So once again, i havent written to y'all in a while, its been a busy last few weeks. Right now im on my week off from the army which soldiers generally get every 4 months or so.
The last few weeks i had in the army were my last weeks of basic training, we had lots of tests, written and practical on all of the things we have learned, different weapons, how to use them, take them apart, and general information on them. Overall i would say basic training was hard, but as i think it is supposed to be the hardest part of it was the shock of going into it and doing so many things we didnt know how to, and going through so many frustrating experiences, while still having to function like normal and follow orders, sometimes doing things that we dont want to do.
So, many of you are probably asking, whats the next step in my training...
The next step of my training will be 'advanced training' which without going into too much detail, will complete my training and qualifying me as an official combat soldier in the Israeli army...we will learn more interesting things, and go through more intense trainings, testing our limits once again.
Other than that army stuff, im on my week off which is going very well, and unfortunately is ending pretty soon. I spent the first weekend of my leave with my garin, on my kibbutz with all of those people that i started this whole adventure with. it was really nice, we went on a four wheeler trip, on which we got completely soaked in muddy water. then there was a purim party on our kibbutz the same night, which was also really fun, i dressed as a gymnist (hopefully those pictures wont get out to my facebook, but keep you eyes opened just in case) and other than that, i cleaned my room on the kibbutz, i went to visit a friend in Haifa, and another friend in Acco. Now im in the central part of the country, i plan to see lots more friends in Tel Aviv, and my friend Leo has an army ceremony where he gets his beret of his unit. (ill be getting mine in about two months). Thats about all thats new for now, i hope all is well with everyone and feel free to write comments, email, or write on my facebook to let me know how yall are doing.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
about to start my 5th week
Hey everyone,
I havent posted in a pretty long while, but here goes my attempt of filling you all in on whats new with me. Im about to start my 5th week of my basic training. The first few weeks we didnt do anything too exciting, and frankly we didnt really start to do many things like soldiers, but since it has started to get better. We all got M-16s and got to shoot them in the 3rd week or so, and we calibrated them, and started getting used to having them on us all the time. we have had a lot of lessons on how to use the guns, how they work, and how to take them apart and clean them properly, which is really interesting, and probably one of my favorite parts. Another thing that we have done is we have learned how to fix up things so they will be handy. For example, we learned how to connect our guns to the straps so it will be stronger than just tying the strap on like it is given to you. also on our vests we were taught how to tie the water canteens to the vests so that you wont lose it. We have also had lessons on grenades a little and other things of the like. Another thing thats pretty cool is this physical test that any combat soldier in israel has to pass to be able to finish their training. Its called the 'bochan maslul' which means course test for lack of better words. Basically it consists of a 600 meter run, and an obstacle course of different types of obstacles, for example a climbing rope, and many others followed by another 400 meter run at the end, which all has to be done in less than 10.5 minutes. We have done many practices for it and drills for it, and were going to try to pass it for the first time this coming week, which is pretty exciting. The tricky thing about the test that i didnt mention is that you do the test with all of your equipment on you, including 6 full magazines of bullets, 1.5 liters of water, and your gun, which makes many of the obstacles much harder than they would be otherwise. Im looking foreward to it, even though it is really hard, and most people dont pass it on their first time, and many people have a lot of trouble with it otherwise. I feel like im starting to get closer with a lot of the guys who are with my in my tent and in our division too...which is good.
Im sure a lot of you have heard about what began in gaza exactly a week ago today. Just to inform, you have nothing to worry about with me. since im still in my first part of basic training, i will not be called up to go do any operation in gaza. Our commanders have told us that what is happening in gaza could change the plans of what we will be doing on our base, but thats about the most it should influence me.
This past week we started shmirot on our base, so we did many shmirot of 3 hours, the rules are your not allowed to do anything other than stand at your post, and if you want, you can drink the water in your canteens. your not allowed to sit or do anything else. it doesnt sound too bad, but it can get really boring, but you just have to keep yourself distracted sing to yourself or do whatever you can do to pass the time. anyways, thats a lot of what we did this past week. we also learned standing and sitting positions for shooting, and had many more lessons and drills.
