My mother is coming to visit in two weeks! I haven't seen her in 7 months. and I guess that is the toll to pay for being a lone soldier. I am so excited I could burst. You don;t realize how much you need your mommy till she is not there to make you fake chicken soup and buy you nice clothes and listen to you complain and give you her love in hugs and kisses. I don't care I sound like a 5 year old sometimes you just need a taste of home.
This week I was in Ghivati. My least favorite Army unit. Though they do wear beautiful purple barrrets. Most of the unit is filled with Arsim= guys who will try to sweet talk you while having a ciggeret outside their mouths, and think they are god's gift to humanity. I am not interested little 18 year old, shut up and shoot .
My army job allows me to meet a lot of people in the infentery unit. Sometimes I think- god we are an army of children.
In any case this weekend is going to be dedicated to making art, and complaining since I have to return to Ghivati this week. oooooooooof
Love,
Michali
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Dating in Israel
I don't normally make my dating or personal life public. I wanted to quickly address the dating situation I encountered here in Israel. In Israel most guys our age group 21-25 range into a couple of different categories .
The kibbutznik - (a guy from a kibbutz) now from previous experiences the kibbutznik will show up to pick you up in a car wearing sandles (shoresh or tevas) a ripped up shirt and maybe shorts shorter then yours. He probably has never been south past Ber Sheva. But is a quality guy. Served maybe in the paratrooper unit or something of the sort. His hair is short and you can tell he just ran on the beach or met up with his friends. (all of which are other kibbutznikim) He will take you hiking even when you are not dressed for it and when he told you , you are going out for coffee he did not mean a cafe'. He means you will hike for about 5K and then he will whip out from his bag a coffee maker and small glass cups and some sugar. (this is a very Israeli of making coffee in the army. ) You are expected to not sweat after this huge hike and not complain that the hour long makeup procedure is now smeared all over your face. .... damn Israeli humidity.
The Televavian- (a guy who lives in Tel Aviv) maybe you met this guy at a bar or club with your friends. He thinks that there is no life past Tel Aviv. He will probably show up to your date wearing jeans he spent too much money on and a button down that is wrinkled ( well it's the thought that counted. And even though he probably is from small town, now that he has finished the Army and left this town, he can't remember life before 2 am supermarkets. He is probably in the process of applying to some unis, but mostly can hold an intellectual conversation about how rudimentary everywhere else is besides Tel Aviv. This guy probably works as a waiter and even though he is totally unique - he accepts tips from the national burger chain restaurant where he works.
The Katzin- (an Officer) this guy is your age 23-24. You met him in the Army. He has served plenty of time and his job is making others under him miserable. He is on an ego trip. The more time the bigger the ego. He takes his job very seriously and when he meets you he tries to impress you by making his soldiers do stupid chores or run. He also spews out lies about how much harder he had it and tries to be very manly. You can not consider dating this type of man even though after teasing you about your accent all week and trying to ask you out, you pretend to not understand Hebrew. Also once you see him on the street in normal clothes and not uniform you can't help but laugh at his goldstar t-shirt.
The stoner- this is not based off my experience but a friend's. This guy got out of the army about 2 years ago. Went to Ti land and that is where his mind stayed. In a cloud of smoke. He does nothing with his spare time besides blaze. He also forgets to call you because let's face it - where did he put that phone? He has dreads and wears clothes made out of hemp. He might teach a yoga class but mostly lives with his parents.
The college student- now the college student you meet on the bus - does not even closely resemble anything you ever encountered in the states. There is no beer pong, late night parties, Sunday morning hangover slacking in this guy's future. He is very serious and on the train or bus will be reading some ethical code of conduct. When you make a joke that you read this for fun he will say that that is what he is doing. He will probably frown a lot and pretend he is very knowledgeable. He will probably major in statistics and globalization. He will insist on speaking to you in English. He will use sentences like " I understand the matter with the economy in the United States but if Obama would just put forth a plan to tax more things would be settled. " - in a very thick Israeli accent. You will try to look past the fact that he has not showered in several days and his seriousness to find that at the end of your date even the coffee is bored.
The perfect man- this man does not exist in straight form. Though walking around Tel Aviv you will see many wonderful men that apply into this criteria. Mostly men that love other men.
To summarize. I am taking a break from dating for awhile. At least it makes for some funny stories. Lots of love,
Michali
The kibbutznik - (a guy from a kibbutz) now from previous experiences the kibbutznik will show up to pick you up in a car wearing sandles (shoresh or tevas) a ripped up shirt and maybe shorts shorter then yours. He probably has never been south past Ber Sheva. But is a quality guy. Served maybe in the paratrooper unit or something of the sort. His hair is short and you can tell he just ran on the beach or met up with his friends. (all of which are other kibbutznikim) He will take you hiking even when you are not dressed for it and when he told you , you are going out for coffee he did not mean a cafe'. He means you will hike for about 5K and then he will whip out from his bag a coffee maker and small glass cups and some sugar. (this is a very Israeli of making coffee in the army. ) You are expected to not sweat after this huge hike and not complain that the hour long makeup procedure is now smeared all over your face. .... damn Israeli humidity.
The Televavian- (a guy who lives in Tel Aviv) maybe you met this guy at a bar or club with your friends. He thinks that there is no life past Tel Aviv. He will probably show up to your date wearing jeans he spent too much money on and a button down that is wrinkled ( well it's the thought that counted. And even though he probably is from small town, now that he has finished the Army and left this town, he can't remember life before 2 am supermarkets. He is probably in the process of applying to some unis, but mostly can hold an intellectual conversation about how rudimentary everywhere else is besides Tel Aviv. This guy probably works as a waiter and even though he is totally unique - he accepts tips from the national burger chain restaurant where he works.
The Katzin- (an Officer) this guy is your age 23-24. You met him in the Army. He has served plenty of time and his job is making others under him miserable. He is on an ego trip. The more time the bigger the ego. He takes his job very seriously and when he meets you he tries to impress you by making his soldiers do stupid chores or run. He also spews out lies about how much harder he had it and tries to be very manly. You can not consider dating this type of man even though after teasing you about your accent all week and trying to ask you out, you pretend to not understand Hebrew. Also once you see him on the street in normal clothes and not uniform you can't help but laugh at his goldstar t-shirt.
The stoner- this is not based off my experience but a friend's. This guy got out of the army about 2 years ago. Went to Ti land and that is where his mind stayed. In a cloud of smoke. He does nothing with his spare time besides blaze. He also forgets to call you because let's face it - where did he put that phone? He has dreads and wears clothes made out of hemp. He might teach a yoga class but mostly lives with his parents.
