The second/third week... (gadna)

So my second/ third weeks included many fun things:

First of all I got a ride to Bar's house on thursday, right before the weekend, for the third wedding (party) of Yael and Bar. It was a really fun party and I saw many people that i care about in Israel, including not the most recent, but the two different Israeli families that worked at my summer camp in Texas. Of course many other friends of my sister who live in Israel like Mollie, and Nina, who its always a pleasure to see them. We watched the slideshow that I made for their wedding, and watched a slideshow of pictures from the actual wedding, and also the video that Bar's friends made to send to the actual wedding, and of course at this party they were all there, and they were really fun. Anyways, there wasnt really a meal, it was just many appetisers which was just as much food as a meal, and they were really good. Of course we had many lechayims and danced a lot, and it was just a really happy atmosphere. All of the family made speeches, and my dad made his speech in Hebrew, which i was really impressed, since he hasnt been in Israel for more than a couple of weeks in 30 years at least. He seemed to use and pick up his Hebrew really fast and was able to communicate with minimal problems. We had more dancing, lifted Yael and Bar up in Chairs and did a hora and the night was complete. Afterwards I went out for coffe/snack with my sister, Bar and his friends which was pretty cool.

Then i had a free weekend off the kibbutz, which was perfect becasue i could then spend more time with my parents. Also in the course of the weekend I got to see one of my really good friends from camp this past summer Itay, and we went for coffe and cheesecake. It was really good catching up with him, and seeing him. Then saturday night we went to a preformance called juntos (means "together" in Spanish) which was a preformance of Mayumana (basically an Israeli version of Stomp), with David Broza (an Israeli musician who lived many years in spain, and is amazing on the guitar spanish style and otherwise). It was the second time I had seen the preformance but it was my parents' first times, and they really enjoyed it.

The next morning, i had to catch the train to Tel Aviv to meet back up with my group and we had a big week to come. From there we took the bus to an army base called ג'וארה (jew-are-ahh) its a special base in the army for education. Basically to explain to those of you who dont know what it is, its called gadna, and most Israelis go through it in 11th grade, its a five day program "simulation" of basic training in the army, where you learn all different kinds of things in the army, and about weapons, and physically running, crawling, and stuff. At the end of the week, they take us to a shooting range and we get a chance to shoot M-16 (long) assault rifles. Anyways, it was an interesting week, since everyone who was there was about to go to the real army in two months. It was a good week overall, with many discussions about all of the dillemas that exist in the army, regarding all kinds of things. talking about the honor code in the army, and with regard to guns. I know I really need to post pictures, and dont be too surprised by the pictures of gadna, yes im in a uniform, but not im not in the army yet. This week sunday were having a talk about different positions in the army, which im still really unsure what I want to do, because there are different options, and possibilities of things I can do, I need to figure out what is most interesting, and how im going to feel my service will be most meaningful to me. Other than that we have our major interviews with the army this week on wednesday, physical, intellectual, psychological, and im sure other tests included, so im kinda nervous/anticipating that. Anyways, thats about all for now, hope to hear from everyone soon and keep in touch. Also I finally have a phone, so those of you who want to buy a calling card and call me, feel free. If you want my number please email me, or message me somehow, and i will give it to you.--Elan