Hey Ken,
Funny - from my Amharic lessons I can recall "Tenastaling" and "Terpezza" - there was no real incentive to learn as the only girls you could pursue in 1987were those from approved nations -plus we had a great guy who drove us around and made all our deals for us - on the other hand - when I PCS'd to Madrid as my follow on - I learned to habla might damn quick.

As for the CPO's mess - well, I'd be willing to take a per-diem cut to finance it.