I just finished bootcamp. that might be one of the most exciting things so far in my new life here in Israel. The ceremony was simple - dress in your uniform stand in attention and go to the commanders . scream i vow i vow i vow. It was emotional even though our parents and friends were not allowed to come. This symbolizes that I have overcome a hard part of the army.
Some of my experiences in these 3 weeks of Bootcamp include :
Kitchen duty- where i feel into a huge bathtub container filled with disgusting dishes from the day before, soap and a little water. I came out drenched , with bits of food on me and a whole new outlook on life how to do everything to get out of kitchen duty....
Shooting Range- It was one of the coolest things I have done in a very long time. We did night and day shooting. I would get 5 out of 5 bullets in my target everytime at 25 meters from laying down, crouching, and standing up positions.
Losing parts of my gun - the M16 is a very complicated weapon with very small parts. Yours truly lost a very valuable part when I was cleaning my gun and then when I went to shoot it didnt work and my comanders and I couldn't figure out why - turns out you really need these parts to make the gun work- go figure.
They laughed at me, how can you not only I would do something so silly.
Going into the ABACH tent. In Israel sadly there is a very real posibilty of nuclear warfare. Being prepared accoridingly is a must. We underwent lessons on how to put on our gasmasks, how to stick ourselves with a sort of anti chemical epi pen and finally the time came to practice what we learned. We were lead into the sand and saw two small tents piched before us. We were told to make a chet- the formation we stand in that looks like half a table . (the letter Chet) and told we were not allowed to look back until it was your turn. I was scared but didn't think much of it . I had already undergone runs and pushups and it wasn't too bad. They made us put on gasmasks run sprints and pushups with it on. Then they sent us into the tent with a very concentrated form of tear gas. This was one of the hardest experiences I have ever gone through. With the gasmask on you feel a stinging but nothing too bad. They make u run around the tent and then they order you to take off the mask. As soon as you do you panic. The air is unbreathable. Your eyes sting and shut and tear. Your throat closes up. You cough and want to vomit. Your nose runs. You have no control over your senses . They tell you to sing to them . You choke up and panic and wheeze while coughing. After 15 seconds of hell they tell you to run out. You still cant breathe it is the most paniking feeling. I vomited as soon as I left the tent and started shaking. It is amazing how much gasmaks will help us but it is terrifying to think of the warfare that inspired them.
Being constantly reminded of me not understanding things. Meeting amazing girls. Remembering that I am older then the MP and every other girls . I am learning a lot. I am growing a lot. i am doing a lot of pushups.
The girl with the muscles,
Michali
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
13th post - 2 weeks of bootcamp
Things I have learned from my first two weeks of bootcamp in the Army:
1) Gravel is god- don't step on it . otherwise you will be sentenced to stay 3.5 hours at closing while everyone comes home.
2) buttons should be buttoned- you will be yelled at.
3) They give you 2 mins to go to the bathroom- but it takes you 3 just to undo your belt and buttons.
4) You need to ask permission from a 19 year old to scratch your nose.
5) that said 19 year old is on a power trip and will probably tell you no.
6) One hour of free time a day is not enough to be a real person
7) showering with 90 other girls in 3 shower stalls is not the best time you have ever had.
8)When you don't know the answer to who was the 6th head of the Army and his dates- make up a Hebrew name and when that is wrong you will get yelled at anyways for thinking on your feet.
9) what is the name of the girl standing next to you in line? DON'T LOOK AT HER WHEN YOU ARE ANSWERING ME!
10) being the oldest one on the base become ironic and funny when you realize you are just fresh meat (tofu)
11) all you want to do is poop in peace.
12) you miss your parents but only spend your one hour of freedom complaining to them about how you want to go back to your Kibbutz.
13) during kitchen duty you will do your best to use your gloves and not touch any left over food plates that seem to be growing things on them- but get laughed at /screamed at and then not use your gloves ever again.
14)your pants will never fit- they will be the size that fits your father and you will never be able to run comfortably without them falling down.
15) running is not supposed to be fun.
16) stretches are mandatory.
17) you realize your commanders were born in the 90s .
18) the desert does not take kindly to your hair.
19) no matter how much you shower - you are still dirty you only have two pairs of uniforms you wear straight for 2 weeks.
20) 3 am gaurd duty becomes the only time you have for yourself- but is also ironic because you don't know how to fire a gun and are not sure what you are supposed to be gaurding.
21) 6 hours of mandatory sleep is more like 2.5 at best.
22) 5 :30 am wake up is late wakeup.
