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

A Small Mini Blog Post

Hey so this isn't really an update. More just like a random blog post of a few sentences. I decided I'd blabber just to make it seem slightly longer and more important then it actually is. Its actually a request. I made a Facebook page for the blog. Due to the amount of emails, messages, and friend requests I decided to make a page for the blog. In the two days it has been up it got 50 followers. Granted those followers are from my Friend Invites. I would like to send the link for those of you on Facebook and to share it with you guys. Hopefully this will help get the blog to reach more people. I would be absolutely thrilled if you guys could take the time to "Like" the page and even maybe "Share" it on Facebook as well. I also have a twitter for my blog as well. I'm not sure if you guys knew this.
My blog's Facebook page and My blog on Twitter. My twitter doesn't really get much use except for small little updates about a singer I love called Porcelain Black. She is very awesome and so unique. Her music I consider to be perfect for me because it is rock n roll and pop mixed together. Something I love and have been looking for in artists for a while now. It was either play rock songs or play pop songs. Now I can do both at once and I love it. She's perfect.
An update on Israel- It is definitely not summer in Israel anymore. Once again it has become "winter". It has been cold, windy, and rainy. I am kinda loving it but at the same time I despise the cold. I need more winter clothes here. There might not be snow in central Israel but there is all the way up north at Mount Hermon where they have a ski slope. I am kind of hoping to go there this winter. I miss snow. Actually I miss everything about the fall/winter months. I never thought I would but I definitely do. I miss the colors and holidays of fall and the smells and lights of winter. I really miss Halloween. It sucked that I had to be on base for it and didn't get to dress up for it. I couldn't go out because of money. I didn't even have money to buy food. It sucks. The Israeli Army really doesn't pay enough for Lone Soldiers with a yomiot schedule. Yomiot is where you go to base every day. You don't sleep on base, you sleep at home in your own bed. In order to survive you have to pretty much be a hermit. You can't go out with your friends, you can't buy those fun foods like cookies or Bamba or a hamburger from the hamburger shop even though they only cost 20 shekels. Every shekel counts and goes towards rent, bills, and food. You can't live on a kibbutz because as a Lone Soldier you aren't allowed a car. If you have  a car you don't need help from the army. You pretty much can't do anything even if it means buying new clothes because your old ones are worn out. It really sucks and it's really difficult. Due to a new rule on base I can't even work. This sucks. Now I have to figure out how to get off base to go to work. I know my commander will help me. She's awesome. She also hates this new rule the Rasar put in effect for all soldiers. It's highly unfair and has a lot of soldiers upset. We have to be on base way earlier then we need to be and we can't leave even for work or a problem at home. Dude needs to lighten up. We are the only building on the entire base of Tel Hashomer that does this. Tel Hashomer is gigantic! You need a car just to get to the middle of the base. To get from one side of the other by foot could take about a half hour to an hour. So yeah only building out of a small city kind of sucks.
So right now what Im trying to do is figure out how to survive. The Lone Soldier Hostel is out of the question because I don't feel safe there. So I'd rather struggle and get in trouble for going to work then deal with this butt heads crap.

With my Facebook page I want to try and make a picture specifically for it, if you have any ideas let me know. :)
http://www.facebook.com/Fromnytoisrael- Facebook page. So please like and share my page. I would greatly appreciate it. Look through the photos and choose one for the page's main photo. :)

Thanks guys! Enjoy the page!

Back On Base

Hey Guys!!!
I actually have something to post for you. :)
I left off with needing to fly back to Israel.

So I get back to Israel after the wonderfully disastrous flight from the airline in aforementioned post. The airline managed in succeeding in screwing up two flights of luggage. They sent my flights luggage on another plane, and their luggage on mine. So yay! No clothes. No gifts. No nothing. Really incompetent people.
Anywho, I get back to my apartment and find some not so great things due to a particular roommate (That situation ended dramatically last night. Some people are just so pathetically stupid. Due to the army I can't write about it. Oh how I would LOVE to though; it'd make an excellent post.) Aside from that everything is fine and soon enough it is time to go back to base for the first time in a month and a half. To be on base was great! I loved seeing all the people I missed. I did end up getting my things from the airline a day later so I was able to give gifts to everyone. I really missed everyone. Including people I thought were dreadfully annoying.

