Final Day of Water Polo in Afghanistan for 2008

Today was the final day of the first ever Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts and of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team's inaugural season. Even though the national team tryouts did not take place every day as planned, because of situations outside of our control, we were excited for the day. This week, I was running around trying to make sure everything was set, was enjoyed by all. I feel that this is a great thing for Afghanistan and know that all of the athletes feel the same way.

Whenever I saw the athletes throughout the week, their first question was how were they doing in the tryouts? Followed by, are they going to make the team? My response would always be that regardless if they make the team, they, their family, and their village should be proud of their accomplishment that they tried out for the team.

In addition to the last day of the tryouts, the last day of the season for the 201st Corps team, I am finishing teaching my first two college classes for Central Texas College, on Camp Blackhorse (A nearby US Army forward operating base), and I am finishing what will hopefully be my final master's degree class for Excelsior College, before I begin writing my thesis. I also had to work my job. For being the laziest person I know, I was quite busy this week.

The day started at 6:30, with going to meet with the S-1 staff at the 201st Commando Kandak. All of the staff was there early because of the flow of work. The S-1 Officer had many questions for me about this work and some new procedures that the 201st Corps wanted to implement. I assured him that he already had the processes in place and he just needed to show the 201st Corps G-1 what we were already doing and they will understand. He was still worried, so I told him that I would walk with him to the 201st Corps G-1 and speak with the G-1 Officer about it. Sure enough, the processes that the 201st Commando Kandak have had for five months now were the same processes that the 201st Corps G-1 wanted to implement.

With the S-1 Officer relieved that we were ahead of the power curve and the S-1 staff working hard on their tasks, I went to go get Ken Paprocki, a photojournalist from New York, by way of Nebraska. Ken was waiting for me at Camp Blackhorse. Ken and I came in contact through SPC Ocque. SPC Ocque was supposed to come and take photos of what we are doing and was never able to make it. She was very helpful by sending Ken our way. Ken was also with a reporter named Doug Grindle. Doug did not seem that interested in Afghans playing water polo or a national team tryout. He seems more of the type to follow US servicemembers around that are fighting the good fight. Since Ken and Doug were traveling together, Doug decided to bring his video camera to tag along. Maybe he will find something he wants to cover.

I first took Ken and Doug to meet the 201st Commando Kandak. I walked them around to the different companies and the headquarters staff, to speak with who they felt were interesting. The 201st Commando Kandak and its soldiers had been in plenty of battles against the Taliban and there were many good men who died or were wounded fighting against the enemy of Afghanistan. The Commandos were so interested in the attention and were eager to speak with Ken and Doug. Ken asked a lot of questions and took many photos.
The Commandos told Ken their stories and answered what he asked. After the first office that I brought Ken and Doug into, I realized that they would be in these offices for a long time, so I left Reshad with them to translate and went back to work for 30 minutes at a time, and would then return to introduce them to the new company or platoon.

I then took Ken to the Commando dining facility to get a feel of what the Afghan soldiers eat and the opportunity to meet more soldiers. So many Commandos came up to us that it was too much...we ended up leaving after about Ken spoke with Commandos for about 30 minutes.

After that I took Ken and Doug back to Camp Blackhorse. Knowing that Doug did not have an interest in the water polo story, I just told Ken that the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo team would be having lunch at the Camp Blackhorse dining facility at 1230. Since I was right there, I stopped by the dining facility (DFAC) to ensure that the DFAC manager remembered that we would be there today at 1230 and that there was a reserved table for us. He said we were all set, which made me quite happy.

But first I had to go back to the S-1 office to see on the status of tasks being accomplished. The S-1 Officer and I spent about 90 minutes together talking about some more S-1 work. Pay day was coming up and we had to make sure that there were no discrepancies in the pay documents.

