This program and what I am doing through Garin Tzabar has given me amazing opportunities I would otherwise not get to experience.
The other night we were woken up at 3:30 am for a 3 hour hike on the beach to go to Akko. Our reward was hot Hummus for breakfast and then a day at a country club.
We also took a trip to a beer factory to see how beer is bottled and made and went to museums.
Overall I still don't feel that this stay is permanent but I feel very whole and very excited about the direction my life is taking me in.
We also received out Manillas which are the documents the Army offers us jobs. From there we are able to pick our top three choices. I got every job I wanted .
My first choice I put down is a Madrichat Chir- a weapons instructor in the field
The second Madrichat Totchanim- within this unit I would try and get into Moran which is a platoon of women who only teach combat soldiers on heavy machinery.
The third choice is a Madrichat Sport- which would be responsible for the fitness of the soldiers .
From these three choices the Army picks one for me they feel I am most suited for and the rest is history.
I am very excited and very anxious to hear what my job will be, but honored that I even got a selection since it is very competitive and a lot of women want these jobs.
On another note this is my first Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) away from my family and friends. It is a weird feeling not spending the holidays with my family.
Instead I will spend half the time with my Grandmother, and make her Pancakes.
and half the time with my best friend here.
All in all, this time is passing so quickly and even though it is almost October it is still in the 80s here.
Not a bad way to work on your tan in the winter,
Lots of good wishes for a happy and healthy holiday,
Michali
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
8th post
Yesterday was our Yom Hamah. This day is meant for girls not going into combat and boys with a lower score on their physical testing to undergo several tests to measure which job you will enter.
The day started at 7 am and ended around 6 pm.
It was broken down into 7 stations.
The first that my tzevet (group) went into was that of a 2 hour long computer test. In this test there were lots of directions in Hebrew, light math, reading graphs and my favorite - a ten minute activity where every time you saw a red square you had to press the enter key. This was meant to test your reflexes and the amount of concentration you had before wanting to throw the computer screen out the window.
There were some tests that I didn't really understand and don't think I really excelled at such as telling the difference between addresses, money, percents ect in the manner of seconds.
And one test where we read the weather.
Other then that the hardest thing I found about this station was staying still and concentrating on my Hebrew reading. I am still on the level of a Forth Grader when it comes to reading Hebrew - like a very slow dyslexic Hebrew 4th grader.
After this station we went into a situation room where we were given some situations and asked how we would role play to deal with it - mine was be a clerk in a store and tell someone they can't return something.
Story of my life.
Then we had to put together a puzzle together where we had to make a seires of slides form together and make a marble go down it. - I excelled and finished before time was up.
After that we had several stations like crawling through sand and placing sandbags on the floor to make a big map- working on our team work. We were also forced to do two public speaking practicals.
The first we were meant to stand in front of the class and speak about a topic for a minute then instruct on that topic and make it interactive. I taught everyone about Pilates.
We had another speaking practical where we were meant to read an article and then present it to the group. In the middle of the 4 minutes we would be interrupted and it would show how we would deal with interruptions.
My article was about how teenagers regard celebrities. Being so brilliant and well coiffed on this topic I started rambling about the Jersey Shore. Yes, on one of the most important test days of my life I spoke about a 5 foot orange bad influence. I am sure you are all impressed now.
Overall the day was very long and confusing, but I feel ok about it.
I am now waiting for my Minila folder to see my options.
Lots of Love,
Michali
The day started at 7 am and ended around 6 pm.
It was broken down into 7 stations.
The first that my tzevet (group) went into was that of a 2 hour long computer test. In this test there were lots of directions in Hebrew, light math, reading graphs and my favorite - a ten minute activity where every time you saw a red square you had to press the enter key. This was meant to test your reflexes and the amount of concentration you had before wanting to throw the computer screen out the window.
There were some tests that I didn't really understand and don't think I really excelled at such as telling the difference between addresses, money, percents ect in the manner of seconds.
And one test where we read the weather.
Other then that the hardest thing I found about this station was staying still and concentrating on my Hebrew reading. I am still on the level of a Forth Grader when it comes to reading Hebrew - like a very slow dyslexic Hebrew 4th grader.
After this station we went into a situation room where we were given some situations and asked how we would role play to deal with it - mine was be a clerk in a store and tell someone they can't return something.
Story of my life.
Then we had to put together a puzzle together where we had to make a seires of slides form together and make a marble go down it. - I excelled and finished before time was up.
After that we had several stations like crawling through sand and placing sandbags on the floor to make a big map- working on our team work. We were also forced to do two public speaking practicals.
The first we were meant to stand in front of the class and speak about a topic for a minute then instruct on that topic and make it interactive. I taught everyone about Pilates.
We had another speaking practical where we were meant to read an article and then present it to the group. In the middle of the 4 minutes we would be interrupted and it would show how we would deal with interruptions.
My article was about how teenagers regard celebrities. Being so brilliant and well coiffed on this topic I started rambling about the Jersey Shore. Yes, on one of the most important test days of my life I spoke about a 5 foot orange bad influence. I am sure you are all impressed now.