After a few days my commander asked to talk to me in his office where he told me that I can't go to officers course. There wasn't much I can do at that point. He says no, it's no. I didn't let that get me down though. I was just happy to be back. I figured if I can't sign on more time or be an officer I'll make due with the time I had left. Make it memorable. About 2 weeks later he called me into his office again and asked if I wanted to sign on more time and I said yes. Yosi(my commander) said that he would move me into Tkzivim. I can sign time there. I never did a course nor do I have a job where you can sign on time but in Tkzivim, I have a chance at changing that. After about a month I finally changed to Tkzivim.
Because I am in Tkzivim that means I now have to be at the Keriya(Israeli Pentagon) a couple of times a month. It's kind of a pain in the butt with all the security but I really like this job. I finally have a reason to not take vacation everyday. Sure, I loved coming to base everyday and being in the Leshca and being known as the Secretary to the Unit Commander but in reality I finished my day at 1030am and had to stay there till 5 and I had nothing to do all day. I only had 3 days to learn everything which is not nearly enough. My predecessor had about a month to three months to learn everything. So I am completely learning by trial and error. I have to say it is frustrating but a lot of fun at the same time.

Yosi finished the army at the end of October. We had Succot Vacation which was about a week and when we came back it was his prisa(party). It was really sad to see him go. He was such an amazing commander who was loved by so many. He really helped me so much. I am so thankful to him. It was also really awesome and great to hear him mention my name in his "Going -Away" speech. I know that the new Unit Commander will do great. Im still helping out in the Leshca because the new kid needs help(still- can anyone say facepalm?).
 During the one week off I finally took a vacation for the first time. I honestly did not know what to do with myself. I saw my friends like Sam and Lauren who both just did Aliyah. Also in September I did a modeling shoot and I received the photos. So maybe thats what I will do. My next post I will have specifically for the shoots I did so everyone can see them.

Id have sooo much more to write if I wasn't told that I had to keep my mouth shut on it. I'm kind of liking this stuff and this new job.

Also I'd like to thank Nefesh B'Nefesh for the Rosh Hashana gift. I loved the Reeses and Neckwarmer.
I love gifts! Feel free to send them! lol jk

Check out Laurens blog right here on Blogger. It's called Liba Sipur. Enjoy it :) It's her story of doing Aliyah from USA. Completely different then mine with a totally different range of experiences.

Airline That I DESPISE!

So I first need to say how THANKFUL I am for getting a free plane ride back home and then back to Israel. I was able to see my family and talk to my Aunt for the last time before her passing.
I am very very very thankful to FIDF(Friends of the IDF) for giving one of their donated tickets to me.

Although I do have to say that the airline that they chose was ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE! They were so rude and inconsiderate. I wasn't even rude or in the way. They were just horrible to anyone that wasn't Russian or didn't speak Russian. There was seriously no point in flying from Israel to Russia to NY. No point. It was waaay more expensive then it needed to be. Then the IDF wonders why they don't have money. LEARN HOW TO FIND SALES!!! The IDF wants to save money yet they wasted so much on that ticket. They went for the worst seats at the most expensive price possible. I talked to other soldiers who used Transaero airlines and the only ones that had an okay flight was ONE BOY!. The rest despised it. All of their flights were delayed for ours. The flight was a pervert. You'd think it'd be fun to meet the pilot. Yeah...no.

Coming back from America was just as bad. The workers at JFK were just INFURIATED and I mean INFURIATED with them. The workers kept calling them idiots with no brains who need to start using common sense. They over charged so many people on luggage having charges coming out of the toes. There were at least 12 other fliers that I saw while waiting on line who ended up arguing with the same woman who apparently charged everyone for every little thing and then sending them in the wrong direction to pay baggage fees.

It was a disgrace. It is one airline I will make sure to stay clear of. The only good thing about the flight back to Israel was the Mini Haagendaz Ice Cream they gave out for desert. You can NEVER go wrong with Haaggendaz.

An Important Day for the IDF: The Return of Gilad Shalit

In 2006 Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Today at 6am, October 18,2011, he has been released.

1941 days he was held in captivity. He's back.
In exchange for Gilad, Netanyahu agreed to releasing 1027 convicted terrorists. All of whom have murdered Israelis.
The families of the victims have sent many failed petitions asking not let these terrorists go free.

This is Gilad with his new rank and in the arms of his father and Benjamin Netanyahu(Israel's Prime Minister).