Next week should be a good week, ill keep you all updated and try to do it more often. Hope all is well with everyone.
I havent posted in a pretty long while, but here goes my attempt of filling you all in on whats new with me. Im about to start my 5th week of my basic training. The first few weeks we didnt do anything too exciting, and frankly we didnt really start to do many things like soldiers, but since it has started to get better. We all got M-16s and got to shoot them in the 3rd week or so, and we calibrated them, and started getting used to having them on us all the time. we have had a lot of lessons on how to use the guns, how they work, and how to take them apart and clean them properly, which is really interesting, and probably one of my favorite parts. Another thing that we have done is we have learned how to fix up things so they will be handy. For example, we learned how to connect our guns to the straps so it will be stronger than just tying the strap on like it is given to you. also on our vests we were taught how to tie the water canteens to the vests so that you wont lose it. We have also had lessons on grenades a little and other things of the like. Another thing thats pretty cool is this physical test that any combat soldier in israel has to pass to be able to finish their training. Its called the 'bochan maslul' which means course test for lack of better words. Basically it consists of a 600 meter run, and an obstacle course of different types of obstacles, for example a climbing rope, and many others followed by another 400 meter run at the end, which all has to be done in less than 10.5 minutes. We have done many practices for it and drills for it, and were going to try to pass it for the first time this coming week, which is pretty exciting. The tricky thing about the test that i didnt mention is that you do the test with all of your equipment on you, including 6 full magazines of bullets, 1.5 liters of water, and your gun, which makes many of the obstacles much harder than they would be otherwise. Im looking foreward to it, even though it is really hard, and most people dont pass it on their first time, and many people have a lot of trouble with it otherwise. I feel like im starting to get closer with a lot of the guys who are with my in my tent and in our division too...which is good.
Im sure a lot of you have heard about what began in gaza exactly a week ago today. Just to inform, you have nothing to worry about with me. since im still in my first part of basic training, i will not be called up to go do any operation in gaza. Our commanders have told us that what is happening in gaza could change the plans of what we will be doing on our base, but thats about the most it should influence me.
This past week we started shmirot on our base, so we did many shmirot of 3 hours, the rules are your not allowed to do anything other than stand at your post, and if you want, you can drink the water in your canteens. your not allowed to sit or do anything else. it doesnt sound too bad, but it can get really boring, but you just have to keep yourself distracted sing to yourself or do whatever you can do to pass the time. anyways, thats a lot of what we did this past week. we also learned standing and sitting positions for shooting, and had many more lessons and drills.
Next week should be a good week, ill keep you all updated and try to do it more often. Hope all is well with everyone.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
After two days
Hey everyone,
So at this point, I have officially enlisted and become a soldier for real. I have served my first two days of my army service. So we went back to bakum (the part of the main base in tel aviv, where they enlist people) and since i was already a soldier, i sat there for multiple hours not doing anything. Then eventually by about 3ish in the afternoon they called 5 of us to go get on a bus. We walked over to the buses got on a bus, which was absolutely packed full, and got on, only to put all of our bags in the aisle of the bus, since there was no more room under it. We got to the base at about 6 or 7 at night, and the first thing we did was go eat dinner. Then we went back, had to get beds, mattresses, sleeping bags, and put them in our tents. Then we had to get another set of beds and mattresses and sleeping bags for another group that had gotten to the base after us. Then we did a lot more moving of beds and sleeping bags, nothing too serious. eventually we had our sha'ah tosh (free hour for anything you need to do), which is also the only hour that you have during the day to be on the phone...(otherwise it has to be off and in the tent). Not to mention that you can only be on the phone in your tent or behind the bathrooms. So, like most good weekends when ill be let out of the army, i got out on Friday to go home, and so i had about 6 or 7 hours of bus rides to get to my kibbutz. Now its shabbat and I'm resting a lot, only to wake up tomorrow at around 6 in the morning to get on a bus at 6 30 to have another many hours of bus riding...I haven't done very much yet, but ill be updating on weekends that i come home to my kibbutz, and/ or if i have any computer access...