The college student- now the college student you meet on the bus - does not even closely resemble anything you ever encountered in the states. There is no beer pong, late night parties, Sunday morning hangover slacking in this guy's future. He is very serious and on the train or bus will be reading some ethical code of conduct. When you make a joke that you read this for fun he will say that that is what he is doing. He will probably frown a lot and pretend he is very knowledgeable. He will probably major in statistics and globalization. He will insist on speaking to you in English. He will use sentences like " I understand the matter with the economy in the United States but if Obama would just put forth a plan to tax more things would be settled. " - in a very thick Israeli accent. You will try to look past the fact that he has not showered in several days and his seriousness to find that at the end of your date even the coffee is bored.
The perfect man- this man does not exist in straight form. Though walking around Tel Aviv you will see many wonderful men that apply into this criteria. Mostly men that love other men.
To summarize. I am taking a break from dating for awhile. At least it makes for some funny stories. Lots of love,
Michali
Sunday, November 25, 2012
hey world
These past two weeks were incredibly difficult for the entire state of Israel. I am going to not get into specifics since some of the information I heard should not be shared over the internet or out loud. Israel got into a semi- war with Hamas. A terrorist organization in Gaza. Every day for more then a week rockets and bombs went off everywhere from the south of Israel to even Tel - Aviv and J-town. A bus was hit, and also many houses reduced to rubble. There is a technology known as an iron cap. It intercepts rockets as they rain down on Israel. It doesn't look like a cap at all but it saved many lives of both civilians and soldiers. These past two weeks I lived in constant tension. While my friends in America went on with their lives - shopping , tweeting , working, complaining about drama that really in the scheme of things doesn't matter. Israel constantly heard sirens, my friends were preparing to inch towards the boarders and it felt like the whole country held it's breath.
Looking back it is a weird type of phenominon that I underwent. I used to really care about shopping and worked in Tiffany's, was worried about my weekend plans and was very self centered. I am not saying that all Americans are like this at all. So do not take what I am writing out of contex. It is just hard to hear that while my world was turned upside down, I moved from base to base training reserves and different soldiers, my friends in the states still had the same worries and were so out of touch with the realities of the world. I can't blame them. They didn't live this . I wanted to scream "wake the f*** up!" to articles on line written by ivy leagued americans that declared Israel as an imperalistic state and scorened it for protecting itself. Israel is in no way perfect. That is not what I am saying or arguing. There are many palestinians that had to move their lives, were effected and were hurt not only this time but over the past 65 years of conflict. These are good people. There are the extremists that powered by terror are educated that they will receive their rightful place if they act according to the plan.
So before you point your fingers. I want you to stop . time yourself. you have 15 seconds to run to the nearest bomb shelter. wait ? you don't have one? is that because you are lucky enough to live in a country that not only does not undergo this type of conflict but also when under attack strikes back with massive force and is not critisized for it?
I sound bitter. Maybe I am . Maybe each day as people were injured on both sides I thought of how uneducated and unaware I was of this conflict and how even though I considered myself Israeli the last time I underwent this was as a baby.
It didn't effect me. Now that my best friends are combat soldiers and are the ones protecting this land, the realities come to light.
I am not pointing fingers at anyone nor am I trying to cause trouble but I just wanted it to be stated that this was my wakeup call. To be an Israeli is more then just Hummas and Pita and nice beaches and Tel Aviv clubs. It means sleeping in tents in cold nights, training massive amounts of soldiers and realizing that the world does not revolve around you. I have never been prouder to be an Israeli and will or have regreted my move and enlistment. I just want you to "wake the f*** up"
Going to jog,
Michali
Looking back it is a weird type of phenominon that I underwent. I used to really care about shopping and worked in Tiffany's, was worried about my weekend plans and was very self centered. I am not saying that all Americans are like this at all. So do not take what I am writing out of contex. It is just hard to hear that while my world was turned upside down, I moved from base to base training reserves and different soldiers, my friends in the states still had the same worries and were so out of touch with the realities of the world. I can't blame them. They didn't live this . I wanted to scream "wake the f*** up!" to articles on line written by ivy leagued americans that declared Israel as an imperalistic state and scorened it for protecting itself. Israel is in no way perfect. That is not what I am saying or arguing. There are many palestinians that had to move their lives, were effected and were hurt not only this time but over the past 65 years of conflict. These are good people. There are the extremists that powered by terror are educated that they will receive their rightful place if they act according to the plan.
So before you point your fingers. I want you to stop . time yourself. you have 15 seconds to run to the nearest bomb shelter. wait ? you don't have one? is that because you are lucky enough to live in a country that not only does not undergo this type of conflict but also when under attack strikes back with massive force and is not critisized for it?
I sound bitter. Maybe I am . Maybe each day as people were injured on both sides I thought of how uneducated and unaware I was of this conflict and how even though I considered myself Israeli the last time I underwent this was as a baby.
It didn't effect me. Now that my best friends are combat soldiers and are the ones protecting this land, the realities come to light.
I am not pointing fingers at anyone nor am I trying to cause trouble but I just wanted it to be stated that this was my wakeup call. To be an Israeli is more then just Hummas and Pita and nice beaches and Tel Aviv clubs. It means sleeping in tents in cold nights, training massive amounts of soldiers and realizing that the world does not revolve around you. I have never been prouder to be an Israeli and will or have regreted my move and enlistment. I just want you to "wake the f*** up"
Going to jog,
Michali
Saturday, November 3, 2012
mmm sweet november
It is Saturday morning here at Regba. We all woke up gradually this morning, most hungover from the night before. We all go sit upstairs. The boys lounge around in boxers. The kind that still have stripes and awkward patterns on them. We make some coffee and start to recap the night before. People slowly trickle out of the room . Outside is beautiful. An autumn day in Israel. Which looks more like spring. Some of the guys do the weekly haircutting. And I think to myself how lucky I am to think of these people as my family. Also thank god no one here is judging us because we are not a good looking crew in the mornings. haha.
Throughout this year more stories and weekly "fadichot" have been shared over hair trimming then I can remember. Some good some not so good. The guys will sit there and say things like "yea that sucks man" or " we had that same tirgul" And there is a familiarity in it all. A kind of knowing that our garin is sticking together. A type of knowing that even though the guys go through so much hard crap each week it is ok for a good laugh the weekends they do come home. On that Saturday morning.
I really cherish that about our makeshift family.
We fight we argue we insult each other, we run to the laundry before someone else can take it. In the end of the day I would rather argue with these people then be in agreeance with anyone else.
God I sound like a cliche. But it's ok.
On another note there are elections in Israel and America. In America it was clear to me who to vote for. In Israel it is a totally different story. There are tons different parties and each one seems more corrupt then the next. But I guess that is politics as a whole. I will be looking more into the political candidates today and will update you with my thoughts.
Wishing you a sweet November and soon it will be December when my mother comes to visit Yahhhhhhhhahahahayayayayayay!!!!