23) you are willing to share things you never thought you would - like bras, deodarant, and your last piece of toilet paper.
24) toilet paper is godsend and does not exsist in the army- neither does soap. and they wonder why you get sick
25) coming back home to your Kibbutz makes me you most happy.
more to come- i love you all
Michali
1) Gravel is god- don't step on it . otherwise you will be sentenced to stay 3.5 hours at closing while everyone comes home.
2) buttons should be buttoned- you will be yelled at.
3) They give you 2 mins to go to the bathroom- but it takes you 3 just to undo your belt and buttons.
4) You need to ask permission from a 19 year old to scratch your nose.
5) that said 19 year old is on a power trip and will probably tell you no.
6) One hour of free time a day is not enough to be a real person
7) showering with 90 other girls in 3 shower stalls is not the best time you have ever had.
8)When you don't know the answer to who was the 6th head of the Army and his dates- make up a Hebrew name and when that is wrong you will get yelled at anyways for thinking on your feet.
9) what is the name of the girl standing next to you in line? DON'T LOOK AT HER WHEN YOU ARE ANSWERING ME!
10) being the oldest one on the base become ironic and funny when you realize you are just fresh meat (tofu)
11) all you want to do is poop in peace.
12) you miss your parents but only spend your one hour of freedom complaining to them about how you want to go back to your Kibbutz.
13) during kitchen duty you will do your best to use your gloves and not touch any left over food plates that seem to be growing things on them- but get laughed at /screamed at and then not use your gloves ever again.
14)your pants will never fit- they will be the size that fits your father and you will never be able to run comfortably without them falling down.
15) running is not supposed to be fun.
16) stretches are mandatory.
17) you realize your commanders were born in the 90s .
18) the desert does not take kindly to your hair.
19) no matter how much you shower - you are still dirty you only have two pairs of uniforms you wear straight for 2 weeks.
20) 3 am gaurd duty becomes the only time you have for yourself- but is also ironic because you don't know how to fire a gun and are not sure what you are supposed to be gaurding.
21) 6 hours of mandatory sleep is more like 2.5 at best.
22) 5 :30 am wake up is late wakeup.
23) you are willing to share things you never thought you would - like bras, deodarant, and your last piece of toilet paper.
24) toilet paper is godsend and does not exsist in the army- neither does soap. and they wonder why you get sick
25) coming back home to your Kibbutz makes me you most happy.
more to come- i love you all
Michali
Friday, October 7, 2011
12th post- bakum
So starts my Army experience. With a wave and a bus ride I was off to start my new journey.
I had woken up at 5 am to shower and get ready for 6am where my adopted family would take me and two of my very good friends from the Garin to the drop off point for everyone enlisting. (pardon the rough translation from Hebrew to English I am not always sure what everything directly translates to in English)
We had a good car ride in which both my adopted family and Gal and Danny tried to calm me down.
We got there promptly along with the other Americans which are in Garin Tzabar (overall there are 12 girls from different Garins going into Chir as madrichot) which is great and a very big number.
Then we waited. ... and waited and waited.
and about 10 am we got on the bus and left. The wait seemed unbareable since I was so anxious to begin with . Saying goodbye wasn't as emotional since I was more tired then scared at that point
We got on the bus and got to the Bakum two hours later. I slept the entire bus ride and didn't talk to any of the other girls.
When we go there we joined a bigger group of girls and shuffled into the building.
The bakum is the place every soldier first goes to in the IDF to recieve equiptment, unifroms, fills out forms, gets shots and waits.
My first stop was getting my teeth scanned. This is incase chas ve chalila anything is to happen to you during the service they will be able to identify your body. During these two stations they were not very nice and constantly made remarks as to why you are not hurrying up enough.
Don't worry- these soldiers hate their jobs its not you.
The second teeth station as I had an x-ray vest on and a machine whizzing around my head the soldier tried to make conversation with me and since I couldn't answer back ( my teeth were clenched on this machine) he even asked me on a date. - no thank you.
After that I went and got my picture taken for my Choger- which is a tiny card that identifies you as a soldier in the IDF and lets you ride public transportation FOR FREEEEEEE!!!!( that is the coolest part )
my Choger picture came out horribly - as everyone's does.
But i was a rebel and smiled even when they told me not to. take that!
After that I waited in another line to get a short interview where I gave them my bank account information that tells them where to put my chyal (soldier) money.
and was asked about my parent's history.
Throughout this process I was sarcastic and charming and met a lot of great girls that are going to also be Madricot chir who were equally sarcastic and charming.