Going to bed last night you could feel the difference in the air. It was filled with anticipation. We were all wondering what would happen. Would everything go as planned? Will he really be coming home? 

There was also fear. Now that 1027 convicted terrorists are free- what will happen? What will happen to these families? What will these terrorists do? Hamas said that they would return to their struggle. 

The only thing that can be done now is to wait. To wait and see what happens. How many will live? How many will die? Who will attack again? When will they attack again? We know, we feel it that they will attack again. They swore their lives to the destruction of Israel.

As happy as I am to know that Israel does not leave a soldier behind and that Gilad is home and safe- what will happen to us? Was the correct choice made?

I personally have mixed feelings because I don't know whats going to happen. Im happy he's safe- but what will the terrorists do?

Here are some websites covering Gilad:

His first interview on Egyption TV

The Guardian(UK website) full coverage and timeline of the past 5 years

The start of today

Now we wait and pray for the best.

(תודה אלדד) :)

Passover Holiday 2011

Benny Gantz. The new head of the IDF

So passover was absolutely amazing. Probably the most fun I've had in a while. A very long time I should say. It was non stop laughter and just a really great time over all. I met all these new people that I can say are going to be friends for some time.

We met in Binyamina and took a bus to a hotel in Olga. It was absolutely amazing.

It was like Mickve Alon Reunion. Actually that's exactly what it was. 

I should probably tell you guys that this was only for Lone Soldiers on closed bases and combat positions. Im very thankful I got to go. I'm glad I switched to my new job or I never would have been able to go because I am on an open base with the only combat I have to do is make the Paper Shredder Machine Thingy that I forgot the name of work.

We all got separated into rooms and groups. I had the BEST roommate ever. Her name is Karen. She is also from NY. She was so much fun. We actually met up several times after the passover dinner. She is such a great person and Im really glad to know her and call her friend. 

I also had the best group ever. צוות 27/שולחן 13 כבוד!!

We all had to go into this giant room and sit down where Benny Gantz came and talked to us and surprised a Lone Soldier by having his parents stand behind him. Everyone started crying it was so moving. Photos were strictly prohibited during this even, so naturally Karen and I took photos. :P

After that it was free time or see a comedian who was funny. Then we had the passover sedar where they had raffles. Didn't win anything. Then it was free time until the next night at dinner. 

The free time was spent sleeping and hanging out with our group. I think we were the only group to spend out free time together. We had such an awesome "group commander". This was such a great 2 days. Im so going to remember it forever. After those 2 days I returned to base for half days everyday while everyone was on vacation.

Me, Adam(not in our group but a friend of mine, and Karen

Lior and I.

Me and my really awesome light up ball :P

The second passover dinner I went to my friend Shiran's house with her family. It was so much fun. I spent the entire night speaking hebrew. So I was really proud of myself. It was such a great passover over all.

I really need to go now. My bus is in 20 minutes and Im still in PJ's and I live on the 7th floor!!!

Sooo I Went To Beit Lid...

And yes. Yes I did get lost. :P 

                                                 I realized I never showed the Nahal symbol except when I put up a picture of David in uniform. I think I put one of him in here. I dont remember to be honest and hey, whats the harm in another picture.

Okay Onward with the blog update!!!

So I had an interview at the base Beit Lid on thursday. It's a base outside of Netanya. It has 3 units in the base. Mem Tsadik- The Military Police. The Paratroopers. And Nahal. Me being me, of course, got lost. It's a gift. I am very glad I left an hour earlier then I needed to.

Getting to the base was pretty successful. Navigating around that base is something else. IT'S HUGE! 

It took me almost an hour to find the right place. I think I asked 3 or 4 different people how to find the  area I needed. Not the building. The area. Okay I remember now. Three people to find the area. One to tell me what building. And one girl who was with two guys to tell me where the person is. Thankfully they actually worked for her so I was 15 minutes to spare till 10am. 

That means I was 15 minutes early for my interview...which was at 10.

In normal army fashion I had to wait about an hour for my 5 minute interview. 5 MINUTES!!! Hamesh Dekot!!! 5 FUCKING MINUTES! Why is it for things that take 10 or less minutes you need to wait an hour or more? 