Lots of Love,
Hugs and haircuts,
Michali
Throughout this year more stories and weekly "fadichot" have been shared over hair trimming then I can remember. Some good some not so good. The guys will sit there and say things like "yea that sucks man" or " we had that same tirgul" And there is a familiarity in it all. A kind of knowing that our garin is sticking together. A type of knowing that even though the guys go through so much hard crap each week it is ok for a good laugh the weekends they do come home. On that Saturday morning.
I really cherish that about our makeshift family.
We fight we argue we insult each other, we run to the laundry before someone else can take it. In the end of the day I would rather argue with these people then be in agreeance with anyone else.
God I sound like a cliche. But it's ok.
On another note there are elections in Israel and America. In America it was clear to me who to vote for. In Israel it is a totally different story. There are tons different parties and each one seems more corrupt then the next. But I guess that is politics as a whole. I will be looking more into the political candidates today and will update you with my thoughts.
Wishing you a sweet November and soon it will be December when my mother comes to visit Yahhhhhhhhahahahayayayayayay!!!!
Lots of Love,
Hugs and haircuts,
Michali
Sunday, October 21, 2012
This is Halloween.... Sorta
It's been awhile since I've written . It has been hard without a computer. A lot has passed since I've last written . I had a month vacation and went on a weekend away with my host family and have been on a permanent base for the past three weeks. Lately things have been getting a little hard for all of us in the garin. I think we are all feeling some anxieties living in small spaces with 19other brothers and sisters and recently some of us myself included have been feeling really homesick. I guess it's not called homesick but really America sick . Cuz this is our new home and in both places we feel a missing for the other. I mainly miss autumn in ny. The smell of the fall. Stepping on leaves and hear them crunch. Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, jackets and cute boots, hot apple cider and pumpkin picking and carving pumpkins and Halloween . This year like last we will be having our own garin tsabar Halloween party. Which is really an American experience in Israel. I won't write a long spiel but if anybody reads this know that I miss you guys and have a hot coco for me,
Love,
Michali
Love,
Michali
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
yom kippur.
It's about to be Yom Kippur. One of the holiest days of the Jewish calender. It represents the time where you ask for forgivness from others but mostly from yourself and if you have a connection with G-d. then from G-d as well. Its a time to mend and open up any tentions or connections you have.
On this Yom Kippur I want to bring up an incident that has been all over the news and in papers this week. I normally don't comment on any political news but this event struck me.
This past week there was a encounter with Terrorists. The combat soldiers in the unit of Karkal, which is composed of both men and women faced the terrorists by storming and killing three terrorists. One terrorists was killed by a woman combat soldier. Another female soldier of the bregade hid behind a rock. After 15 mins the fighting was done and the soldiers started looking for the soldier that hid behidn the rock, fearing that she was kidnapped. Now that all the evidence is on the table. She told reporters that she didn't storm because she had "no chance against them".
She is now being put on trail for not following orders and storming.
Ok- breathe.
I am still conflicted about how I feel about this. We all want to say that men and women and equal . We would all like to ignore the fact that physically the two genders are not built the same. I am from a very liberal household- went to a hippy artsy college and truly believe that both genders should be treated equally and with respect. Then the issue at hand comes to play. If this had been a man combat soldier that did not follow orders and hid while his fellow soldiers put their lives at risk , society would have no objection but to look down at him with little to no pity and let him go straight to trail. Now that this is a woman that serves in the IDF's unit where men and women are expected to fight along side -undergo same training and are treated the same for every step of the way- then why do we suddenly have compassion and understanding.
One side of me believes that since this was a volunteery position in which this woman signed up for, knowing the type of situations she would get herself into - then she should be judged harshly and accordence with the law. This is the equal rights bit , no?
The other side of me says, if it was me standing on the boarder of Egypt with a Tavor in my hand against three terrorists could I put everything aside and swarm in on them with my friends? I probably could not. Another side of me thinks that this is an 18 year old girl that just finished high school, probably thought of her family and friends and did the logical thing in a fight or flight situation.
Coming to Israel I had hopes and dreams of being in a combat unit such as this one. I have the highest respect for the combat soldiers in the IDF , the ones I train, live with and meet daily. Both men and women. I am lucky to have recieved the honor of training them with their weapons and am also lucky that I have not had to make such a choice or use the instinct of fight or flight like this woman did.
I am not sure what the right thing would be to say or do in a situation such as this. I hope that this Yom Kippur, when everyone is going to Shuel that this combat soldier finds a peace within herself and that what ever trial she recieves it is one that is fitting and she can live with. I wish everyone an easy fast, a compassionate week and a Mar Chatima Tova,
Michali.
On this Yom Kippur I want to bring up an incident that has been all over the news and in papers this week. I normally don't comment on any political news but this event struck me.
This past week there was a encounter with Terrorists. The combat soldiers in the unit of Karkal, which is composed of both men and women faced the terrorists by storming and killing three terrorists. One terrorists was killed by a woman combat soldier. Another female soldier of the bregade hid behind a rock. After 15 mins the fighting was done and the soldiers started looking for the soldier that hid behidn the rock, fearing that she was kidnapped. Now that all the evidence is on the table. She told reporters that she didn't storm because she had "no chance against them".
She is now being put on trail for not following orders and storming.
Ok- breathe.
I am still conflicted about how I feel about this. We all want to say that men and women and equal . We would all like to ignore the fact that physically the two genders are not built the same. I am from a very liberal household- went to a hippy artsy college and truly believe that both genders should be treated equally and with respect. Then the issue at hand comes to play. If this had been a man combat soldier that did not follow orders and hid while his fellow soldiers put their lives at risk , society would have no objection but to look down at him with little to no pity and let him go straight to trail. Now that this is a woman that serves in the IDF's unit where men and women are expected to fight along side -undergo same training and are treated the same for every step of the way- then why do we suddenly have compassion and understanding.
One side of me believes that since this was a volunteery position in which this woman signed up for, knowing the type of situations she would get herself into - then she should be judged harshly and accordence with the law. This is the equal rights bit , no?
The other side of me says, if it was me standing on the boarder of Egypt with a Tavor in my hand against three terrorists could I put everything aside and swarm in on them with my friends? I probably could not. Another side of me thinks that this is an 18 year old girl that just finished high school, probably thought of her family and friends and did the logical thing in a fight or flight situation.
Coming to Israel I had hopes and dreams of being in a combat unit such as this one. I have the highest respect for the combat soldiers in the IDF , the ones I train, live with and meet daily. Both men and women. I am lucky to have recieved the honor of training them with their weapons and am also lucky that I have not had to make such a choice or use the instinct of fight or flight like this woman did.