So at this point, I have officially enlisted and become a soldier for real. I have served my first two days of my army service. So we went back to bakum (the part of the main base in tel aviv, where they enlist people) and since i was already a soldier, i sat there for multiple hours not doing anything. Then eventually by about 3ish in the afternoon they called 5 of us to go get on a bus. We walked over to the buses got on a bus, which was absolutely packed full, and got on, only to put all of our bags in the aisle of the bus, since there was no more room under it. We got to the base at about 6 or 7 at night, and the first thing we did was go eat dinner. Then we went back, had to get beds, mattresses, sleeping bags, and put them in our tents. Then we had to get another set of beds and mattresses and sleeping bags for another group that had gotten to the base after us. Then we did a lot more moving of beds and sleeping bags, nothing too serious. eventually we had our sha'ah tosh (free hour for anything you need to do), which is also the only hour that you have during the day to be on the phone...(otherwise it has to be off and in the tent). Not to mention that you can only be on the phone in your tent or behind the bathrooms. So, like most good weekends when ill be let out of the army, i got out on Friday to go home, and so i had about 6 or 7 hours of bus rides to get to my kibbutz. Now its shabbat and I'm resting a lot, only to wake up tomorrow at around 6 in the morning to get on a bus at 6 30 to have another many hours of bus riding...I haven't done very much yet, but ill be updating on weekends that i come home to my kibbutz, and/ or if i have any computer access...
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Almost There...
Hey everyone, I haven't been so good with writing the past few weeks, but here, ill try and catch you all up real quick.
First of all, one thing i haven't mentioned in my blog at all which deserves a very large presence is my host family on the kibbutz. They are really awesome, they are a young family, the father is Haim who works at the optics factory on my kibbutz, the mother Roni, and baby Shaked who is now ten months old, starting to stand by herself, and run with a little help. They are everything i could hope to have in a host family on the kibbutz, they take me on trips in the north, introduce me to all of their friends, and I have started to feel like a part of their family. I was with them for Rosh Ha'shana and they have taken me many times from our kibbutz to Tel Aviv for the weekend.
So now that Ive said that here goes with catching you all up on the past 3 weeks...
two weeks ago 6 of our girls went into the army...5 of them to become infantry instructors and one to be a medic. It has made all of my program change a little, because now most people are still living on the kibbutz and those 6 girls are in the army during the week and so the dynamics of our group has changed a lot, i think for the better, because pretty soon we are all going to be in the army. I found out that I'm going to Nachal, and i will go in the 19th of November, which is really soon now, and exciting to start what i came here to do.
We also had this ceremony to represent the end of our time on the kibbutz before the army, we did this long skit with dances in it, a couple of funny videos and basically the purpose was to show people on the kibbutz about what we have been doing these past two and a half months, and to laugh about it. I also set up two different slide shows, one with general pictures from all the things we have been doing, and the other with pictures of each person in our garin with their host family from the kibbutz, and them telling everyone where they are from and where they are going in the army in the background. It was really fun, and one of the other kibbutzim in our program came to watch and support us too. Afterwards we ate dinner, and they opened the pub on the kibbutz so it was really fun.
Since, we have gotten a few gifts from the tzofim, the organizers of our program including a big backpack for the army, which will be really useful. Since i have 11 days from today till i join the army, I'm rushing to see everyone i want to see before who i haven't seen yet or haven't seen since i first got here.
Tomorrow morning we are taking a pre-drafting drip to Eilat, and we are going to spend three days there, go to the beach, have fun and relax for the few days of freedom that we have left. The next people going into the army are going on the 16th, and then me, with others the 19th and then another the 23rd.
First of all, one thing i haven't mentioned in my blog at all which deserves a very large presence is my host family on the kibbutz. They are really awesome, they are a young family, the father is Haim who works at the optics factory on my kibbutz, the mother Roni, and baby Shaked who is now ten months old, starting to stand by herself, and run with a little help. They are everything i could hope to have in a host family on the kibbutz, they take me on trips in the north, introduce me to all of their friends, and I have started to feel like a part of their family. I was with them for Rosh Ha'shana and they have taken me many times from our kibbutz to Tel Aviv for the weekend.