Okay but no. It didn't go that bad. The people were nice. It took a little while before we all got the guts to start talking to eachother but you know it was fun. One of them had a tattoo on each arm. The left arm said "Good boys go to heaven." And on the right arm, it said "Bad boys go to Amsterdam." He also went to Michve Alon. So that was really cool to find out. They wished me luck as I went into my interviewer. She was really busy and I could tell but she was still so nice. I was interviewed for being a Pey Pey. It's basically a secretary position. A Pey Pey is the secretary to the Mem Pey. They have the "attendance" list for the entire unit before 10am every day. Attendance List is the best, easiest, most basic translation I can think of for what they do. It's the list of every soldier and where they are. If they are home, hafnia, somewhere on base. Anywhere. A pey pey has to know where every single soldier is. In each unit theres about 200 hundred soldiers. Im using unit in a very broad term because I don't really feel like translating every word and explaining everything. It's a small unit of a bigger unit of an even bigger unit. Blahta Blahta Blah. You get the picture.

The pey pey also (if they want, it's a job you need to make your own) try and keep the moral of all the combat soldiers up. Well the combat soldiers in their unit. The pey pey is the best friend, mom, dad, brother/sister to all the soldiers. Always there for them. Doing whatever is in their power to make the soldiers feel better during their intensive training. Always being happy and optimistic. 

To me the hardest part sounds like the attendance list. But it also sounds like a very rewarding and fun position.

Unfortunately the position is closed until the next Combat Draft date which is in two months. So after talking to my katzin(officer) and being told to return on Monday, not Sunday(that will be a blog) I can try and wait it out two months or find a different job. Maybe one that is similar. Im very fortunate to have a great great officer. He is really going out of his way to help me and find a great job. A job that fits me. Im really very lucky and very grateful he is doing this.

Anyway, after I left I went and picked up a package from my awesomeist most favortist best friend/ sister ever. Bonnie. That's her. ->  She sent me True Blood and Dexter. God was I dying without my True Blood. Im finally caught up with every episode. Can not wait for Sunday's episode. So excited. You don't even know. 

This vampire obsession of mine I think is hitting a high peak. Ive been obsessed since I was 4. Is that good? *I MUST NOTE! I am not a Twilight Die Hard or what ever they are called. FUCK NO. Im an original and I will be always and forever. You know Cristopher Lee, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice. The Original Vampire Lover. Thankyou for youre time in reading this ridiculous note* That's like what 16 years? Im only 20. Should I get counseling or something? 

No that would just be a waste of time. I can just find someone with an obsession like mine. Ain Biya.

Okay it's bed time. Aka. 122 am. Woops.

But I had an excellent thursday and friday. I want everyone to have a happy and safe Shabat. Shabat Shalom everyone!!! :D I will update Sunday afternoon or Monday morning before my meeting with my officer which lead to maybe 2 posts in one day.

 Our departing picture: The Nahal and Israeli flags. And also the Nahal Symbols. The second one is slightly hard to see and for some reason the color is messed up. :/ It's more blue then green. Nahal is green. Which by the way it's Bonnie's favorite color. Fun Fact? I think... Anywho, Lila Tov and Shabat Shalom :)

Wow. Its Been A While! Sorry Bout That 0:)

Okay wow. So it has been a while. A very long time... almost 2 months. Im not gonna lie I have had time to update, I just didnt. I didnt really want to. Nothing has really changed that much. So for this blog I will update you on what has changed.
1. I left David's house. Im now living in the biat hayal (Soldiers House) in Ramat Gan. I highly suggest if you are a soldier to stay at this one. The people are great.

2. I FINISHED MICHVE ALON!!!! I have pictures!!! (also I have the single picture from the first ceremony)

3. I got my uniforms tailored. They look so much better on me now.

4. I had my first Regila. Regila is a 4 days off from the army. Its a vacation. They usually put it on a weekend so it seems longer.

5.IM OFFICIALLY IN NAHAL!!! The best unit ever!!! <3 <3 No like literally. Best Unit Ever. Okay so maybe its my opinion but out of all the people and soldiers I have met all of the coolest and nicest people(including a certain someone who I love very much and has been my best friend and rock through all these tough times) are in Nahal.

6.Im now in the process of finding a job in the army. A job is called Tafkid. I just had a photography interview. I didn't get it but you know, Im not upset about it. Im actually pretty okay with the fact I didn't get it. I didn't have the money to buy the equipment they needed, so its only logical that they give it to someone who had everything they needed.  Tomorrow I return to Tel Hashomer for more jobs to choose from. If I can, I will write a blog about that. Im going to update more now that I have more time.