I am not sure what the right thing would be to say or do in a situation such as this. I hope that this Yom Kippur, when everyone is going to Shuel that this combat soldier finds a peace within herself and that what ever trial she recieves it is one that is fitting and she can live with. I wish everyone an easy fast, a compassionate week and a Mar Chatima Tova,
Michali.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Shanah Tova-Happy New Year
What a kick ass way to kick out the Jewish New Year. Yesturday my roomate and i decided to go for a beer at our local pub. When we got to the Para we were not allwoed to go in. The bouncer said there was a performance and to come back at eleven. SO we were disgruntled and decided to go to the beach instead. We chatted for awhile and then heard the music playing from the beach. Before going on this beer mission I had mentioned to my roomie that I would love to see Mosh Ben Ari ( a really wonderful Israeli singer) in concert since we had been jamming to his stuff all afternoon. Hearing the music from the beach I reconized the song. "Hey that is either Mosh Ben Ari or a really good cover of him." we looked up the performance on line on their website and dashed towards the bar. We sneaked in through the back entrance. We ended up seeing him perform two of my favorite songs as his last songs and stood only a few feet from the stage.
After the crowd cleared out a bit after the performance we sat down to order dinner and beer and saw him outside. We dashed outside and asked to take a picture with him. I asked him if we could buy him a beer . I guess it was the fact that both of us look like we are 12 and an older man with dred locks doesn't normally sit with 12 year old fans at a bar - he said he wasn't feeling well but wished us a happy new year.
Even though i was rejected it was the perfect way to start this year. I also have three weeks off from the Army. I already have so many plans. For this holdiay I am with my host family and for the next I will be celebrating with two friends at Kibbutz Saad.
Right now I should reflect the last year. Pretty soon in another month it will be exactly a year since I joined the Army. I think about all the progress, growth, and amazing transformation I have gone through as well as all the amazing people I have met and live with. This certainly was not an easy year. It was filled with frustration- homesickness- and not the best health but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I found my place in this world. (No, not in the Army) but standing up for what I believe and following the path I set up for myself. Israel is really the home I longed to set up and live in. Coming home from Ber Sheva I saw a Bedouine woman covered up from head to toe with only her eyes showing. The soldier sitting a couple of rows in front of me on the bus got up for her and continued to listen to his whiny girlfriend complaining on the phone. I thought to myself will all the effed up things Israel does - the value for human life is truly remarkable. I am sure next time I get pushed or some guy cuts me in line I will get back to you all and curse their existance - but for now everything is good : )
Oh , another really cool thing that happened to me this past week was that I finally got to train soldiers in English. It was such a turn and a fun perk. The Green Barretts came to train on my base and I was picked to train them. What a rewarding and wonderful thing. Not only to see how a different Army shoots so differently then we do but to see the massive respect they had for us as trainers and as women doing this job and also as an Army. One of them told me that of all the Armys they have seen around the world our is most impressive and most professional. Yay
Anyways I have to go run, My new years revolution is to get into better shape- origional I know,
Love,
Happy and Sweet New Year,
Michali
After the crowd cleared out a bit after the performance we sat down to order dinner and beer and saw him outside. We dashed outside and asked to take a picture with him. I asked him if we could buy him a beer . I guess it was the fact that both of us look like we are 12 and an older man with dred locks doesn't normally sit with 12 year old fans at a bar - he said he wasn't feeling well but wished us a happy new year.
Even though i was rejected it was the perfect way to start this year. I also have three weeks off from the Army. I already have so many plans. For this holdiay I am with my host family and for the next I will be celebrating with two friends at Kibbutz Saad.
Right now I should reflect the last year. Pretty soon in another month it will be exactly a year since I joined the Army. I think about all the progress, growth, and amazing transformation I have gone through as well as all the amazing people I have met and live with. This certainly was not an easy year. It was filled with frustration- homesickness- and not the best health but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I found my place in this world. (No, not in the Army) but standing up for what I believe and following the path I set up for myself. Israel is really the home I longed to set up and live in. Coming home from Ber Sheva I saw a Bedouine woman covered up from head to toe with only her eyes showing. The soldier sitting a couple of rows in front of me on the bus got up for her and continued to listen to his whiny girlfriend complaining on the phone. I thought to myself will all the effed up things Israel does - the value for human life is truly remarkable. I am sure next time I get pushed or some guy cuts me in line I will get back to you all and curse their existance - but for now everything is good : )
Oh , another really cool thing that happened to me this past week was that I finally got to train soldiers in English. It was such a turn and a fun perk. The Green Barretts came to train on my base and I was picked to train them. What a rewarding and wonderful thing. Not only to see how a different Army shoots so differently then we do but to see the massive respect they had for us as trainers and as women doing this job and also as an Army. One of them told me that of all the Armys they have seen around the world our is most impressive and most professional. Yay
Anyways I have to go run, My new years revolution is to get into better shape- origional I know,
Love,
Happy and Sweet New Year,
Michali
Saturday, August 11, 2012
yikes
I have always been a more sensative person . But lately I have been very awake to the reality that my friends and living companions are in some serious situations. I always knew that they would be combat soldiers. This weekend one of the guys came home talking about hte activities he had in his tank and how they stopped boarder crossers. This is very scary to me and I just wish they could gaurd tel aviv or something. I know i am simple minded and niave and that this is what they came to do. but i am scared and wish that the state of israel didnt require my best friends risking their lives on the boarders of Gaza, West Bank, Egypt and Jordan.
Love.
Michali
Love.
Michali
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
cultural differences
we had a fun week with our unit.
The first day we went to Musuem of protection (museon haganah) which was really cool. It really is interesting in which intentions this country was developed as well as the people who saw it through. I learned a lot from it. Then we ate lunch and went back to base where we had a fancy dinner. and by fancy i mean it was the same normal food we would eat just on tableclothes. so yea...
The next morning we had a sports day which included a bunch of cometetive team games like basketball and soccer. My favorite was the tug of war. We (mostly female shooting instructors) competed against Lotar (which can only translate to freakishly huge guys in very small shorts ) clearly we were the winners... not. but we tried .
Then at night we had a stand up comedy act which was cute and came back to base to sleep.
The next day they took us on a hike in the Golan which is really beautiful but hiking with the other units from our base (who all felt they had something to prove) we had intense inclines that had me huffing and puffing. Still it was really fun and we were rewarded with beautiful springs and waterfalls.
I feel like the israeli countryscape is beautiful and so different you can go from the north to the south and see such different scenery.
but let's be real mostly its hot and dry and hot and dry and then some hot and dry.
