About 'ias'|Know 10 Facts Short Biography of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal suspended for Honesty
I remember boarding a military plane at night, back in 1961, and traveling many hours to a new home in Spain. My father, an Air Force officer, had orders to Torrejon Air Force Base in Madrid. I didn't realize, at the tender age of 9, that foreign travel was full of adventure for military kids. Life in Spain stirred imaginations, sharpened insights and inspired respect for other cultures. From the daytime sky, Spain's landscape looked like a welcoming patchwork quilt. As the plane descended, details of life appeared, including a long runway. Our plane landed at Torrejon Air Force Base on sunny day in May. Within days, we moved into our living quarters at Royal Oaks, Torrejon's military housing community. We marveled at yellow rolling shutters on the windows. A red-tile porch stretched the length of the house. We could see Madrid's skyline from our living room window. We couldn't wait to make friends. Military kids welcomed us and showed us around. Before we knew it, we became part of the fold. We experienced normal American life while at Royal Oaks. We walked to school. American teachers taught us. Little league teams, a community swimming pool, and a movie theater entertained us. Spain's influence fascinated us. Spanish police officers, called "Guardia Civil," guarded the neighborhood. They wore distinguished green uniforms, wide belts, polished boots, and characteristic patent leather flattop hats. They carried machine guns, hugged babies, and insured military kids' safety. Military kids didn't watch much TV. Spanish channels were fuzzy. We watched "Reyna Por El Dia," (Queen for a Day) on Sundays. Military kids listened to episodes of "Gunsmoke" on Air Force radio. Most Americans in Spain could afford household help. Our housekeeper became more like a family member. She helped us learn Spanish. She told stories about the Spanish Civil War, what her family went through, and about Spain's fascist dictator, Francisco Franco. Military kids enjoyed experiences unheard of in the states. For instance, how many kids go on a Sunday drive and see a medieval castle with a mote? How many spend Sunday afternoon witnessing a bullfight, with a matador adorned in traditional costume, his capes flying, bulls charging, and crowds roaring? How many families get to vacation by the Mediterranean Sea or see gold-laden cathedrals, ancient villages, and cultures so foreign to their own? Most military kids in Spain experienced all that and more. Sometimes military kids experienced difficult things. I remember haggard women, with crying infants, pleading for money. We drove past villages where dirty children with no pants played in the street. Witnessing profound poverty made military kids more thankful for what we had and instilled a desire to help those less fortunate. Spanish customs sometimes shocked military kids. Some Spanish people thought nothing of urinating in the streets. Markets displayed hooks of whole, slaughtered animals. Walking into a market with dead pigs and chickens hanging in the corner does nothing for one's appetite. The Spanish people treated us like royalty. Most of 1960's Madrid consisted of nice department stores, museums, the Royal Palace, and great restaurants. Like any other city, Madrid was made up of people from all socio-economic levels. Before we knew it, we had to pack our house and say good-bye to our friends and a country we loved. That was 43 years ago. Military kids remember Spain as if it were yesterday. I recently found a Yahoo group for military kids from Royal Oaks. We share pictures, memories, and an understanding of the impact of our "nomadic" upbringing. We all agree that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Military kids in Spain enjoyed incredible adventures. Some people say you can never go home again. In our case, that is literally true. Torrejon Air Force Base closed in the 1990's. Demolition crews tore Royal Oaks down, and luxury homes replaced her. Military kids from Spain insist that her spirit will never die. She's alive and well in all our hearts. |
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