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Yesterday was a day to smile, hearing about two of my team members trying a new food.  Today, those team members made sure to put me in the position that I had to either try the food or be rude.  It was as terrible as they described.

There I was, minding my own business and having a discussion with the Iraqi medic at the Iraqi base.  I received a call on my hand-held radio to come to the Iraqi Sergeant Major's office from my battle buddy, Sergeant 'KC' Connaughton.

Entering the office, I noticed smiles all around.  Immediately, KC rose, blocking off the doorway.

To my surprise, the sergeant major turned around with cups in one hand and a jug labeled 'SHANEINEH' in the other.  I misspelled the food, which is pronounced "Sha-knee-na," in yesterday's notes.

 To my error, I made a deal with KC and Sergeant Parker, that if they drank the milky liquid, then I would take a sip as well.  You can imagine my surprise when they both quickly down a small cup of the very same drink that just the day before they were cursing, swearing that they would never drink it again.

Putting the cup to my lips, I drew a small sip only to instantly feel the urge to vomit.

My next action was to raze Sergeant Montes, the team medic, on the radio, inviting him to the sergeant major's office.

I doubled-down after, Montes left, challenging KC and Parker to drinking large amounts, maybe 5 ounces, of the liquid in exchange for my drinking of a large sip.  I lost once again.  Though Montes made downing the shaneineh look easy, I know firsthand that it tasted of sour milk and left tiny curds between my teeth. 

 When asked how they could stand drinking so much of it today, KC responded, "We can drink it today, because it was so much more truly horrible yesterday.  This tastes good in comparsion to yesterday's mix." 

The Iraqi Sergeant Major and KC remember his trying shaneineh yesterday.

This was about the time that I realized that we were not simply reminiscing about yesterday's taste testing.

The interpreters loved the drink, claiming that all Iraqis like it.

Sergeants Connaughton and Parker drink, forcing me to eat my words.