After we got on the bus and went to a waterpark. We slept awkwardly on a mattress (not like a real person mattress half the length and width of a real mattress more like a little yoga matish) on the lawn of the waterpark. good planning army.
it was a lot of fun and they put on tons of music and we had so many sandwiches.... overload.
this morning we went into the pool and the slides and came home where it took me 4 hours to get home from a ride that should have been 45 mins tops. once again thank you bus system. you never fail to anger me.
some of the cultural differences ive noticed .
warning : generalizations don't take it to heart.
israel is the most homoerotic/homphobic country: before you start arguing- let's be real the israeli army is not very big on accepting gays and lesbians. even though there is a strict do your thing and be you thing, guys will call eachother "homo" and mean it as an insult.
still guys in the army wear very short short short shorts (smaller then gay pride shorts) and kiss eachother on the cheeks. and grab at eachother. and are all over one another. and when we are at a club they literarly only dance with one another in a big group of epically uncoordinated post pubescent awkwardness. Last night when we were dancing to music the guys literarly forced us girls off the dance floor so they could huddle and dance on one another. They also pee together and admit when their friends are good looking. all very confusing stuff.
other cultural things . in israel if you are a child under 4 you will be naked at the beach. in america not socially acceptable.
in israel a 5 year old child will yell at you if you don't pass her the towel she asks for on time. no shame.
in israel a 64 year old religious woman will flirt with the felafel worker who is 20 and tell him all about her foot bunions. he will of course listen and give her her pita while empathizing and tell her to give her husband a good loving later. not ok.
in israel the Misrachi songs- which are the israeli version of id say coutnry music are all about "if you leave me i will be a 0 . stay here with me , you drive me crazy in your love. let me go jealous over you." in america what is big is "b****es and hoes and grass and getting bling" in rap songs .
both styles of music i love btw and can't handle for more then 24 hours at a time.
in israel you take 5 buses and the bus driver will never fail to talk to himself curse at little children crossing and give you a hard time about wanting to open up the down stairs compartment for your big bag.
oh israel....
love ,
michali
The first day we went to Musuem of protection (museon haganah) which was really cool. It really is interesting in which intentions this country was developed as well as the people who saw it through. I learned a lot from it. Then we ate lunch and went back to base where we had a fancy dinner. and by fancy i mean it was the same normal food we would eat just on tableclothes. so yea...
The next morning we had a sports day which included a bunch of cometetive team games like basketball and soccer. My favorite was the tug of war. We (mostly female shooting instructors) competed against Lotar (which can only translate to freakishly huge guys in very small shorts ) clearly we were the winners... not. but we tried .
Then at night we had a stand up comedy act which was cute and came back to base to sleep.
The next day they took us on a hike in the Golan which is really beautiful but hiking with the other units from our base (who all felt they had something to prove) we had intense inclines that had me huffing and puffing. Still it was really fun and we were rewarded with beautiful springs and waterfalls.
I feel like the israeli countryscape is beautiful and so different you can go from the north to the south and see such different scenery.
but let's be real mostly its hot and dry and hot and dry and then some hot and dry.
After we got on the bus and went to a waterpark. We slept awkwardly on a mattress (not like a real person mattress half the length and width of a real mattress more like a little yoga matish) on the lawn of the waterpark. good planning army.
it was a lot of fun and they put on tons of music and we had so many sandwiches.... overload.
this morning we went into the pool and the slides and came home where it took me 4 hours to get home from a ride that should have been 45 mins tops. once again thank you bus system. you never fail to anger me.
some of the cultural differences ive noticed .
warning : generalizations don't take it to heart.
israel is the most homoerotic/homphobic country: before you start arguing- let's be real the israeli army is not very big on accepting gays and lesbians. even though there is a strict do your thing and be you thing, guys will call eachother "homo" and mean it as an insult.
still guys in the army wear very short short short shorts (smaller then gay pride shorts) and kiss eachother on the cheeks. and grab at eachother. and are all over one another. and when we are at a club they literarly only dance with one another in a big group of epically uncoordinated post pubescent awkwardness. Last night when we were dancing to music the guys literarly forced us girls off the dance floor so they could huddle and dance on one another. They also pee together and admit when their friends are good looking. all very confusing stuff.
other cultural things . in israel if you are a child under 4 you will be naked at the beach. in america not socially acceptable.
in israel a 5 year old child will yell at you if you don't pass her the towel she asks for on time. no shame.
in israel a 64 year old religious woman will flirt with the felafel worker who is 20 and tell him all about her foot bunions. he will of course listen and give her her pita while empathizing and tell her to give her husband a good loving later. not ok.
in israel the Misrachi songs- which are the israeli version of id say coutnry music are all about "if you leave me i will be a 0 . stay here with me , you drive me crazy in your love. let me go jealous over you." in america what is big is "b****es and hoes and grass and getting bling" in rap songs .
both styles of music i love btw and can't handle for more then 24 hours at a time.
in israel you take 5 buses and the bus driver will never fail to talk to himself curse at little children crossing and give you a hard time about wanting to open up the down stairs compartment for your big bag.
oh israel....
love ,
michali
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
2-something post .?
I came back from the states last week. I was on a visit that lasted a month. I wish that someone had written a manual about how to seperate from your friends and parents every 9 months. It would be called something like 9 months of anxious israeli/american birth. Or something not so weird.
In any case coming back is really really hard and I not only feel that I am emotionally not here but physically I have become sick. I came home on gimelim today ( the type of letter that allows you to leave your mission and come the hell home to not get everyone else sickly ). I was throwing up and had shilsul. Funny the American side of me didnt want to advertize that last part but oh well. I think it was a mixture of being on my period, being jetlagged , and over heating.
This job is physically and mentally taxing. It is hard to move from base to base and be in the heat all day running from the firing line down to check the bullet markings and back.
It is almost like double as hard to come back to Israel this time around knowing what to expect. The late night calls to your parents. The playing skype phone calls with your friends, the missing everything while your friends go on with their lives and live in brooklyn or nyc or grad school.
I guess my life is static for now. not in a bad way just in a homesickness.
It is also weird because when I was in the states i felt like it was a visit. i didnt feel like that was home. Here, Israel is home.
I don't know what I would do without my Garin. Having a deeper connections with many of my fellow lone sodliers that I live with than I have made over the years in America means something. Also my amazing host family has been a constant source of support and lovingness.
Still I wish I could somehow merge the worlds in a way I could convince my best friends and parents to move here- if only for a little bit. So that they can fall in love with this land and people as much as I did. Every stupid rude Israeli, every cacti, every bad fashion statement, every bus that breaks down and never lets you get to where you want on time, every 1 pm Chummas lunch that you are sure would not have been approved by the nyc standards. I love it all. And now i've puked on most of that .
We are having someone from our Garin leave,
I am not going to state reasoning but just say that I willl miss him very much and it is also very hard to think of our family loosing someone. I wish him the best and know he will amount to great things while he is in the states : )
It is time to go puke again and then go to bed,
Lots of hugs,
Michali
In any case coming back is really really hard and I not only feel that I am emotionally not here but physically I have become sick. I came home on gimelim today ( the type of letter that allows you to leave your mission and come the hell home to not get everyone else sickly ). I was throwing up and had shilsul. Funny the American side of me didnt want to advertize that last part but oh well. I think it was a mixture of being on my period, being jetlagged , and over heating.
