Army information/testing week

So this week was filled with information about the army, and ill give you an overview of what we did. This past weekend was a free weekend, meaning almost everyone was in Tel Aviv, partying and having lots of fun. (As was I).

Sunday we all (All of Garin Tzabar) met at the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv, and from there we took buses to one of the biggest army bases in Israel, Tel Ha'shomer, in which we had a fun day filled with many different things. Basically the way it was set up, was many different trailers, each representing a different part of the army. We went through and heard about Tzanchanim (Paratroopers), Medical Corps, Artillery, Search and Rescue, Combat Engineering, Education corps, Tanks, a new battalion called 'kfir', and at each one, there were representatives from that unit, telling you why you should join that part of the army, passing out information, showing movies, weapons, or tools used in that unit, and so forth. Basically it was a day of lots of information, and a little bit of confusion, since each person can only pick one place they want to go... This really didn't help me make any sort of decision. Then at around 2 or 3pm we set out on our way back to the kibbutz. The ride isn't too bad by Texas standards, its probably about 4 hours from Tel Aviv, if there isn't traffic and if you don't stop on the way. Anyways, we stopped about an hour away from our kibbutz to get some food at this Arab restaurant, which was really good.

Basically, they kept bringing out more and more types of salads, and falafel, and soda, and pita, and once we were all just about full, they came around and took orders from each person of what kind of meat they wanted. It was amazing. Anyways, we finally got back to the kibbutz, and were pretty tired. At this day we had two days until the infamous Tzav Rishon ('first order' from the army, where everyone goes through a doctor's visit, the standard stuff, blood pressure, weight, height, checking back and feet, and basically a general check for any problems. Then comes, "Imut netunim" which is basically, a personal interview, where they not only check what you have been doing for the last few years, but also your Hebrew level, get personal information about your family, and other stuff too. Anyways, the other stuff is pretty standard, they had to know everything i have been up to since i graduated from high school, and that seemed to be enough. Then came the Hebrew test. This specific round of testing is infamous for being hard even for most Israelis, and there are a few different parts. The hardest parts are where they give you a sentence, which you have to read, (most of the words of which you have never heard, and have no idea what they mean). They tell you to try and guess what the words mean, or what the sentence means as a whole, seeming to forget that you cant even give her the meaning of single words in the sentence. Then the best part about it, is that you get to do it another two or maybe three times. The next part is Hebrew words, the interviewer says a word and you have to tell her what it means, or try and figure it out if you don't know. Then the instructor person gives you a pencil and piece of paper, and tells you to copy down the sentence she reads (also about at the same level as others, where you have never heard of the words before). Through all of this i at least managed to make some small talk with the two soldiers who were interviewing me, and one of them had even heard of Young Judaea, and was in the scouts.

The next part of the rigorous day was waiting, i haven't mentioned it yet, but between each of these things that I'm explaining, there is a minimum wait of 30-45 minutes. The next step was the "ra'ayon ishi'' (personal interview), which was interesting, i was put in a type of interrogation style room where i sit opposite a relatively cute soldier, who tells me that i can feel at ease, its not a formal meeting, and that i can relax. Then she begins by asking me a little about what i already told the other interviewers, about what i have been doing my last few years of my life. Then she asks me what a good friend is to me, and about any experiences i have had with professors in college, if i have ever gotten in an argument, or clash with any, and why and what happened. She follows up all of her questions with more questions, and just tries to get to know me, and why I'm there and why I'm going into the army, and what i want to do in the army, and what i would do if i was put somewhere where i didn't want to be, and more questions of the like. It was relatively painless, just took me an hour and a half or so. Then back outside to wait for the "psychotechni" tests (basically some sort of IQ tests). Eventually i went in and took two short tests, one in 15 minutes and the other in 12 minutes, and they were either picture patterns, which i had to pick which was the next in the pattern, or it was analogies of patterns, and i had to pick the correct answer. The first test was really hard, because it started with really easy questions and got harder and harder and so by the middle, i thought i was doing well on time, but then they got really hard, and each question took more time to solve, but it was OK in the end. The second test was much easier. Then i was done. It was a good feeling, but then we went outside where everyone was, and we had to wait some more until everyone was done. It was a really exhausting day overall, and it was an important day too, because that day my physical and intellectual profiles were determined, which are the two numbers that will stay with me through my army service. I also got a score for my Hebrew level which i will be able to test and improve, but the fact that i got a personal interview means that my Hebrew is good enough to start the army with the level I'm at.

Yesterday was very relaxed, in Ulpan, we watched a movie, and did some fun games too. Then in the afternoon they brought a couple of members of the kibbutz to talk to us who were members of either the Palmach or the Haganah, the freedom fighting groups that eventually transformed into the IDF when the state was established. They told us all about how things were, and it was really interesting hearing their perspectives because i dont think i have ever heard that perspective before.

Today is Friday, and we had a late wake up, we cleaned out building and pretty much were free for most of the day, we went to the pool, hung out, and took naps. Now I'm back after having shabbat dinner, I'm going to go to the Kibbutz pub in a bit, and there's another all kibbutz activity that i wanted to see before that. I know it was a long post, it has been a long week. Shabbat Shalom.