Our rally point for the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team luncheon was at the 201st Corps' building. That is where all of the soldiers were going to meet me as the Afghan soldiers cannot go onto Camp Blackhorse, or any US base without an escort. Two weeks prior, I spoke with the base commander at Camp Blackhorse about my idea to bring the soldiers to the DFAC aboard the base to celebrate the end to a wonderful season. Once I arrived, at 12:00, the team was ready to go to Camp Blackhorse. All of the athletes knew that they were not allowed to bring anyone to this luncheon that was not on the team. However, there were 15 people there, which were not on the team, that were expecting to go. Additionally, I was told that the 201st Corps Commander plus his staff were going to come. I originally invited the 201st Corps Commander to the luncheon, since this was his team. When he was signing the participation certificates that I printed up (Steve Scott provided the template, of course) for the athletes, I discussed with him about attending the luncheon and that he could bring himself. He asked if he could bring some other people and I said no. I asked the Camp Blackhorse Commander if I could bring 30 on the base for chow, not 50.

After we got the group down to the appropriate size, we piled into vehicles and drove over to the parking lot across the street from Camp Blackhorse. During our drive there, some of the soldiers that were told they could not come tried to jump in the vehicles with us. They were told that if they came with us, that they would have to walk back without lunch. Not believing what I was telling them, they came anyways.

Once we arrived in the Camp Blackhorse parking lot, I had the athletes assemble in a "school circle" and listen to what the plan was and key things to remember, since none of them ever had a meal at an American military dining facility before: Everyone had to have their ID card when they walk in the gate, in a single file line, no weapons, that they would be searched by the US soldiers at the gate, remain in the single file line all the way to the DFAC, sign in on the roster, wash hands, not eat anything with a picture of a pig on the label, do not use their hands to get any of the food at all (Use tongs), sit at the table on the back wall, and have fun. Everyone said they understood and we were ready. We were just waiting on the 201st Corps Commander.

Once the 201st Corps Commander arrived, I explained everything to him quickly and he said he understood. He also tried asking if the soldiers he brought along could come as well. I told him that as much as I wish that they could, that we only have a table that seats 30 and the Camp Blackhorse Commander only allowed me to bring 30. He tried to convince me again but I politely told the general no.

Since we were all there, and it was now 12:25, I told everyone to get in a line, minus the Corps Commander, and to have their ID cards out. Some extra soldiers, and a few of the 201st Corps Commander's invitees, tried jumping in the line. I quickly got them out, and explained again that they could not come. I also told the athletes on the team if these extra soldiers did not get out of the line now, none of us would get to eat lunch here. Like I told them before and since they did not take me seriously, they had to walk back to their units, without lunch. As the Afghan National Army dining facilities were already closed, I am sure they were hungry until dinner.

Once the MP's at the gate gave us the go ahead, we started walking in. I went in first, and then the Corps Commander and the athletes were all searched and let in. Once the group was finished, we all walked towards to DFAC in a line. All of a sudden, the group was trying to walk everywhere, some were with me, some were trying to walk to the little trinket and DVD shops, and the rest were talking to some of their units' mentors. I abruptly stopped, had Ahmad Shah and Mohommad Osman (Both athletes on the team) tell everyone to get back in line, and told them to stay with the plan. We could not risk being kicked off the base.

As we arrived to the DFAC, everyone started in the door and followed the directions that I gave them. They all signed in, washed their hands, used tongs at the self service area, and went through the line, like they had done it 100 times before...Except that some of them forgot that they could not eat anything with a pig face on the label. Even the servers on the line even tried telling them, since some of the servers barely spoke any English, and neither did most of the 30 Afghans there, it was not fully communicated that the item contained pork and they should not eat it. As I saw this take place, I tried stopping it when it took place or when they tried coming to the table.

As the soldiers sat down at the table, it was actually very quiet. Everyone was eating and enjoying their food. Some of the US mentors came over and congratulated the team and shook their hands for their accomplishments. The athletes became very excited by this because they were proud of themselves and are rarely congratulated for anything that they do. Ken Paprocki was there and got to ask the athletes a lot of questions about their season, their story, and about their families. It was a very successful luncheon and I was happy to see all of the smiles and excitement of the athletes.

As we completed our discussions and eating, I told the athletes what they needed to do on the way out: Drop off the trays, walk outside, get in a single file line, and then walk out of the gate. This time, the process went a lot more smoothly.