Okay so now, PICTURE TIME!!!

Here is the only picture from my first ceremony at Michve Alon.

Okay now here are pictures from the finishing ceremony at Michve Alon. This was a practice shot. Okay now here is right before the ceremony when we were all in line too start marching. A little behind the scenes action. You know. :P Okay now here is me after.  I want to thank Hana Shavi for these photos. To be honest it sucked. I hated that everyone had friends and family there. I could tell that my commanders pitied me. It was nice that they came up to me and started talking to me but still it hurt. I was all alone at one of the most happiest moments in my life. You go into this thinking it wont be so hard to be alone because you will have your plugah and your commanders but when you see everyone going to their family and friends... it hurts. Its a low blow and it sucks. Its not a feeling I want to feel again but I put myself in a position where I know it will be felt again.

Okay so because the course is over we "broke distance" with our mefakdote. I have to say it was really weird at first. But its kind of cool. They are some of the nicest and most coolest girls Ive ever met.

 The top row Left to Right: Jessica, Sharon, Tamar, Jenna, Mirlagros. Bottom row Left to Right: Doni, Tamar( She was one of our mefakdote. She is probably my favorite.), Erica and I.

Okay I dont really know what else to write for now. But I will have more stuff soon. Promise.

Oh check out this other blog by a lone soldier. He is in Combat. His name is Tzvi

http://tzvidar.wordpress.com/

Hospital and Gimilim.

Alright so lets sum up the past 2 weeks. Still no Kibbutz after saying yes and yelling at my mefakedet and mishakitash.
Got super sick. Or should I say still sick. When I went back last sunday I was still sick. Okay bitniim. Then Gimilim on base. So by tuesday I was just so sick I couldnt stand by myself. I couldnt eat. Yay. Awesome.
So I asked to go to the hospital. They figured Id be out by that night. SORRY BITCHES! you were wrong. I was admitted. Tuesday to Thursday I was in the hospital. Went to Davids house. Monday went back to the doctor since I have only been getting worse. Yay. Had my gimilim extended because whatever I have has spread to my chest. Fun. It hurts so bad that they gave me extra strength pain killers. Then the hospital wanted my results so they extended my gimilim. Im slightly upset about that. I bought all this food for my guard duty this week and now I cant bring it. Ill eat it here and what ever is left over Ill bring thurrrr.
Soo this whole time Ive been in contact with my mefakedet and my Mem mem. I have been trying to be in touch with my Mishakitash but she has taken a nice break I guess or shes just ignoring me.
Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook know a little more then what Im putting on here. And yeah its kinda hard to be here(living where I am right now) You guys understand(and I hope you can understand that Id like to keep it private).
But I had so much fun just spending time with Davids mom. Shes alot of fun. My hebrew definitely gets better the more time I spend with her. Im glad I get to spend time with her. Its kinda hard to be here because I hate asking for help. Im not someone who likes help. I like to give help not being on the other end. But everyone needs help sometimes. You just have to accept it. It sucks to be sick here too because I couldnt really talk eat or move to much and I wanted to help.
So now Im just watching tv, talking to my friend on facebook, and writing this blog. Hopefully sleep soon. Ill write more next week I guess...I dont know.
Im just gonna keep trying to stay positive in hopes something will change since I cant seem to change anything. Id really like my own bed to sleep in- it would make me feel so much better. Thats where the true home is. When you are sleeping in your own bed. In the mean time here is a happy photo!!!

Look a squirrel with a sandwich!! PC:Bonnie Beckman

Kibbutz Givat Haim.

