentist sticks in your mouth for checking around your teef!
Bagram was no different in the car look-a-like contest as there were more of the same in the SUV department. What I found most strange was the amount of Ford trucks that were on the Bagram base. I can’t tell you how many Ford F250s & Rangers there were driving around on a daily basis. This was no doubt due to the American contractor that was running the O & M at Bagram (KBR). At least the Fords didn’t hide behind their true name…they were actually called F250s. Toyota I guess feels the need to make the folks over here feel special or something. The Toyota Tundra or Tacoma that we all know and are used to seeing is called the Hilux over here, with a small twist. The truck bed is a good 2 ft smaller than the American version. My guess is that the truck is one of the primary uses of transporting workers to and from the jobsite and seeing as the dudes here are so very tiny, Toyota didn’t see the point in making the truck bed as long…ha! Another one of Toyota’s copy cats is the Toyota 4-Runner, or as it’s known over here the Surf. It all looks completely the same just with a big “Surf” emblem up and down each side. Yeah, that’s another thing. Instead of having the vehicle name across the back, often times in a tasteful inconspicuous manner they feel the need to spell out the name across the side in big, bold letters!! Not sure why, but nonetheless that’s the way they have it! Another one of the nuances of the Middle East!
Well, there’s my most recent observance…I’m sure there’ll be more to come!
Hope all is well!
Anyhow, I’ve continued my observant ways over here, and most notably I’ve noticed how all the trucks & SUVs are the same as you would see in the states. It’s actually the trucks and SUVs that are one of the things that keeps me grounded, and away from thinking how far I am from home! It all started in Kuwait when we got off the plane and into the first SUV (a Chevy Suburban). On our way to the hotel, all I saw was Toyota Prados. In actuality, they were Lexus 470s( the bigger Lexus version). All the cars that you would think they would have (a tad bigger than Cooper Mini) they didn’t. I mean I know that Kuwait is a very wealthy country, but that just didn’t register. I guess that without knowing, I had a ton of pre-conceived notions about foreign lands. In Kuwait, I still think they need Minis it isn’t as if they’ve got to climb a mountain to get to that ski resort?? Or maybe they just need it in case they stuck in the sand? I truly felt as if we may have had bullet proof glass in the Suburban, especially as we entered into our hotel compound and were met by a fully armored Hummer. The guards at the gate actually wisked our car with a mirror that looks much like a super large version of the little mirror that the dentist sticks in your mouth for checking around your teef!
Bagram was no different in the car look-a-like contest as there were more of the same in the SUV department. What I found most strange was the amount of Ford trucks that were on the Bagram base. I can’t tell you how many Ford F250s & Rangers there were driving around on a daily basis. This was no doubt due to the American contractor that was running the O & M at Bagram (KBR). At least the Fords didn’t hide behind their true name…they were actually called F250s. Toyota I guess feels the need to make the folks over here feel special or something. The Toyota Tundra or Tacoma that we all know and are used to seeing is called the Hilux over here, with a small twist. The truck bed is a good 2 ft smaller than the American version. My guess is that the truck is one of the primary uses of transporting workers to and from the jobsite and seeing as the dudes here are so very tiny, Toyota didn’t see the point in making the truck bed as long…ha! Another one of Toyota’s copy cats is the Toyota 4-Runner, or as it’s known over here the Surf. It all looks completely the same just with a big “Surf” emblem up and down each side. Yeah, that’s another thing. Instead of having the vehicle name across the back, often times in a tasteful inconspicuous manner they feel the need to spell out the name across the side in big, bold letters!! Not sure why, but nonetheless that’s the way they have it! Another one of the nuances of the Middle East!
Well, there’s my most recent observance…I’m sure there’ll be more to come!
Hope all is well!
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