I then brought Ken to spend some time with the linguists that we work with to hear about their lives. I left him there to go back to S-1 to do some work. After working at the S-1 office I went back to go get him. Ken was just hanging out there, making friends, and having an enjoyable time.

It was now time to go to the pool as Mohammad Tahir, the 201st Corps Sports Officer, coordinated an awards ceremony. I created certificates and had the 201st Corps Commander sign them. Mohammad Tahir also had the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander sign certificates that he made as well. Come to find out, this was a big deal for the athletes on the team. All the athletes made sure that they were there on time. The 201st Corps Commander was there, along with the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander, Ministry of Defense Sports Officer, a general from the Ministry of Defense, and an Afghan television crew. As each athlete received their certificates, you could feel all of the smiles. There was not an unhappy person there.

I thought my reward for this hard work was watching these athletes’ progression through a completely foreign sport. But the athletes had a surprise for me. In the middle of the ceremony, the athletes presented me with a ceremonial vest and hat, a vest for my son (A custom if one were to have a son), and two hearts with flowers attached to them. The only time I have ever seen these before is at an Afghan National Army, Change of Command Ceremony. I am told this is one of the highest honors and for days after the ceremony, Afghans from all over the base were asking me about my gifts. To further explain the gifts that were presented to me, watch this video.

After the ceremony, the athletes wanted to do an exhibition for all of the visitors. The athletes began their stretching and dryland exercises, completed a warm up of swimming and passing, and then I divided up the group into two teams and then they started a game. It was the first time that there were visitors watching the athletes play in game type situation, so the athletes were definitely giving it their all. We played five minute running quarters and the athletes would frequently sub out as they were quickly tiring.

After the exhibition game, I had to leave the pool for a while to go back to the S-1 to check on a project that they were working on and then go to the front gate to ensure that all the civilians were let in for the national team tryouts. I left Ken at the pool and I think he was having fun too. Leilani always says that I can make friends everywhere, including the bathroom. I think that Ken can make friends 100 times faster than I can, and in more austere locations. I think that he had an enjoyable day.

The final day of tryouts went very well. The athletes from the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team were a little worn out from the full practice/game that they did before the tryouts themselves. The athletes had a good time and I made sure that after we finished our time in the pool, that I told everyone who participated in the tryouts that I was proud of them, their families should be proud of them, they should be proud of themselves, and what they were doing was the first step of something great for their country. I also told them that I would be in contact in the next 10 days with those who made the team. Those who would not make the team I encouraged to try out again next time and that it was not shameful if they did not make the team.

They all did not want to leave the pool but I told them that I had to go. It was late, almost dark, and I had to go back to work. I hope that I will be able to select and meet our team soon. They are such a great group of people who want to do something to make their country better. Even though they do not have the size, speed, or strength to take on the world's best water polo teams, they do have the heart needed to get the program to a high level. We will see where the future will lead us. After all, just a few months ago, water polo was unheard of in Afghanistan, and soon, Afghanistan will have its own national team.

First Day of the National Team Tryouts

I went up to the pool this morning, at 7 AM, and the water was filling slowly. Using hand gestures and my extremely limited Dari skills, I asked the soldier who was in charge of the pool to add the hose that he was using to water all of the plants, to the pool. Hopefully this will get the water level to an acceptable level.

I then went to the Commando Kandak (Dari for Battalion) S-1 to see what Abdul Kholik, who is the Admin Officer, and his staff had planned for the day. I reviewed the daily tasks for S-1, that we spoke about the previous day, and made sure that he or the rest of the S-1 staff had no further questions about the tasks and were on track to completing them.

At 8 AM, I went down to the front gate of the Pol-e-Charki Base, to ensure that there would be no problems at the gate for people coming to tryout. There were already a dozen people waiting at the gate to start the entry process of getting a background check and a temporary pass.

I then proceeded to Camp Blackhorse, which is a US Forward Operation Base, which is located on the other side of the Pol-e-Charki Base from where I live and work to find Specialist (SPC) Jennifer Ocque, United States Army. Specialist Ocque works in the Public Affairs Office (PAO) at Camp Phoenix. Camp Phoenix is located near Kabul. She supposedly hitched a ride last night, or possibly this morning, to Camp Blackhorse so she could cover the event and send it to the media outlets. She was very excited for the opportunity (Who she heard about from her boyfriend, who was part of the New York Army National Guard unit that was at Camp Blackhorse) to write a story and take photos of something exciting and good that comes out of Afghanistan. It was not her regular story, writing about combat missions, change of command ceremonies, or about incoming or outgoing units. This was about a national event, where citizens from around the country would be attending, something aside from war.