Sooo where to begin... hmm.... The kibbutz. Its outside of Hadera. About the only thing right with it was the fact that Hadera is somewhat related to it.
I get kibbutz arent top notch. Not once did I ask or say I want top notch. I said I wanted a place very close to Or Akiva, Caesarea, Hadera region.
The room was fine smelt a little bad but what ever. I can change that. The people were nice. But to be honest I said from the very beginning I didnt want a kibbutz for obvious reasons. Mainly the fact that buses are no where near the kibbutz and I didnt want to be adopted and taken care of by a bunch of people I dont know. Yeah the positive is it doesnt cost me any money. Thats about it. Id get have a bed and it wont cost anything.
I need someone to drive me everywhere. Thats including to eat in the Food Room. Fun.
So I told the Mishakitash yes. Because I really dont have a choice. Fun. She asked when I can move in, I answered it saying maybe thursday.
I go back to base. I get sick. Fun.
Monday worst day ever. So sick to the point where I cant stand. I got to the hospital late at night. Had a very bad bad panic attack to where they hooked me up to a ventilator so I could breath. They told me go to the isolation room till 9am the next day. 9am I go back to the doctor. I have isolation room till 3. Then at 3 back to the doctors where they tell me to go home.
Wednesday and Thursday Yom Sidurim I start my aliyah process. Friday I go to the doctor. He says Im too over worked, over stressed, and over tired.
Oh yeah what was it that I forgot. Oh yes! Me and the kibbutz! The mishakitash told my commander(mefakedet) that I said no to the kibbutz. Fun fucking shit. Fun Fucking shit.
Fuck this bullshit. Im seriously done now. This is just bullshit. Fuck it all. Like honestly, is it because Im American? Sorry but not all Jews are rich and not all Americans are rich either. Yeah fucking great. Help only the french and the russians because americans dont need it. Im fucking done with this bullshit. I cant take it anymore.
My life is officially falling apart from all angles. You name it. Its happened. So what the fuck ever.

I turned 20 and Second Week of Course

So on Sunday was my birthday. I didn't do anything. I went to the base. Got yelled at. Went to bed. That was my 20th birthday. The second week was officially different from the previous weeks. The discipline levels are alot stricter. We are no longer in tironut thats for sure. But in a way its also easier. We sit in a classroom all day.  Seriously thats our new thing. Now we spend a good portion of the day learning hebrew. I really hope my hebrew is better by the end of this. It sucks to be here and not understand what people are saying. It makes me feel bad that I make them speak another language or we cant help each other because of such a barrier.
The whole day isnt hebrew classes. We have cleaning every morning and sometime at night. Also we have the raising of the flag. I got to raise the flag on Wednesday and lower it on thursday.
My mefakedet started asking us about what jobs we want. Right now shes trying to get me a photography job. I asked for one where I can help people. But we cant be certain till we see how my hebrew level is.
My hebrew class is easy because its what I learned in Ulpan at Tel Aviv University. We just finished the letters. I guess review cant hurt anybody. At least I get to have 100's on everything till the rest of the class finally gets to the same level. Then the problems will begin.
This week I had to go to 2 hospitals for tests. Monday was to a hospital in Haifa for blood tests and Thursday to a hospital in Tzfat for Asthma tests.
Next Week I have the dentist again. Yay. Its going to be a short week since we leave Wednesday for another Yom Sidurim. Im going to have a short week.
On sunday(tomorrow) I dont go in till late so I can look at a kibbutz.
If its good I will take it. Then Ill have a place to live. :) Ill be able to save up enough money to get an apartment.
Okay so thats everything for now. Till Next week guys.
:)
Oh and thanks to Linn for sending me a message. Its so cool knowing that my blog is reaching you all the way up in Norway! I hope it helps. :D

The Hebrew Course Week 1.

After the Tekkas everything changed. Alot of rules changed. They have been slightly hard to get used to. As time goes on its getting easier. The rules take some time to get used to. Also because they were told to us in hebrew.
We officially got rid of our M-16s. Now that we are in a course we dont need a gun. Our last day with them was June 3rd.
The day after the tekkas we had our test to complete basic training to see if we understood everything. Thankfully I passed. The highest you could receive on each test was 20. There were 5 tests. My lowest score was 15. The other's were 18 and 17. Not bad at all. They werent as hard as I thought they'd be.
Wednesday I went to the dentist. Had some surgery. Thursday I felt like absolute crap. I think it was my body reacting from all the novicane. My head was just killing me. I couldnt stand, eat, or do anything. It was horrible. But we got rid of the M-16s. Highlight of the day.
Friday we got to leave. I went to my friend Sharon's house. We spent saturday at the beach and then went to Mikes Place with her cousin for my birthday. Then Sunday we went back to the base.
Sunday is the start of a new blog ;)

End of Tironut Tekkas (Ceremony)

Alot has happened these past few weeks. And by alot i mean ALOT!

