I Officially Discharged!!!

So it's official!! I am officially a civilian! Today I discharged from the army. Of course it wasn't without it's drama in true IDF fashion. But! In the end it happened and that's all that matters.
Last week on the last day of Nativ, I got the papers telling me that for today I go to the discharge unit. I got there bright and early but I couldn't discharge due to some new soldier technicalities of not knowing what to do. After about 6 and a half hours of sitting and playing Coin Dozer and calling different offices to see who can help me speed up the process(which was only supposed to take 15 minutes tops) I finally walked out of the discharge unit a civilian.
I have to say the idea scared me and made me nervous and excited but now that it's actually over I feel fine. Normal, actually relieved and less stressed. I feel like I get to start a new chapter. I can start new things. I know it's only the first few hours but it's not as scary as I thought it'd be. I have work and a place to live. I know I will be okay. I'm a lot luckier then most and I did well for myself.
Im excited to see how I turn out. I learned a lot. I can only hope to use what I learn. I wonder what adventures will be in store for me. I will keep posting on here about adjusting to civilian life as an actual Olah Hadesha. I'm no longer a Lone Soldier but now a new citizen in every aspect of the term. There are bound to be adventures.
I can now post about one incident that I haven't been allowed to because of the army. That I feel like putting in a different post tomorrow.
Have a great week everyone!!! <3 Thank you for sticking through my journey with me!

Course Nativ

So on February 9th I started Course Nativ. It was more of a signing up process. Stand in lines to where you will be. I ended up running into a commander of mine from basic training. She became an officer for   Nativ.
Nativ first off is pronounced Na TEEv.
It is a course for people who have been in the country less then 10 years or for people who are NOT Jewish. Once a week the course goes on a trip somewhere in the country. We close two weekends to see what it's like to observe Shabat. One with the course and the second with an orthodox family.
I have to say I was very reluctant to join Nativ because of all the stereotypes that follow it.
With that said I am very glad I joined because I met some great people and got to hear some amazing stories including a Lone Soldier who is in Golani and in a weird twist of irony lived 5 minutes away from me in NY and lives 5 minutes away from me here, in Ramat Gan.
As for the stereotypes, I don't think they are even stereotypes because of how true they hold. I was very upset to see they were true but I am making the best of it.
We finish the course on April 24th and then on the 29th I finally discharge from the army.
So far my plan is work work work work then in the summer take my first actual vacation. Not only as a free woman but as a person. My last vacation was with my family in like 1998 to New Hampshire. My "vacation" post I had lasted about 1 day before I got a job interview and then work. Every yom sidurim or mehuchedet I've had since then has been me working. Then when I finally get a vacation (which I filled up with a work schedule) I get so sick I cant eat or sleep. Yay.
Im deciding on whether or not to post the trip photos I have shot from all the trips we've taken.
I also can't wait because now I get to post things that I couldn't while in my service.
I'll hopefully post soon. I will definitely be posting my discharge. That you all better believe!!!
<3

Wow So ALOT Has Happened...

Alot has happened since I last posted.
I got a job.
It became 2012!!! Happy New Year!!! I still have the same New Year Resolutions as last year.
I went to a discharge course.
I started Course Nativ.
One roommate finished the army so we got a new one.
And I have been thinking nonstop about what to do with my future.
I also worked myself sick through Passover.

Lets see, where shall I start...
I got a job at the newest store in one of the Tel Aviv Malls. That's right. Forever 21 made its way to Israel! I have to say a full time job plus the army is VERY difficult.
I got the job during my what was supposed to be a vacation. Clearly I have a problem with sitting and relaxing. I really need to learn how to relax.
I spent my new year working. Everyday before that and every day after that.
I really hated on of the people in my building since I left because there was nothing I could do. I felt it was better to save myself from a GIANT and possibly violent break down. Seriously, who gives one girl an entire unit's Avtash? Now let me be the first to say I LOVE avtash but I am not about to do 2 months of day in day out guard duty for a bunch of baby's who don't want to miss one night of drinking, partying, and playing video games. No. Not me. I refused to be their fall girl anymore. I even told my commander that if she agreed with letting me go I wouldn't be showing up. I stayed quiet for too long and it back fired. I did what I was told and instead of getting respect in being a good soldier I got walked on so lazy pieces of shit could do what they want. SOOOOO done with them. So happy about it too.
Anyone who wants to join the army and is reading this- take my advice: CLOSED BASE!
Being on a closed base is honestly the best experience you can have. Being on an open base is like being stuck in an extra few years of school where you have no room for growing mentally and it just holds you back. You get stir crazy and it sucks.

End of February...
Well first off in the beginning of February I started Course Nativ. Yes it is fun...kind of.
Secondly, during the end of February we had a roommate situation.
One of our roommates finished the army and we had about 2 weeks to find a replacement.
It was very stressful. But in the end it worked out. We got a replacement. With that being said- it got me thinking. What do I want to do after the army? Do I want to leave right away? Do I want to stay? Do I want to travel? Should I just pay off the end of my contract? Should I find a replacement? It is all so very confusing.
Going back to America? I can't go back to how it was? Living with my mom? I just spent the past 3 years living by myself paying my own bills and making my own food. Isn't that like a step backward? How can I restart in America if I just went back steps?

Anyhow this very confusing and stressful problem piled onto work and the army took its toll and clobbered me. A little before Passover I started to get sick. I went to the doctor. She being the stupid piece of shit she is told me to see her after vacation even though I needed her immediately since the swolen glands in my neck hurt then and not 2 weeks from then.
I stupidly went to the Passover Sedar for Lone Soldiers. The Ramat Cal Benny Gantz AND thats right AND The Prime Minister Benyamin Netenyahu were there! I was lucky enough to see them. But aside from that I was just so dead. I felt horrible. I couldn't even finish the sedar. I couldn't eat at all. It just hurt so bad. I was cold and hot and just wanted to curl up in my blankets and sleep. My head was pounding. I spent the weekend in my bed. I missed everything. It was a horrible idea for me to go. After the sedar I went to the bikor rofe. Have I ever explained how much I hate them?
I got there at 10pm and didn't leave till 1am for them to tell me to drink water and take an advil............. ..... like.... where the hell did you get your medical degree from? bitch are you stupid? you are a doctor. you see I cant open my mouth that much or move my head dont fuckin give me advil! give me antibiotics! My GLANDS ARE SWOLAN YOU BLIND BAT! Advil is not gonna help. If it didn't help for the past week it sure aint gon help now! Jus sayin. The IDF needs new doctors.
So for my ENTIRE Passover break which ends tomorrow morning when I return to base I have been barely able to eat except for a few jello's and little sips of water. Thank you doctors for your wonderful doctor help and brains. I missed a week of work. You know vacations are fun if you can relax not actually be sick. That's not fun. So I get to go to base tomorrow and hopefully I get to see a doctor.

That's the end of my little rant. lol Everything from December 21,2011 to today April 14,2012 in a nutshell.
OH AND on Feb 15,2011 I was officially promoted to Sergeant (Samal) but of course thanks to Course Nativ I STILL cant put it on my uniform...I so went behind their backs and put it on