I have no clue what she looked like or where she was. I looked around for some of the enlisted Guardsmen that may have known her and asked them. Luckily, I ran into some of the enlisted guys who went on the convoy to Camp Phoenix yesterday. They told me that she was not on the convoy back to Camp Blackhorse yesterday but she did tell them that she will be coming on today’s convoy. If you ever want to know what is going on, just ask a Private First Class (PFC) in the military, he will be able to tell you everything that is going on, plus all the gossip that you would ever need, and then some.

I went to the Dining Facility (DFAC) and grabbed some fruit for breakfast. As I was sitting there, one of the Regional Corps Advisory Command's (RCAC) linguists asked if I could answer a few questions for some of the Afghan workers on Camp Blackhorse. When I walked outside, the workers started asking me questions about the “water volleyball” tryouts they heard about from their families back home and how they could be part of the team. After trying to figure out how these workers heard about the tryouts, I then explained to them what time to be at the Pol-e-Charki pool. They of course then asked if anyone could tryout and if people from their village could come to the tryouts. My response to them was that as long as they came in enough time to go through the gate and make it to the pool, it would be great for them to come.

I then asked if they had any additional questions and then told them I had to go back to the Commando Kandak. The workers asked if I would stay and drink chai (Tea) with them. I politely declined, told them that I greatly appreciated the invitation, and that I must go.

On my way back to the Commando Kandak, I stopped off at the Base Commander’s office to thank him for his unit’s assistance and professionalism in this process. He was very excited about the opportunities that we are providing his soldiers and countrymen. He then asked me if I would join him for tea as well. I told him that I would love to but I had to get back to the Commando Kandak. He seemed disappointed that I would not stay. I felt bad about this because it always seems when he asks me, I say no most of the time. I do not to have tea with him soon.

Getting back to the Commando Kandak at 9 AM, I was already tired. All of the running around is tiring and I only slept a few hours last night. I needed to slow down and pace myself. Of course, I did not do that.

As I went to the pool, almost every hour, on the hour, I saw the water level rising at a decent rate. I was getting a little more confident that there would be enough water in the pool.

As lunch neared, Arif (Pictured left) and Sorab, from S-1, asked if I would join them for lunch. I agreed to their request, primarily I was too tired to go all of the way to Camp Blackhorse to eat. Arif and Sorab grabbed their spoons and we walked across the street to their dining facility. As always, we enjoyed our time eating together, creating bonds, and sharing stories. Mohammad Amin and a Commando from 3rd Company joined us for lunch as well. This lunch was a little bit different as all of the Commandos wanted to speak with me about the opportunity coming up in the afternoon. I did not want to be rude and not answer their questions, so for the better part of 30 minutes, Arif, Sorab, and I were answering all of their questions about the “swimming football” tryouts. The Commandos were so excited and were determined to make the team.

After lunch, and after taking another quick trip to the pool and the front gate, we went back to work and took care of some pay issues. After everything was on track for the afternoon, Abdul Kholik wanted to drink tea and talk. He invited Arif and Sorab (Pictured right) to join as well. Once Reshad came back from eating lunch, he joined us as well. We drank tea for the better part of an hour and mostly spoke about work and about the rug that I just bought for them for their office. He was so thankful and appreciative but said that the Commandan Kandak (Battalion Commander) was mad that the S-1 Officer had such a nice rug and that he was going to take it from him. Even though the rug did not cost that much (Only a couple of US Dollars), I bought Abdul Kholik the rug as a present. I told him that if the Commandan Kandak were to try and take it, to tell him that he needed to speak with me about it. We concluded with discussing the topic of the day, the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts. Abdul Kholik said it was a great day for Afghanistan and that it will help unify the country. I am glad that he believes this and I hope that this team, whever it may end up in the future, will accomplish this.