When ever someone found out i am American and a lone soldier and 22 they made a very big deal out of it and made me feel really great about being here.
Excpet one soldier who called me a frier for leaving America and joining the Israeli Army.
I told him to go screw himself since he works in the Bakum.
I take no poop from no one.
After that a lot more waiting.
And then I went and donated blood- in which I was sort of tricked into it. I didn't notice what was going on and before I had teh time to respond they had taken my blood.
oh well haha
then they poked my finger and smeered it on a page in two big circles for DNA samples.
After I went and got my tetnis shot and Manangitus shots .
These really do hurt. Don't listen to the soldier that does them. he is trained to lie to you and tell you they don't.
Then we were ushered to lunch that was really great consisting a lot of different salads, snitzel corn and breads and Chummus.
We had to wait soem more . With each station we gave them another sticker out of our row of identifying stickers. With every sticker gone I felt more relieved.
Then the last station and last sticker goes to the soldiers that give you your UNIFORM!!!i didn't know my Israeli sizes so they guessed and gave me a uniform 5 sizes too small. After 4 or 5 tries and returning it I got a Kit bag that includes 3 green t-shirts for the field, 3 pants , 3 long sleeved shirts (this makes up the uniform ) a belt, socks, a kumta (that funny looking noob barret) rubber bands to hold your pants in, a pair of boots that I made sure fit right, a towel, pepper spray? , veet, a shower holder, some snacks and my dog tags.
The bag you have to carry during bootcamp is designed in such a way that no matter how you carry it is is uncomfortable. score one for the IDF 0 for me.
So we were told we would come home the same night because of the Yom Kippur Chag. I was so relieved . But I realized i would have to carry two big bags now home in my uniform. The commanders (Mefakedot) screamed at us to hurry out of the changing area. I grabbed my new Kitbag and started to run out of the room. On the way out a soldier's eyes caught mine in the mirror. It was weird I stood there confused . There I was in Uniform . It didn't feel real - like some dress up game for Purim . I was really really excited until I realized this would be my outfit for the next two years. Tachlas It was so new and such an amazing feeling.
They ushured us out in the courtyard where we were told that we would have to come back to the Bakum on sunday in full uniform and not to be late.
We then waited for 3 hours for the bus. This is how I gather the Israeli Army is going to be - a lot of rushing you around and then a lot of waiting for nothing. During these three hours I met a lot of amazing Israeli girls and girls from Garin Tzabar. I am so excited that this journey is going to happen with women that are also passionate and excited about this job and giving back to the state of Israel.
most are 18 or 19 after a year of volunteering called (snat shirut)
When they found out I am 22 they were shocked.
Overall my first day in the Army was very tiring and very exciting.
On the way home through the train station with Noy another girl in Garin Tzabar that is going to be a Madrichat Chir and lives in the neighboring Kibbutz we got laughed at a little for not knowing how to put on our kumta and our uniforms looking so new and not knowing how to claim our free tickets for the ride.
But it was such a nice expierence knowing that so many people could come and help even if they did call us noobies and laugh at us when we tripped over our own boots.
We made it back to Nahrya and my adopted mom and brother picked me up I was exahusted.
Getting back to my room people from my Garin swarmed me with kisses and hugs and I realized how nice it is to say I am going home to them.
My madrich came and showed me the proper way to tie my shoes (which is an art in the Army) and broke my dog tags to put in each boot. It was wierd telling everyone about my first day and showing them my new geer.
I leave on sunday for 2 weeks of bootcamp and then after I close two weekends in a row I am allowed to come home. I am nervous but very excited and cant wait till when i am not so green and new.. well i always will be green - but hey it is a good color on me and makes my butt look great.
Lots of Ahava (love)
Michali
I had woken up at 5 am to shower and get ready for 6am where my adopted family would take me and two of my very good friends from the Garin to the drop off point for everyone enlisting. (pardon the rough translation from Hebrew to English I am not always sure what everything directly translates to in English)
We had a good car ride in which both my adopted family and Gal and Danny tried to calm me down.
We got there promptly along with the other Americans which are in Garin Tzabar (overall there are 12 girls from different Garins going into Chir as madrichot) which is great and a very big number.
Then we waited. ... and waited and waited.
and about 10 am we got on the bus and left. The wait seemed unbareable since I was so anxious to begin with . Saying goodbye wasn't as emotional since I was more tired then scared at that point
We got on the bus and got to the Bakum two hours later. I slept the entire bus ride and didn't talk to any of the other girls.
When we go there we joined a bigger group of girls and shuffled into the building.