On the May 31 after going to bed our Mefakedot did a drill with us where they pretend we are under attack. We figured it was one last test. Nope. They made us get into our Aleph Uniforms. Uniform Aleph is the uniform that we wear in public. Uniform Bet is the uniform we wear on base. We had 7 minutes to get into Aleph and make a Chet down in front of the building. Our Mefakedot presented us with our own official Michve Alon Unit Tags. 

It goes on the shoulder of our Uniform Aleph. Im really proud I got it. Im very very proud of myself.

Okay so for the actual ceremony. It was so so hot out. It was scheduled for 4 pm. I dont have any pictures of the ceremony though. I didnt have anyone show up to my ceremony so yeah, no pictures. I took some off of facebook that I found from friends. They arent that good. If I find better ones I will put the better ones up. Hopefully in my next ceremony I can have people come.

Okay back to the ceremony. In the very beginning when we were all lined up the Aerosap said that the Mefakedot, herself, and the Memem would be giving their guns to those they felt worked the hardest. In the ceremony we are being sworn in with M-16s. So if you received the M-16 of your Mefakedet or the Aerosap or the Memem its a very high honor. It means your surperiors respect you and see your hard work. Also your not being sworn in on your training gun. 

In order of power it goes as followed from least to highest: Mefakedot -> Aerosap -> Memem. 

The Memem has the most power and thats the highest honor you can get.

My mefakedet gave her gun to a girl named Anna from my group. The Aerosap gave her gun to my friend Sharon. Sharon definitely deserved it. Still does too. Shes a hard worker. We both work our asses off and take the army seriously. Not many of the girls do so its very easy to tell who really wants to be there. 

The Memem gave her gun to me. :D I wanted to cry. I am so glad that she sees how hard I am working. It is such an honor. I hope I can live up to the expectations that I have now set for myself. She told me she sees how hard Im working and even with all the problems I have Im not just giving up. She sees how well I put up with my Tzevvet. Im so happy to say I received such an honor. It really means so much to me. Im really glad my hard work is being noticed. 

 Thats my Plugot. Course Lahava.

After the Tekkas we had 50 minutes to do what ever. So I met my friend Sharon's family then just kinda sat down and talked to other soldiers. That was about it before time was up and we went to eat. I was lucky and went back to Kitchen Duty. Note that I love kitchen duty. Its ALOT of fun. You dont really do anything until its the guys turn to eat. They are funny. So they make it worth it because they are just so ridiculous and really dont know how to eat. But clean up time... yeah thats not so much fun.

Okay so till next time guys :)

Home Searching :/

This cat got me in trouble by the way.  You aren't allowed to have animals on you or pet them when in uniform, Its really really hard for me. When ever I see them I just want to play with them. I love animals. Some General walking by saw that she jumped on me and started pointing and yelling at me. I had no idea what was going on untill I realized the cat was on me. hehe silly me.

So anyway this whole apartment searching thing is slightly difficult. Everything is so expensive and its obvious that the army wont help me since they put me in this position. I hope I can work everything out soon. I found out where a few soldier hostels are. I by myself found good ones. It just goes to show how much effort they put into their Lone Soldiers.
But anyway Im positive I will get through this and I will have a place to live. I will be okay.

Cute kitty. Right before I got yelled at by the General dude. :P

Nacham: Nachal Headquarters at Tel Hashomer

Today I had to go to the Nachal base... I found out after 6 or 7 hours that I wasnt even supposed to be there and that they messed up with my file. The day wasnt a total loss though. I learned how to get lunch. I also met some cool people.

I had to be there at 10 I got there around 940 at the main entrance of Tel Hashomer but I was lost. I was so far from where I needed to be. Im so grateful for my friend Atai. Such a great guy. I love him. Hes so funny. Im so glad hes stationed at Tel Hashomer. He came and got me and helped me find where I needed to be. Thank god he came with a car. It was far. 

I got inside the building to the floor I needed to be on and was then told I needed to be in another building. Sooo I went to the other building. Nope! Not where I needed to be. I got to the right room where I met some awesome people. Sarite Shiron and Idan and some other people. I think Idan was his name explained how boring it was to be there thats why everyone was so excited when I came. It was fun. It was probably the highlight of my day. They were so funny. One of the other guys brought me to wear I needed to be and talked with the people in charge this time so now they couldnt just have me going back and forth. 