After we finished our work, and multiple trips to the pool, Reshad, Arif, Sorab, and I headed up to the pool for the tryouts. Reshad was there to help with translation and for whatever else he saw that I needed help with. Arif and Sorab were there, at Abdul Kholik’s order, to support me in whatever I needed for the national team tryouts. I had Arif and Sorab be in charge of registering all interested athletes, explaining to the athletes what the process for the tryouts would be, and wrote numbers (In English) on the athletes’ arms so I could identify them as they competed. Arif also conducted some interviews with a few aspiring athletes who were there. Arif would ask them their name, where they were from, and why they were there. The interviewees look very excited and I just wish I could understand what they are saying. I am sure that I will have Reshad translate these for me someday.

I am glad that Arif took these interviews and photos, otherwise there would not have been a record. SPC Ocque did not show up for the tryouts, but I am not worried since there are a few more days. Reshad, Sorab, and Arif did an outstanding job helping me. I was very thankful for what they did and they knew it.

The tryouts went very smoothly. The Base Commander’s staff did an excellent job with processing all of the civilians, provided transportation for them from the front gate all of the way to the pool, and even had a few guards there for our protection. The solder who is in charge of the pool made sure everything was ready and even set up a little desk for Arif and Sorab to use for registration.

From my estimation, hundreds of people showed for the tryouts and over 70 participated in the tryouts (Even though 120 registered). I personally believe that double the amount of people would have participated in the tryouts had they not seen how “fast” some of the people were. The first dozen people that tried out were from the Afghanistan National Swimming Federation, followed by many of the athletes from the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team. Some of the people lost any confidence they had and decided not to try out. I had Reshad ask one civilian who was standing on the side of the pool why he was not going to try out. He said that everyone was too fast and that he had no chance. Reshad told him that everyone had a chance and that he should just do it. He unfortunately did not tryout out but did stay and watch. I understand the lack of confidence of some of these guys, never swimming in a pool before, never participating in an organized sport, and trying out for a sport they have never seen before. But they were still there to witness and be a part of it. Pretty exciting stuff.

It took about three hours to go set up, go through the tryouts, and tear down. I mostly had the participants swimming 25 yards of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, in waves of five athletes, as that is all I could effectively fit. I also had these waves tread water for a period of time to make sure they had some of the basic skills required. No water polo ball today, that will come later in the week.

To my surprise, and let me tell you, it was a surprise, I had to jump in and grab an athlete. Have you ever heard of someone having to jump in during a national team tryout for water polo or swimming to save someone? He was swimming 25 yards of freestyle. He started off fine, but he started struggling, and then could not make it to the wall. I tried to grab him from the edge, but when I realized he was out of my reach, I slid in the water and grabbed him. He then persisted that he get another chance and that he could do it. So I let him try again, this time next to the wall. Same result (Minus me having to get wet again). He tried to convince me again and I then told him that he did a great thing for his family and village by trying out. But told him that he could not continue with this tryout because I was concerned for his safety. Arif stepped in and said he would take care of it. Unfortunately (Not for me), the other swimmers who swam their hearts out to get the best time and that were in the same heat (wave) as the participant who struggled, had to re-swim their length because I did not see how they performed. They were tired and wanted more of a break. I told them no and that they had to prepare for the next length.

Even after the tryouts were over, people just stayed and talked and were hoping that I would provide insight to who made the team. I told them that they had to keep on coming and that I would provide that answer after the tryouts ended. After all of this, Reshad, Arif, Sorab, and myself walked back down the hill, Arif could not stop talking about how exciting it was.

It was exciting. I am glad that everything worked out today and will pray that it will all work out for the rest of the week. I am starting to wonder though, with all the people who came to tryout, some from 8 hours away by taxi or jingle truck, where are those that do not live local going to stay this week? What are they going to eat? It is not like there is a hotel down the block or even a restaurant. Even if there was, where would they find the money? This is just completely different than what you would find in the United States or the rest of the western world. Hopefully, I will see them all tomorrow and that the rest of the week will be a success, for those who are trying out and for the soon to be formed Afghanistan National Water Polo Team.