The bakum is the place every soldier first goes to in the IDF to recieve equiptment, unifroms, fills out forms, gets shots and waits.
My first stop was getting my teeth scanned. This is incase chas ve chalila anything is to happen to you during the service they will be able to identify your body. During these two stations they were not very nice and constantly made remarks as to why you are not hurrying up enough.
Don't worry- these soldiers hate their jobs its not you.
The second teeth station as I had an x-ray vest on and a machine whizzing around my head the soldier tried to make conversation with me and since I couldn't answer back ( my teeth were clenched on this machine) he even asked me on a date. - no thank you.
After that I went and got my picture taken for my Choger- which is a tiny card that identifies you as a soldier in the IDF and lets you ride public transportation FOR FREEEEEEE!!!!( that is the coolest part )
my Choger picture came out horribly - as everyone's does.
But i was a rebel and smiled even when they told me not to. take that!
After that I waited in another line to get a short interview where I gave them my bank account information that tells them where to put my chyal (soldier) money.
and was asked about my parent's history.
Throughout this process I was sarcastic and charming and met a lot of great girls that are going to also be Madricot chir who were equally sarcastic and charming.
When ever someone found out i am American and a lone soldier and 22 they made a very big deal out of it and made me feel really great about being here.
Excpet one soldier who called me a frier for leaving America and joining the Israeli Army.
I told him to go screw himself since he works in the Bakum.
I take no poop from no one.
After that a lot more waiting.
And then I went and donated blood- in which I was sort of tricked into it. I didn't notice what was going on and before I had teh time to respond they had taken my blood.
oh well haha
then they poked my finger and smeered it on a page in two big circles for DNA samples.
After I went and got my tetnis shot and Manangitus shots .
These really do hurt. Don't listen to the soldier that does them. he is trained to lie to you and tell you they don't.
Then we were ushered to lunch that was really great consisting a lot of different salads, snitzel corn and breads and Chummus.
We had to wait soem more . With each station we gave them another sticker out of our row of identifying stickers. With every sticker gone I felt more relieved.
Then the last station and last sticker goes to the soldiers that give you your UNIFORM!!!i didn't know my Israeli sizes so they guessed and gave me a uniform 5 sizes too small. After 4 or 5 tries and returning it I got a Kit bag that includes 3 green t-shirts for the field, 3 pants , 3 long sleeved shirts (this makes up the uniform ) a belt, socks, a kumta (that funny looking noob barret) rubber bands to hold your pants in, a pair of boots that I made sure fit right, a towel, pepper spray? , veet, a shower holder, some snacks and my dog tags.
The bag you have to carry during bootcamp is designed in such a way that no matter how you carry it is is uncomfortable. score one for the IDF 0 for me.
So we were told we would come home the same night because of the Yom Kippur Chag. I was so relieved . But I realized i would have to carry two big bags now home in my uniform. The commanders (Mefakedot) screamed at us to hurry out of the changing area. I grabbed my new Kitbag and started to run out of the room. On the way out a soldier's eyes caught mine in the mirror. It was weird I stood there confused . There I was in Uniform . It didn't feel real - like some dress up game for Purim . I was really really excited until I realized this would be my outfit for the next two years. Tachlas It was so new and such an amazing feeling.
They ushured us out in the courtyard where we were told that we would have to come back to the Bakum on sunday in full uniform and not to be late.
We then waited for 3 hours for the bus. This is how I gather the Israeli Army is going to be - a lot of rushing you around and then a lot of waiting for nothing. During these three hours I met a lot of amazing Israeli girls and girls from Garin Tzabar. I am so excited that this journey is going to happen with women that are also passionate and excited about this job and giving back to the state of Israel.
most are 18 or 19 after a year of volunteering called (snat shirut)
When they found out I am 22 they were shocked.
Overall my first day in the Army was very tiring and very exciting.
On the way home through the train station with Noy another girl in Garin Tzabar that is going to be a Madrichat Chir and lives in the neighboring Kibbutz we got laughed at a little for not knowing how to put on our kumta and our uniforms looking so new and not knowing how to claim our free tickets for the ride.
But it was such a nice expierence knowing that so many people could come and help even if they did call us noobies and laugh at us when we tripped over our own boots.
We made it back to Nahrya and my adopted mom and brother picked me up I was exahusted.
Getting back to my room people from my Garin swarmed me with kisses and hugs and I realized how nice it is to say I am going home to them.
My madrich came and showed me the proper way to tie my shoes (which is an art in the Army) and broke my dog tags to put in each boot. It was wierd telling everyone about my first day and showing them my new geer.
