'Real World' cast member discusses life beyond the camera

Huddled in the bunker amid a sea of camoflauged bodies, Rachel Moyal wondered if she should give up her spot in the cramped space and let her sergeant in. She remembered how she baby-sat his kids before the war and wished the overcrowded bunker could fit a few more bodies.

Iraq war veteran and former "Real World: Austin" cast member Rachel Moyal spoke last night in Goldstein Auditorium, an event sponsored by the Winnick Hillel Center at Syracuse University. SU actually brought back many good memories for Moyal, who auditioned for "Real World" at the university a few years ago in an open casting call.

Speaking to the small audience, the Southern California native gave a flashback into her childhood.

"We didn't have much money, and sometimes we had to take showers at the public pool," said Moyal. "I remember one time our car got repossessed in the middle of the night and my dad was chasing it down the street."

After high school with aspirations to become a nurse and lacking funding or good grades for scholarships, Moyal decided to join the Army and become a combat nurse in 2000. Moyal thought the Army would be fun being able to wear a cute uniform, tend to handsome boys and travel the world. Little did she know her unit stationed in Fort Drum in Watertown would be one of the first to be deployed to Iraq.

"It happened so fast; it was my worst nightmare," Moyal said. "I remember not wanting the plane ride to end and thinking about how I was here and for everyone else in American it was just a regular Thursday morning."

Kuwait was Moyal's first stop in the Middle East, where she learned quickly her life was going to drastically change. Armed with a 9-millimeter strapped to her leg, a flak vest and a gas mask, Moyal realized the Army was not what she expected.

Moyal was the sole nurse in her unit and only had an LPN, which is a two-year degree. Possessing only the Army's equivalent to a first-aid kit, Moyal had to trade and scrounge for any available medical supplies she could get her hands on. When Moyal's unit crossed the border into Iraq a few days later, it seemed like a completely different world.

"I just remember seeing big tanks and dead bodies on the side of the road," Moyal said. "There were a lot of dead dogs too."

To avoid being a target of the Iraqis, Moyal had to hide the fact that her father is Israeli. "Iraqis would say, 'Hey, you look like my girlfriend, what are you?' and I would just say I don't know," Moyal said as she grinned and shrugged her shoulders.

Despite all the pressures of living in constant fear, Moyal managed to find solace in keeping a journal to write down her feelings and making what she called "Rachel time." Every Sunday she would find time to make use of the nail polish kit her mom sent her and give herself a pedicure.

"I would think to myself, 'Oh I have such cute little pink toes under my combat boots," Moyal said.

Viewers of "The Real World: Austin" may remember when Rachel got angry at fellow cast member Nehemiah and threw a temper tantrum. Moyal believes this had a lot to do with post-traumatic stress syndrome that affected many of the fellow soldiers she spoke with after the war. Being in the war taught Moyal to see things from other people's perspectives, which caused her to mention her outspoken "Real World" cast member Nehemiah.

"I'm glad I did the show, because I wouldn't have been able to meet people who had such different opinions about the war or people who sleep in until 5 o'clock," Moyal said affectionately of cast member Wes.

Moyal gave a little update on cast members she kept in touch with, which included everyone except for Danny and Melinda. Rolling her eyes as she remembered the heated exchange on "The Real World: Austin" reunion, Moyal said, "Hopefully Danny and Melinda will come down to Earth since the 'Real World: Key West' is on the air now."

In response to a question about editing strategies of the producers, Moyal said everyone was represented accurately, and unfortunately that includes the embarrassing stuff.

"They showed a lot of Lacey's bad side, but she is still one of the most intelligent people I know," Moyal said.

Audience members enjoyed learning about the secrets behind the infamous "Real World" cameras.

"I enjoyed the inside scoop and reality television and how they didn't have light switches," said Nathan Muller, a freshmen television, radio and film major.

Life on the set of "The Real World" house was a little strange at first for Moyal, who isn't used to having to give a 10-minute warning before she leaves the house. Moyal's typical day was a lot less glamorous than some would think. She woke up at noon, got coffee, hung around the house until 9, hit the bars until 2 and lived it up at the after-party in the house until 4.

"We look like we were really uncultured, laying around the house all day and partying six nights a week," Moyal said. "It was hard to do anything because most places like malls and museums wouldn't allow cameras inside."

As far as getting used to the cameras, Moyal had no problem due to the familiarity of the faces behind them.

"They have these ex-models on the crew that we aren't allowed to talk to, and to this day they are the most gorgeous people I have seen," Moyal said.

Even though contact was strictly forbidden until after the show, one camera man whispered "happy Passover" to Moyal during the Jewish holiday that they both celebrated.

Returning to a normal life, Moyal still lives with her boyfriend she dated during the show and plans on attending State University of New York at Albany or University of Massachusetts Amherst in the fall to finish her nursing degree. As for "The Real World," Moyal plans to participate in the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" if it is held during the summer.

"I am not going to be one of those 30-year-olds still doing 'Road Rules,'" Moyal said.