We had the last week of basic training and we basically closed up the base and got ready to move on to the new base. The first week on the base we just had to guard and set up the base before we have our break in between basic and advanced training.
On the weekend on went to my cousins for Shabbat dinner, feels like home there. Now I was doing something on Sunday night that I don't usually do to often. I'm flying to America to surprise my friends and family. :) I got special permission from the army to stay a few extra days.
My father is the only one who knew I was coming. I packed and got on my flight Sunday night. I got to NY Monday March 7th around 6am . I got my bags and took a taxi back to my house. It was so weird being back in New York for the first time in 8 months.
Everything is basically the same but still feels weird. I walked inside with my suitcase and bags quietly
First thing I heard was the morning routine of my mother screaming " Sarah wake up" 100 times. So my sister Flora stood behind her and watched me walk in. My mother didn't see me at first. Then I repeated after her " Aarah wake up !!"" and my mother turned around screaming .
It was soo funnnyy!! I told her I was going to be in the field all week so I can't talk all week.
I surprised all of my close friends one by one. I visited my school, family and cousins.
It was crazy; having the freedom to drive somewhere, eat my mothers amazing food, go out at night, have my laundry done right..(I think I ruined all my clothes already) watching tv for the first time in a while, being able to shower every day, even 2 times a day.
While I was enjoying all my freedom I knew I still had to go back and do what I have to do so after 10 days at home I said goodbye to everyone again on Wednesday afternoon and made my way to the airport with my family.
I arrived in Israel Thursday March 17th went out with Flora for a few hours at night as she was in Israel and had to be on base Friday morning, just so I can be there for Shabbat. I was so jet lag but I still made it to base even if I was 3 hours late.
Spent Purim on the base which was kind of interesting and different
The week of the 21st was a week on training for a competition against other units in shooting, krav maga, physical fitness and studies (about the army) . My group participated in the physical fitness and studies. The part of the physical fitness that we took part in was the obstacle course. Its a really hard course that you have to finish in around 10 minutes or less.. (You have all your equipment on and your gun, you start off with a 1.5km run then the next run is also 1 km with obstacles which include, a 6ft wall you have to jump, monkey bars, dip bars to go across, a rope you climb (I got it with no legs :) ) a gate you squat under and walk, a hole to jump through, crawling and a few other things.
The week of the 21st was a week on training for a competition against other units in shooting, krav maga, physical fitness and studies (about the army) . My group participated in the physical fitness and studies. The part of the physical fitness that we took part in was the obstacle course. Its a really hard course that you have to finish in around 10 minutes or less.. (You have all your equipment on and your gun, you start off with a 1.5km run then the next run is also 1 km with obstacles which include, a 6ft wall you have to jump, monkey bars, dip bars to go across, a rope you climb (I got it with no legs :) ) a gate you squat under and walk, a hole to jump through, crawling and a few other things.
Then to finish it off there is a last 1km run around the track and youre done. Extremely hard. Everyone in my group passed that day. The studying and test was hard for me in Hebrew so I didn't do to well on that.
One day this week we had a run in the morning, a lot of running and shooting exercises all day, then later on fitness test that we take every few months. Max pushups 76, max situps 86 I got max in the pushups and situps but the 2k run I got in 8:35. Its getting better. After all that we had dry exercises, which involves a lot of crawling and practicing positioning and getting dirty.
I spent the weekend in Tel Aviv with a few friends. Sunday morning I went straight to Jerusalem where I had to be Sunday morning. It happened to be me and 7 other guys were chosen to represent the Nahal unit in an event that students come to so they can get an idea of which unit they want to join in the army. We had to explain to them about whatever they asked. There was even Americans there. So I got to do some explaining in English. It was a fun 2 days overall.
One day this week we had a run in the morning, a lot of running and shooting exercises all day, then later on fitness test that we take every few months. Max pushups 76, max situps 86 I got max in the pushups and situps but the 2k run I got in 8:35. Its getting better. After all that we had dry exercises, which involves a lot of crawling and practicing positioning and getting dirty.
I spent the weekend in Tel Aviv with a few friends. Sunday morning I went straight to Jerusalem where I had to be Sunday morning. It happened to be me and 7 other guys were chosen to represent the Nahal unit in an event that students come to so they can get an idea of which unit they want to join in the army. We had to explain to them about whatever they asked. There was even Americans there. So I got to do some explaining in English. It was a fun 2 days overall.
We did have to sleep 9 guys in the back of a truck one night but besides for that it was great. We also got to go home Tuesday night and come back to base Wednesday morning, which was amazing to sleep at home for a night. This week we finished up our guarding schedule and went home for Shabbat. I got a total of 20 hours max of sleep this week.
Friday night I went to a lone soldier dinner, which is held by the Michael Levin lone soldier center sometimes on Friday nights. There are around 300 people at this dinner usually and we all had a good time.
Friday night I went to a lone soldier dinner, which is held by the Michael Levin lone soldier center sometimes on Friday nights. There are around 300 people at this dinner usually and we all had a good time.