This job is physically and mentally taxing. It is hard to move from base to base and be in the heat all day running from the firing line down to check the bullet markings and back.
It is almost like double as hard to come back to Israel this time around knowing what to expect. The late night calls to your parents. The playing skype phone calls with your friends, the missing everything while your friends go on with their lives and live in brooklyn or nyc or grad school.
I guess my life is static for now. not in a bad way just in a homesickness.
It is also weird because when I was in the states i felt like it was a visit. i didnt feel like that was home. Here, Israel is home.
I don't know what I would do without my Garin. Having a deeper connections with many of my fellow lone sodliers that I live with than I have made over the years in America means something. Also my amazing host family has been a constant source of support and lovingness.
Still I wish I could somehow merge the worlds in a way I could convince my best friends and parents to move here- if only for a little bit. So that they can fall in love with this land and people as much as I did. Every stupid rude Israeli, every cacti, every bad fashion statement, every bus that breaks down and never lets you get to where you want on time, every 1 pm Chummas lunch that you are sure would not have been approved by the nyc standards. I love it all. And now i've puked on most of that .
We are having someone from our Garin leave,
I am not going to state reasoning but just say that I willl miss him very much and it is also very hard to think of our family loosing someone. I wish him the best and know he will amount to great things while he is in the states : )
It is time to go puke again and then go to bed,
Lots of hugs,
Michali
Monday, May 21, 2012
read at your own risk
This post might have things that are passionate and not to everyone's liking, in it. so if you do not want to read i will not be offended . This past week is very emotional for me. Full of feelings and thoughts. Not only is it my 23rd birthday week, and the week that I am flying back to the states for a month; it is also the week that is both memorial day and independence day in Israel.
Lets talk about memorial day. Memorial day in the states is another day for shopping, bbqs and family togetherness. What the hell is wrong with this country? I am so happy that you got 75% off your bath and body works fragrance! You seem to have forgotten the men and women that fell while serving your country. Until I became a soldier in a different coutnry did I see the irony and disgust in this day. You live in a bubble of commercialism that has no regard for the sacrifices soldiers make. I used to do that too.
Memorial day in Israel took me hard. Everyone in this country is effected. Everyone knows at least one soldier that fell in their duty. Someone in your family, someone that was in the same unit that you are in, or even a loved one. Everyone comes to the graves. This is also the most messed up things I have seen. In true Israeli culture people still make jokes about death, how it is so hot you could die. A coping mechanism when you have nothing else to say to a mother who has lost her son. Everyone pushes through and makes a lot of noise. Everyone wants to get in your business. This is all very disrespectful. Then at exactly 11 am a siren wails. Everyone freezes like statues. Sweat drips down your back and forehead and its a good 89 degrees outside in long sleeves and a fabric that does not breathe. The country shuts down and everyone thinks about the reason the country is there. The people who gave their lives unwillingly or willingly.
Then you have barly 24 hours to cope with this while people think about the sacrifices and then starts Independence day. I think it is a really stupid thing to have so much emotion in a span of 24 hours where you are supposed to go from sad to happy all in the course of a ceremony. I think the did it that way so you understand that in order for this country to live 64 years it gave it all.
Independence day we went to Regba's party which was fun. They set off fireworks and there was food and tons of familys running around.
Then we went to Haifa for a free street party. concert.
Soon I will be in the states as a 23 year soldier. I am excited for what this year hold for me. I feel old and thankful to live in this country. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Love,
Michali
Lets talk about memorial day. Memorial day in the states is another day for shopping, bbqs and family togetherness. What the hell is wrong with this country? I am so happy that you got 75% off your bath and body works fragrance! You seem to have forgotten the men and women that fell while serving your country. Until I became a soldier in a different coutnry did I see the irony and disgust in this day. You live in a bubble of commercialism that has no regard for the sacrifices soldiers make. I used to do that too.
Memorial day in Israel took me hard. Everyone in this country is effected. Everyone knows at least one soldier that fell in their duty. Someone in your family, someone that was in the same unit that you are in, or even a loved one. Everyone comes to the graves. This is also the most messed up things I have seen. In true Israeli culture people still make jokes about death, how it is so hot you could die. A coping mechanism when you have nothing else to say to a mother who has lost her son. Everyone pushes through and makes a lot of noise. Everyone wants to get in your business. This is all very disrespectful. Then at exactly 11 am a siren wails. Everyone freezes like statues. Sweat drips down your back and forehead and its a good 89 degrees outside in long sleeves and a fabric that does not breathe. The country shuts down and everyone thinks about the reason the country is there. The people who gave their lives unwillingly or willingly.
Then you have barly 24 hours to cope with this while people think about the sacrifices and then starts Independence day. I think it is a really stupid thing to have so much emotion in a span of 24 hours where you are supposed to go from sad to happy all in the course of a ceremony. I think the did it that way so you understand that in order for this country to live 64 years it gave it all.
Independence day we went to Regba's party which was fun. They set off fireworks and there was food and tons of familys running around.
Then we went to Haifa for a free street party. concert.
Soon I will be in the states as a 23 year soldier. I am excited for what this year hold for me. I feel old and thankful to live in this country. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Love,
Michali
24th post-usa
I have about one week left to my month long vacation back in the states.
I thought this would be exactly what I needed, it left me more confused.
I love seeing my parents and best friends at I haven't seen I'm 9months.
However I got a lot of questions about my life after the army.
I have to be honest I have no idea where I will be or what I want to do after my two years of service. I know that I want to give it my all the one and a little bit of years I have left.
After that I want to do the typical couple of month trip to thailand , south America and maybe India. And I think I want to be a flight attendant at el al to go back and forth between the states and Israel. Then I want to get my masters. I am not sure if that will be In Israel or the states or Europe. In Israel it would be free,
So thats a lose 5yearish plan.
My parents are pushi g me to have a backup plan since artist pays nothing and in Israel and you can't even afford a cardboard box to sleep in as an artist. They think art therapy would be a good vocation for me.
I am just passionate about art.I want to be an artist and live my life and raise my adopted child and fmkly in Israel.
Being here made me realize how much I wish I could combine the two worlds together.
I am so grateful to my parents , my best friends and the amazing month I have had here.
Soon I will be back in a very snug uniform after eating so much. And everything that happenend will have seemed a billion miles away and I will be back to skype and missing everyone.
Till then I am sitting here cuddling with elmo watching movies on my couch.
Love,
Michali
Saturday, April 7, 2012
23rd post - never have i ever
This post is titled never have i ever. Since i have joined the IDF i have overcome many obstacles, cried a lot but most of all have done things that I never thought I would ever do in my entire life. Here is a short list of things both funny, michali, and serious for you.