So now that Ive said that here goes with catching you all up on the past 3 weeks...
two weeks ago 6 of our girls went into the army...5 of them to become infantry instructors and one to be a medic. It has made all of my program change a little, because now most people are still living on the kibbutz and those 6 girls are in the army during the week and so the dynamics of our group has changed a lot, i think for the better, because pretty soon we are all going to be in the army. I found out that I'm going to Nachal, and i will go in the 19th of November, which is really soon now, and exciting to start what i came here to do.
We also had this ceremony to represent the end of our time on the kibbutz before the army, we did this long skit with dances in it, a couple of funny videos and basically the purpose was to show people on the kibbutz about what we have been doing these past two and a half months, and to laugh about it. I also set up two different slide shows, one with general pictures from all the things we have been doing, and the other with pictures of each person in our garin with their host family from the kibbutz, and them telling everyone where they are from and where they are going in the army in the background. It was really fun, and one of the other kibbutzim in our program came to watch and support us too. Afterwards we ate dinner, and they opened the pub on the kibbutz so it was really fun.
Since, we have gotten a few gifts from the tzofim, the organizers of our program including a big backpack for the army, which will be really useful. Since i have 11 days from today till i join the army, I'm rushing to see everyone i want to see before who i haven't seen yet or haven't seen since i first got here.
Tomorrow morning we are taking a pre-drafting drip to Eilat, and we are going to spend three days there, go to the beach, have fun and relax for the few days of freedom that we have left. The next people going into the army are going on the 16th, and then me, with others the 19th and then another the 23rd.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Becoming a Soldier
So this one is kinda out of order, but here goes:
So a week ago, we went to "Bakum" which is a part of the army base Tel Ha'shomer in Tel Aviv, where people are inlisted and are released from their mandatory army service in Israel. Last monday we went there to "become soldiers" even though were not going into basic training for another month.
While there, there was basically a bunch of different stations, we gave our bank account so they can deposit our paycheck, we had a blood test done, we got our picture taken for our army id, our finger prints taken, vaccinations, and finally we got our uniforms. Of course when getting the uniforms we had to try them on to make sure we didnt get anything too out of proportion, make sure the boots fit, and of course to see how we look in them. The day before we went to do this was my birthday, so i thought even though it wasnt mandatory at that point, that i was going to buzz my hair so i would look like a soldier for real in all of the pictures for the army. Anyways, we also got our preliminary army IDs and our dog tags of course, and now with our amy ID we can travel on any Egged bus in Israel for a maximum of 9.60 sheckels. (of course once were in the army, we will go for free). When we got back to the kibbutz after this long day, we had to pack up our uniforms and be done with them until we actually going to go in the army. Right now all of our statuses are "soldiers" we are no longer civilians, and any offenses we commit will be tried in an army court.
Here is a picture of me with some friends in Uniform:
(notice were in my room, you can see the texas flag above my bed...)
So a week ago, we went to "Bakum" which is a part of the army base Tel Ha'shomer in Tel Aviv, where people are inlisted and are released from their mandatory army service in Israel. Last monday we went there to "become soldiers" even though were not going into basic training for another month.
While there, there was basically a bunch of different stations, we gave our bank account so they can deposit our paycheck, we had a blood test done, we got our picture taken for our army id, our finger prints taken, vaccinations, and finally we got our uniforms. Of course when getting the uniforms we had to try them on to make sure we didnt get anything too out of proportion, make sure the boots fit, and of course to see how we look in them. The day before we went to do this was my birthday, so i thought even though it wasnt mandatory at that point, that i was going to buzz my hair so i would look like a soldier for real in all of the pictures for the army. Anyways, we also got our preliminary army IDs and our dog tags of course, and now with our amy ID we can travel on any Egged bus in Israel for a maximum of 9.60 sheckels. (of course once were in the army, we will go for free). When we got back to the kibbutz after this long day, we had to pack up our uniforms and be done with them until we actually going to go in the army. Right now all of our statuses are "soldiers" we are no longer civilians, and any offenses we commit will be tried in an army court.
