Shindand, We Have A PX

Finally.  Long-promised and anticipated since November, FOB Shindand now has a nearly full-size and fully stocked (for now) PX.  Woot.

It may not look like much but the PX is a long series of connected tents, if a bit soggy after the heavy rains we’ve experienced recently as recounted in the previous post.  Wet floors and wet buckets catching the indoor rain didn’t dampen the spirits or reduce the number of shoppers looking for goodies in the only American vendor shop available for spending your paychecks.  Yes, there are several haji shops and an Afghan PX and the Italian PX, Blue and pizzeria, but the PX (“post exchange” or as the Air Force guys call it, the BX “base exchange”) is the first to take your cash or credit card or the Eagle Cash card.  You can even get some cash back with your purchase which is a big deal since there’s no ATM on base and the Finance Office severely limits the amount of funds you can get each month ($100 in US cash, $250 in Afghanis).

Personally I really didn’t need anything, as I had mailed myself a couple of boxes of PX-type supplies and various sundries when home for Christmas, but it was nice to browse and pick up a few ‘normal’ brand name snacks like Doritos and ACT II microwave popcorn.

In the photo below SSGT Larry checks out with his pile of goodies.  And let’s see, the last time I was in a PX was back in Kandahar around the first of January.  Even for a non-shopper like me, I’m glad to now have a place to shop.