I leave on sunday for 2 weeks of bootcamp and then after I close two weekends in a row I am allowed to come home. I am nervous but very excited and cant wait till when i am not so green and new.. well i always will be green - but hey it is a good color on me and makes my butt look great.
Lots of Ahava (love)
Michali
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
11th post. ARMY TIME
"Michal I have good news for you, you are going to be a Madrichat Chir"
I sighed in relief. this was the news I was waiting for. I got my first choice in Army jobs.
"Also you are going to Enlist next week on thursday."
Panic and disbelief washed over me in a horribly fast rate. I felt like I couldn't comprehend. What did my Mashakit mean next week? I was supposed to have another month at least. I was going to run more and get in shape. I was going to get emotionally prepared.
I asked her if she was joking. She was not, it seemed that she was too in disbelief.
So I was to join the IDF much much earlier then expected. Everything that I had set out to do was going to be tested in a much more rapid rate. I gulped and hung up the phone. I am still not sure if I said anything else to her after that like goodbye. I reported back to my adoptive family and they were overjoyed for me.
I called My real parents and their reactions were not so overjoyed.
I didn't know how I wanted people to handle the news since I was still in shock. So far everything we had been doing here to prepare for the Army had been fun,
Not stressful or realistic even.
We are living in a sort of get to know you bonding, touring pre- army camp.
Everything is so much more real.
I went from disbelief into panic within a walk back to my room. My roomate tried calming me down. I couldn't be calmed. I wanted to swallow my pride and cry for my mother. I couldn't do that since she was also in the same state.
She isn't in Israel I can't wrap my arms around her and tell her I am nervous and scared of the un known.
I was still in my own thoughts . Floating back somehow when My friends from the Garin spotted me and started clapping and sang me songs with country accents. I was reminded of what an incredible group of individuals made this journey with me . True I am going into the Army first before any of them will get to expierence uniforms or a screaming drill sargent I will already be calling them hysterically crying. They are proving to be some of the best people I have met in a very long time, and I have only been living with them for a month and a half.
I am not proud of the hysterical state I cried myself into and snotted on numberous shirts of well meaning huggers but I am greatful that they let me do so.
I have two more days till I go from a civilian to a soldier. I have never been more excited, terrified and have a constant feeling of vomiting / peeing my pants in my life. This journey really starts now . I will be in charge of other individuals that will be directly defending our borders, country and families.
But first Bootcamp....
Lots of terrified, nervous, and excited snotty kisses,
Michali
I sighed in relief. this was the news I was waiting for. I got my first choice in Army jobs.
"Also you are going to Enlist next week on thursday."
Panic and disbelief washed over me in a horribly fast rate. I felt like I couldn't comprehend. What did my Mashakit mean next week? I was supposed to have another month at least. I was going to run more and get in shape. I was going to get emotionally prepared.
I asked her if she was joking. She was not, it seemed that she was too in disbelief.
So I was to join the IDF much much earlier then expected. Everything that I had set out to do was going to be tested in a much more rapid rate. I gulped and hung up the phone. I am still not sure if I said anything else to her after that like goodbye. I reported back to my adoptive family and they were overjoyed for me.
I called My real parents and their reactions were not so overjoyed.
I didn't know how I wanted people to handle the news since I was still in shock. So far everything we had been doing here to prepare for the Army had been fun,
Not stressful or realistic even.
We are living in a sort of get to know you bonding, touring pre- army camp.
Everything is so much more real.
I went from disbelief into panic within a walk back to my room. My roomate tried calming me down. I couldn't be calmed. I wanted to swallow my pride and cry for my mother. I couldn't do that since she was also in the same state.
She isn't in Israel I can't wrap my arms around her and tell her I am nervous and scared of the un known.
I was still in my own thoughts . Floating back somehow when My friends from the Garin spotted me and started clapping and sang me songs with country accents. I was reminded of what an incredible group of individuals made this journey with me . True I am going into the Army first before any of them will get to expierence uniforms or a screaming drill sargent I will already be calling them hysterically crying. They are proving to be some of the best people I have met in a very long time, and I have only been living with them for a month and a half.
I am not proud of the hysterical state I cried myself into and snotted on numberous shirts of well meaning huggers but I am greatful that they let me do so.
I have two more days till I go from a civilian to a soldier. I have never been more excited, terrified and have a constant feeling of vomiting / peeing my pants in my life. This journey really starts now . I will be in charge of other individuals that will be directly defending our borders, country and families.
But first Bootcamp....
Lots of terrified, nervous, and excited snotty kisses,
Michali
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