Overall the day was very long and confusing, but I feel ok about it.
I am now waiting for my Minila folder to see my options.
Lots of Love,
Michali
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10th post
The thing about Gadna: fake Army prep bootcamp
The thing about Gadna is that you wake up at 5:45 am after sleeping next to 20+ girls in a tent that is more made out of holes then canvas.
The thing about Gadna is that they give you uniforms meant to be worn by 50 year old men.
The thing about Gadna is that you standing at attention and making a chet ( the letter that looks like a table) becomes a bigger part of your life then anything else
The thing about Gadna is that they bring you into the field and teach you how to crawl on sand and rocks and thorns while you are shouting " sand is tasty, thorns are comfortable " in Hebrew to your 19 year old comander.
The thing about Gadna is that it is made to be a very big deal but isn't at all
The thing about Gadna is that you are put with 17 year old girls and boys who cry to their mothers when you really just want to chill out
The thing about Gadna is that you get to shoot an M16 that will totally rock your world and make you feel empowered.
The thing about Gadna is that they take you in the middle of nowhere and it makes you realize how incredible the Negev is (the Israeli desert) especially when you realize it takes over 60 % of Israel's land up and only 15% of the population resides there.
That is pretty much all that there is to know about Gadna,
and that it made me really excited for the Army in a couple of months.
Lots of excited hugs,
Michali
The thing about Gadna is that you wake up at 5:45 am after sleeping next to 20+ girls in a tent that is more made out of holes then canvas.
The thing about Gadna is that they give you uniforms meant to be worn by 50 year old men.
The thing about Gadna is that you standing at attention and making a chet ( the letter that looks like a table) becomes a bigger part of your life then anything else
The thing about Gadna is that they bring you into the field and teach you how to crawl on sand and rocks and thorns while you are shouting " sand is tasty, thorns are comfortable " in Hebrew to your 19 year old comander.
The thing about Gadna is that it is made to be a very big deal but isn't at all
The thing about Gadna is that you are put with 17 year old girls and boys who cry to their mothers when you really just want to chill out
The thing about Gadna is that you get to shoot an M16 that will totally rock your world and make you feel empowered.
The thing about Gadna is that they take you in the middle of nowhere and it makes you realize how incredible the Negev is (the Israeli desert) especially when you realize it takes over 60 % of Israel's land up and only 15% of the population resides there.
That is pretty much all that there is to know about Gadna,
and that it made me really excited for the Army in a couple of months.
Lots of excited hugs,
Michali
Friday, September 2, 2011
7th post.
Tzav Rishon was not as scary as I thought it was going to be - just a lot of waiting. I got a 97 profile which is the highest health assessment you can get and I am still waiting on my Cabba- which would tell me how I did on my Hebrew and Logic testing. Everyone in my group did well and I am proud of everyone.
Yesturday we went on a really beautiful hike and swim nearby that had a lot of historical significance. I will put up pictures soon of our day. All in all I think we have a good group dynamic and really great group of people. You know you start feeling at ease with your Garin when people fart at each other and talk about poop.
We also went to eat at our adopted family's homes yesterday. My family is great they made me TOFU!!!! how nice is that? and after we came back we sat around and hung out.
I like this very calm feeling of flowing with everyone and getting to know everyone slowly but surly in order to create a family. I have already expressed my anxieties over GADNA- a mini week long Army pretender. Basically this week monday-friday we are taken on a base where we are exposed to how life in the Army is going to be, so essentially it is the first taste anyone is going to have of the IDF. Then after that sometime this month all the girls will go to YOM HAMAH. = which is an ackronym i am not sure what it translates to but we will be tested in our interactions with one another and how we work in groups in order to decide where we will all be placed. RA training all these years might actually come in handy.
This weekend we are also planning a camping trip = my very first super official one!!!! I hope I can cope with pooping in a hole but other then that I am very excited.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Michali
Yesturday we went on a really beautiful hike and swim nearby that had a lot of historical significance. I will put up pictures soon of our day. All in all I think we have a good group dynamic and really great group of people. You know you start feeling at ease with your Garin when people fart at each other and talk about poop.
We also went to eat at our adopted family's homes yesterday. My family is great they made me TOFU!!!! how nice is that? and after we came back we sat around and hung out.
I like this very calm feeling of flowing with everyone and getting to know everyone slowly but surly in order to create a family. I have already expressed my anxieties over GADNA- a mini week long Army pretender. Basically this week monday-friday we are taken on a base where we are exposed to how life in the Army is going to be, so essentially it is the first taste anyone is going to have of the IDF. Then after that sometime this month all the girls will go to YOM HAMAH. = which is an ackronym i am not sure what it translates to but we will be tested in our interactions with one another and how we work in groups in order to decide where we will all be placed. RA training all these years might actually come in handy.
This weekend we are also planning a camping trip = my very first super official one!!!! I hope I can cope with pooping in a hole but other then that I am very excited.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Michali
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