1) get so excited to see toilet paper- the army does not provide you with toilet paper.
2) poop in the field. (while talking to other girls doing the same)
3) not shower for a week and think that was ok
4) fire a machine gun
5) get excited about chocolate milk in a bag (shoko basakit)
6)think that the more worn out something is that i recieved the cooler it is because it shows "pazam"
7) teach human beings how to aim at a target with a face on it
8) have conversations with girls while being completely naked and showering
9) sleep standing up
10)hear about combat soldiers sleeping together in a hole and think it was normal
11) have friends that jumped out of planes (for you sam)
12) considered young even though i am older then all the comanders
13) thought i would curse
14)thought i would be ok sleeping on a top bunk
15) sleeping in a very disgusting sleeping bag
16)share everything - down to deodarant and bras
17) have saturday night upsettingness before going into the army the day after
18)call people just to complain about being tired
19)worn the same clothes day in and day out not caring about the level of grossness they are in
20)been excited for field meals because that means that its not magic puff stuff you add water too
21)meet so many people and exchanged who has it harder
22)been so tired or so happy to be doing what im doing
22 points one for every year of my life.
soon i will be turning 23 .
soon i will be in america to visit
soon i will be in the army for a half a year
wow
yours,
michali
1) get so excited to see toilet paper- the army does not provide you with toilet paper.
2) poop in the field. (while talking to other girls doing the same)
3) not shower for a week and think that was ok
4) fire a machine gun
5) get excited about chocolate milk in a bag (shoko basakit)
6)think that the more worn out something is that i recieved the cooler it is because it shows "pazam"
7) teach human beings how to aim at a target with a face on it
8) have conversations with girls while being completely naked and showering
9) sleep standing up
10)hear about combat soldiers sleeping together in a hole and think it was normal
11) have friends that jumped out of planes (for you sam)
12) considered young even though i am older then all the comanders
13) thought i would curse
14)thought i would be ok sleeping on a top bunk
15) sleeping in a very disgusting sleeping bag
16)share everything - down to deodarant and bras
17) have saturday night upsettingness before going into the army the day after
18)call people just to complain about being tired
19)worn the same clothes day in and day out not caring about the level of grossness they are in
20)been excited for field meals because that means that its not magic puff stuff you add water too
21)meet so many people and exchanged who has it harder
22)been so tired or so happy to be doing what im doing
22 points one for every year of my life.
soon i will be turning 23 .
soon i will be in america to visit
soon i will be in the army for a half a year
wow
yours,
michali
Friday, March 23, 2012
22nd post
i dont have a lot to report besides the fact that i am going to be going back to the states from april 30- may 30. its a weird type of feeling leaving home to return home.
i feel so loved here.
but cant wait to see my parents my best friends and shop .
lots of love ,
michali
i feel so loved here.
but cant wait to see my parents my best friends and shop .
lots of love ,
michali
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
21st post - sickness
I know that much of my blog has been positive and very much written with a love for my new life and Israel. There are many things however, that are not so great about this country and I wish I could ratify. As I write rockets are hitting the south of Israel. 100+ katushas have hit where my friends live and other citizens both jews and muslims .
Healthcare in htis country is bull. I was majorly sick and i waited for the dr for 4 hours. finally i burst into his office and demanded and he sees me and send me home.
So drs. here are incompetent and i need a break to feel better.
Tonsillitis sucks
that is all for now,
Michali
Healthcare in htis country is bull. I was majorly sick and i waited for the dr for 4 hours. finally i burst into his office and demanded and he sees me and send me home.
So drs. here are incompetent and i need a break to feel better.
Tonsillitis sucks
that is all for now,
Michali
Saturday, March 3, 2012
20th post
i admit i havent writen in a very long time. I have been super busy. Since I have last written I finished my second course that specialized in weapons and knowing their opperation, history, parts, bilistics, and different shooting practices. After this course we were each given a base to go to. I was expecting to work with reserves. It is not as prestigious out of all the jobs but I thought I would be better equipped being 22 and more go with the flow. To be honest i was ready to take on what ever job happily and do the best I could. The last day we had a ceremony to mark the ending before we found out our placements. I recieved Mofet which is like best all around from what I gather, of the course. Yay. Then I went in first for the placements and the head of the depertment asked me how the course went. " It was one of the most exciting and great things I have gone through" He took a moment and looked me over and said "well good because you are staying here."
"what?"
So this placement was the very last thing I thought I would get . I didn't even put it down as an option when they asked me my preferences. WHat this placement means is that I am a Mitkan Adam girl. It is one of the perstegious jobs for shooting instructors. Your home base is Mitkan Adam (where I did my course) and every week you travel to a different base to teach different type of soldiers shooting. There are pros and cons to this.
Cons: every week you have to travel with your gun and huge bag and go to a different base
you dont know anyone on that base ( excpet my garin boys )
its harder to make friends
I wont know where the things on each base are like the gym
I never know my missions ahead of time
Pros: I get out every Thursday!!!
I get to wear half uniform
I get to see all the guys in my garin : ) since we have guys in every infantry unit
I go all over the country
I make friends with the two or three people I travel with to the base
I can have fun and have no distance from the soldiers
So this past week I was in Mitkan Adam to meet everyone and get ready to instruct.
Next week I go to the paratroopers (Tzanchanim) and get to see three of the guys in my garin so excited : )
I will updated you all about it.
Other then that I am excited to start my job and am loving life.
I really appreciate every amount of free time I get to spend with my garin. They have become my brothers and sisters and I love it here. In Israel i feel free and happy and myself. I dont always feel that in America.
But we will see.
I am trying to get premission from the army to coem back 30th of april for a month : )
Love you all,
Michali
"what?"
So this placement was the very last thing I thought I would get . I didn't even put it down as an option when they asked me my preferences. WHat this placement means is that I am a Mitkan Adam girl. It is one of the perstegious jobs for shooting instructors. Your home base is Mitkan Adam (where I did my course) and every week you travel to a different base to teach different type of soldiers shooting. There are pros and cons to this.
Cons: every week you have to travel with your gun and huge bag and go to a different base
you dont know anyone on that base ( excpet my garin boys )
its harder to make friends
I wont know where the things on each base are like the gym
I never know my missions ahead of time
Pros: I get out every Thursday!!!
I get to wear half uniform
I get to see all the guys in my garin : ) since we have guys in every infantry unit
I go all over the country
I make friends with the two or three people I travel with to the base
I can have fun and have no distance from the soldiers
So this past week I was in Mitkan Adam to meet everyone and get ready to instruct.
Next week I go to the paratroopers (Tzanchanim) and get to see three of the guys in my garin so excited : )
I will updated you all about it.
Other then that I am excited to start my job and am loving life.