Here is a picture of me with some friends in Uniform:
(notice were in my room, you can see the texas flag above my bed...)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Yom Kippur in the Old city of Jerusalem
So this Yom Kippur wasn't like others that i have had in my life.
First of all it was spent in Jerusalem, which i have only done once in my life, when i was in Israel two years ago on Year Course. Second of all, this one i got to spend two of the three services inside the walls of the old city.
I stayed with Yemmima, a good friend of Yaels and one of the scouts who worked at Camp Tel Yehudah when i was a camper there...It was especially nice, because i didn't make my plans until a few days before i actually went, so it was really nice of them to take me last minute.
Friday afternoon the fast started pretty early, because here in Israel, we have already changed our clocks back for daylight savings time. (just for those who are curious, im 7 hours later than central US time now) We had a nice meal at Yemimma's house, then drove to the old city parked the car right outside, and went into the Shul. It was a sepharadi portuguese shul, but there were many people there who were neither portuguese nor sepharadi. It was pretty hard to find my place, because of the pace of the service, and the fact that they don't read out page numbers there like they do in the states. It was a good experience overall, and i would return to the same shul the next night for ne'ila to finish off the holiday, at which time i had began adjusting much better to the pace and tunes of the service. After the service we walked back to Yemima's appartment (half way across Jerusalem) which took us about an hour or so. Then we got in, and i went right to bed, having woken up at 6 that morning, and after a day of traveling from the north to Tel Aviv, and then Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The next morning i woke up at about quarter to ten, and i got up, and we went to a different shul, a little closer to their house, only a 30 minute walk. That shul was more similar to the tunes and style we have back home, although not exact. After that service which went until about 2 in the afternoon, I ended up running into two different Judaeans, and walked back to the old city for ne'ila (the ending prayers of Yom Kippur). We got there in the middle of the reading of the story of Jonah, and stayed for about 3 hours until the fast ended. Overall i would have thought that fasting and walking as much as i did would have been really hard, but in the end, it wasn't too hot in Jerusalem, and it wasn't nearly as bad as i had expected. Overall the experience was pretty cool, being in the Old city of Jerusalem, where so many people had done the same thing for thousands of years. Also doing the priestly blessing in the shul inside the walls of the old city was very moving, because it was the closest i have felt to my ancestry possibly ever. Hope everyone who fasted had an easy fast and Chag Sameach, and Shanah tovah (happy new year) to everyone!
Friday, September 19, 2008
I got called to tryout for the airforce!
So this past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun, they have been generall pretty routine, ulpan three times a week, and activities about the army, and learing more and more about the army every day.
One really big thing that i found out 3 or 4 days ago, is that I have been asked to go for the first round of testing for the air force, that i qualified for the preliminary testing for pilots course, which for those of you who dont know, is a pretty big deal in Israel. So, that was really exciting, and a really big honor that i even qualified. So Monday im going to Tiberious, with four other guys in my gareen who qualified, and were going to take a series of tests for a few hours, and see if we qualify to go to the next round.
The other night i went to a basketball game, Israel vs. Bosnia, and it was a game that all of the people on year course this year were at, and so i got in through their overpurchassing of tickets. Basically i took a 4 hour bus ride from the north go get to tel aviv, and then took a bus back the next day. It was really nice though, because I got to see lots of friends, ,meet some people, and see my cousin who is on year course this year. Then after i met Daniel Gottesman for dinner, who for those of you who dont know him, is a family friend, and an officer in the Israeli air force. Then after dinner i went back to Holon where i slept for the night, and then my friend Roy came and picked me up, and we went out for a bit. It was really good to see him, because i hadn't seen him since we worked together at camp this summer.