So basically it was another waiting game for a few hours. I got in and sat down for 2 minutes before the new person I had to talk to told me wait outside...again. An hour or two later he told me to go get myself lunch. Thats where I learned how to get lunch from some random soldier.  Then when I came back from lunch it was 2 hours of waiting before they came out a paper telling me I had to go to Lishkat Gius tomorrow and that they messed up with my file. I met a nice soldier named Gilad and he called the whole mess up thing. He had a cool tattoo saying Carpe Diem. I was impressed that it was in english. He was super nice and fun to talk for the last hour of waiting. So now we are up to here. Tomorrow I supposedly go to Basic Training. I wont know till tomorrow. Im worried, nervous, and scared. I know I shouldnt be but I still am. I hate extreme exercise in hot hot heat. It always makes me feel sick. I hate it. 

So I guess we find out tomorrow. Right now its bed time just in case. I dont want to be falling asleep all day like I was today while waiting. Next time Im waiting and want to sleep I should use the chair/couches instead of the floor. Lesson learned from today. Chairs not floors. ;)

Okay good night everyone!!!

Happy Mothers Day Mommy!!!! <3

Happy Mothers Day Aunt Annette! <3

1st Day!!! Oh Shhhheeeeeeat

So today was my first day in the army. I got my ID, my uniform, and all the other things I need. No. No gun. I don't need a gun.
So everything I bought (told to bring with me) they gave me. Yay. So not only did I have the giant army bag, I had my own giant bag. Woot. Fun stuff man let me tell you.
They gave me Pepper Spray. I dont really know what Im gonna do with that...
The whole day was pretty much just waiting around like usual and walking back and forth in confusion.
I had my teeth photographed. My face x-rayed. Hand/ Finger prints scanned and my hand writing. My blood taken by the evil finger prick. I hate that thing. Always have, always will.
They took an absolutely horrible ID photo. It sucks. I hate it.  It gets me free bus and train rides though. So it has a use. Well it has many but I like the free bus/train rides. Which by the way I got 2 today. :) My first free bus rides. It was going back to the dorms. Which Im sure you are probably wondering why Im back at the dorms... Ill tell ya. I HAVE NO IDEA! They said go home. I asked why.
They said that Nachal has everything figured out so it will be easier for me to just come back on Sunday in the morning.
Would have been alot better to know this from the start. I dont know. Im just sayin.
When they called me to come in today, they said bring enough clothing and supplies to last 2 weeks. Okay I did that but they gave me everything I needed today annnnd I didnt even need it. But hey okay. Im not gonna complain because today Im officially an Israeli Soldier. Hopefully sunday I can finish everything in signing up as a Lone Soldier and finding out where Im going to live. I get free bus rides. woot.
I celebrated by getting Dominos for dinner. Now Im wiped. I NEED to sleep. Night leculam! I guess When I come back from the army that starts on Sunday I will have a great post.
Till then everybody. Night.

Phone Call

Okay so at 818am I got the phone call from Avishag to come down at 10am. So I guess this is when I start since I will be getting my uniform today. I dont know how long Im staying for. I find out when I get to the base. Okay, its 9am and I have to Ill write when I get back. :)

Still Waiting...

So Monday Night at the pot luck dinner my awesome friends got me a little brownie cake with candles. They are so amazing I love them.
Rebecca and Lauren:

Sam:

Nate:

 Nate has a blog by the way. I think it would be a good read. http://nateabroad.tumblr.com/ 

Its an awesome blog. It really is.

Okay so today was the day I was supposed to go into the army today. Nope didnt happen. I had to wait for my Halter Monitor results to be faxed over. Never got the call. So when 1230 came around I went and got my results, called Ofer, and asked the Medical Institute if they fixed everything over. They said they did but Tel Hashomer never got it. So I tried faxing everything over but their fax machine on different numbers wouldnt receive the fax. I know it wasn't the fax machine I used because it worked for other people before and after me (I stayed to make sure and to try multiple times). So now Im just waiting for the call. To pass time I just packed up all of my clothes instead. Then around 1110pm I went up to Sams to hang out again. We all made a little inside joke of "I have off from the army today" because I didn't leave yet. I met 2 more Israelis. They were nice... I never got their names though.

Okay I just wanted to do a quick update. So its just being on call right now. But now I'm going to sleep. Its 214am right now. I should NOT be up right now if I possibly have army tomorrow..well today. I am sooo nervous! Good Night everybody!! :)