I really appreciate every amount of free time I get to spend with my garin. They have become my brothers and sisters and I love it here. In Israel i feel free and happy and myself. I dont always feel that in America.
But we will see.
I am trying to get premission from the army to coem back 30th of april for a month : )
Love you all,
Michali
Saturday, January 21, 2012
19th post
This weekend was the perfect weekend. It was my roomie's birthday. She turned 20 and I decorated the room and got her a present and we went out to a nice dinner with her host family and went out dancing at night. Then today we slept till 2 am and hung out with the guys from the garin who were home.
Tomorrow I am headed back to my base and much like the other soldiers in this country, I am outraged by the new law that passed. Till now all soldiers could ride public transportation for free. Now starting this week they are charging soldiers who take the train full price sundays from 6 am - 11 am .
Right, it's not enough we are defending this country, you want us to pay to be tortured. Got it. Assholes. Excuse the language but this tottaly screws up my comfortable nap time. I had a routine down and starting tomorrow I say goodbye to being comfrotable and might have to stand for the journey. We are very bitter.
In any case this course is going by so fast. I am really liking it and think its challenging but a lot of fun. I don't want it to end. Which is a weird thing to say about the Army.
I am missing everyone very badly and wish everyone a great week. Its machine gun week so I am pumped.
Lots of love,
Michali
Tomorrow I am headed back to my base and much like the other soldiers in this country, I am outraged by the new law that passed. Till now all soldiers could ride public transportation for free. Now starting this week they are charging soldiers who take the train full price sundays from 6 am - 11 am .
Right, it's not enough we are defending this country, you want us to pay to be tortured. Got it. Assholes. Excuse the language but this tottaly screws up my comfortable nap time. I had a routine down and starting tomorrow I say goodbye to being comfrotable and might have to stand for the journey. We are very bitter.
In any case this course is going by so fast. I am really liking it and think its challenging but a lot of fun. I don't want it to end. Which is a weird thing to say about the Army.
I am missing everyone very badly and wish everyone a great week. Its machine gun week so I am pumped.
Lots of love,
Michali
Monday, January 16, 2012
18th post
I am back home to Regba with Gimelim (days off for sickness) since I kept myself up with coughing , dizzyness, shaking and snot. ew.
In any case last night I stayed awake in my adopted family's house and witnessed as my best friend in the entire world took the most amazing important step in her life and got married to the love of her life. I watched it all on a skype cam that connected me an ocean away. She was the most wonderful perfect person I have ever seen. That is not biassed . It broke my heart not to be there but I was so greatful for skype and the way it allowed me to see her place a ring on his hand and look into his eyes.
This event was the hardest for me to miss since I have been here. A thousand times harder then missing my mom my dad my friends my college my cats or my warm bed.
I think this is the first time this move to Israel hit me over the head in such a big way. I am missing out on so much and I have taken for granted so much being in the states so close to everything. Here while laying in bed sick I don't have my mom to make me fake chicken soup or be misrable and watch horror movies with my best friend till we laugh and spit out m&ms . dont have the luxiery of going to a Pilates class. I cant just go and hug my dad. I cant curl up with my cat and cry if I have to.
Here I have to pretend to be tough. and sometimes thats not easy when all you want is to watch youve got mail and veg out on the couch.
Still this is not a complaint this is just a realization that the little things in life make the biggest difference. My new life here is wonderful as well. My adoptive parents gave me a key to their place and told me to come over when ever i wanted watch tv and eat veggie soup they made me.
As for the army. I am finishing my certification on the Rovay this week (M16 , Tavor, Flattop, and MicroTavor) I am really enjoying this course and people in it. The only moral delima came along when we had to learn final Bilistics.
Which is basically which bullet goes through a body at what vilocity and what is most deadly= which we want to use. Where do we want to aim to "stop" a person. *the Israeli army is a humane army and therefore we are not allowed to say kill only stop. or so I have been told.
This lesson was really hard for me. As I stied about the blacktalon bullet which once it hits the body breaksoff into 6 different shards that rip through tissue which is even too dangerous for the dr to remove without damage to him/herself. I thought to myself a year ago I was at Purchase learning about Duchamp and his Fountain.
Things have changed....
I am still morally conflicted about how I feel about knowing this type of information. everyone in my class seemed to be ok with knowing this . I am a vegetarian animal rights pacifist .
and now I will be teaching people how to aim for the right body parts.
sigh.
As for now the fat incompitant idiot russian dr toldme to sleep a lot so I am going to do that.
Best wishes for the most wonderful couple,
Lots of sicky hugs,
Michali
In any case last night I stayed awake in my adopted family's house and witnessed as my best friend in the entire world took the most amazing important step in her life and got married to the love of her life. I watched it all on a skype cam that connected me an ocean away. She was the most wonderful perfect person I have ever seen. That is not biassed . It broke my heart not to be there but I was so greatful for skype and the way it allowed me to see her place a ring on his hand and look into his eyes.
This event was the hardest for me to miss since I have been here. A thousand times harder then missing my mom my dad my friends my college my cats or my warm bed.
I think this is the first time this move to Israel hit me over the head in such a big way. I am missing out on so much and I have taken for granted so much being in the states so close to everything. Here while laying in bed sick I don't have my mom to make me fake chicken soup or be misrable and watch horror movies with my best friend till we laugh and spit out m&ms . dont have the luxiery of going to a Pilates class. I cant just go and hug my dad. I cant curl up with my cat and cry if I have to.
Here I have to pretend to be tough. and sometimes thats not easy when all you want is to watch youve got mail and veg out on the couch.
Still this is not a complaint this is just a realization that the little things in life make the biggest difference. My new life here is wonderful as well. My adoptive parents gave me a key to their place and told me to come over when ever i wanted watch tv and eat veggie soup they made me.
As for the army. I am finishing my certification on the Rovay this week (M16 , Tavor, Flattop, and MicroTavor) I am really enjoying this course and people in it. The only moral delima came along when we had to learn final Bilistics.
Which is basically which bullet goes through a body at what vilocity and what is most deadly= which we want to use. Where do we want to aim to "stop" a person. *the Israeli army is a humane army and therefore we are not allowed to say kill only stop. or so I have been told.
This lesson was really hard for me. As I stied about the blacktalon bullet which once it hits the body breaksoff into 6 different shards that rip through tissue which is even too dangerous for the dr to remove without damage to him/herself. I thought to myself a year ago I was at Purchase learning about Duchamp and his Fountain.
Things have changed....
I am still morally conflicted about how I feel about knowing this type of information. everyone in my class seemed to be ok with knowing this . I am a vegetarian animal rights pacifist .
and now I will be teaching people how to aim for the right body parts.
sigh.
As for now the fat incompitant idiot russian dr toldme to sleep a lot so I am going to do that.
Best wishes for the most wonderful couple,
Lots of sicky hugs,
Michali
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