Another thing i forgot, Sunday after our free weekend last weekend, we stayed in Tel aviv, and our program brought all of these different speakers to talk to us about the middle east, and about the Israeli-Palesinian conflict, and about the army and everything. It was really nice, although everyone was exausted from going out during our free weekend. Then that night we drove south, to the negev and stayed the night in a bedouin tent which was really nice, just to be able to go and sleep out in nature for one night. The next day we drove about twenty minutes further south and arrived at a Shirion (tanks) base where we got to see an all out exerceise of many different branches of the army. There were tanks, people from engineering, field intellegence, all the different infantry units, and artillery. I wouldnt say it was fun, but it was really interesting, and a new experience seeing how the different parts of the army would theoretically work together in the field. Then we had a talk with a few officers from the tanks, and they tried to convince us why tanks are the best place to be in the army. It worked pretty well, but i still dont think im going to go to the tanks. Then afterwards, we had to get back on our bus and drive from the south of Israel to the north, which seemed to take forever.
Life on the kibbutz is still nice, its very theraputic. Noone on the kibbutz normally has any use for money, becasue in teh dining room and in the kibbutz store everyone has a number for their account, so you dont have to worry about the constraints of money ever. Even though its kinda socialist in that respect its really nice and peaceful.
Rosh Ha'shanah is coming up really soon, and im planning on going with my kibbutz host family to Tel Aviv and meet their extended family.
By the way, i forgot to add earlier that Israel won the Basketball game that they played against Bosnia.
Tonight there is a big end of summer party on the kibbutz at the pool, so im really excited about that. Thats all for now, ill keep you all posted. for those of you who didnt sign up to get notifications... heres the link again.
http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Track=http://elanisonshamir.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
One really big thing that i found out 3 or 4 days ago, is that I have been asked to go for the first round of testing for the air force, that i qualified for the preliminary testing for pilots course, which for those of you who dont know, is a pretty big deal in Israel. So, that was really exciting, and a really big honor that i even qualified. So Monday im going to Tiberious, with four other guys in my gareen who qualified, and were going to take a series of tests for a few hours, and see if we qualify to go to the next round.
The other night i went to a basketball game, Israel vs. Bosnia, and it was a game that all of the people on year course this year were at, and so i got in through their overpurchassing of tickets. Basically i took a 4 hour bus ride from the north go get to tel aviv, and then took a bus back the next day. It was really nice though, because I got to see lots of friends, ,meet some people, and see my cousin who is on year course this year. Then after i met Daniel Gottesman for dinner, who for those of you who dont know him, is a family friend, and an officer in the Israeli air force. Then after dinner i went back to Holon where i slept for the night, and then my friend Roy came and picked me up, and we went out for a bit. It was really good to see him, because i hadn't seen him since we worked together at camp this summer.
Another thing i forgot, Sunday after our free weekend last weekend, we stayed in Tel aviv, and our program brought all of these different speakers to talk to us about the middle east, and about the Israeli-Palesinian conflict, and about the army and everything. It was really nice, although everyone was exausted from going out during our free weekend. Then that night we drove south, to the negev and stayed the night in a bedouin tent which was really nice, just to be able to go and sleep out in nature for one night. The next day we drove about twenty minutes further south and arrived at a Shirion (tanks) base where we got to see an all out exerceise of many different branches of the army. There were tanks, people from engineering, field intellegence, all the different infantry units, and artillery. I wouldnt say it was fun, but it was really interesting, and a new experience seeing how the different parts of the army would theoretically work together in the field. Then we had a talk with a few officers from the tanks, and they tried to convince us why tanks are the best place to be in the army. It worked pretty well, but i still dont think im going to go to the tanks. Then afterwards, we had to get back on our bus and drive from the south of Israel to the north, which seemed to take forever.
Life on the kibbutz is still nice, its very theraputic. Noone on the kibbutz normally has any use for money, becasue in teh dining room and in the kibbutz store everyone has a number for their account, so you dont have to worry about the constraints of money ever. Even though its kinda socialist in that respect its really nice and peaceful.
Rosh Ha'shanah is coming up really soon, and im planning on going with my kibbutz host family to Tel Aviv and meet their extended family.
By the way, i forgot to add earlier that Israel won the Basketball game that they played against Bosnia.
Tonight there is a big end of summer party on the kibbutz at the pool, so im really excited about that. Thats all for now, ill keep you all posted. for those of you who didnt sign up to get notifications... heres the link again.
http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Track=http://elanisonshamir.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
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