Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sorry
I have to be at my base way down south in about 12 hours, so I won't be giving the rest of the update tonight
Friday, November 23, 2007
First Experiences
Hello again everyone. It's only been a few weeks, but it feels like months. I already finished my first course, and on Sunday I'm off to basic training. I'll try to describe it as best I remember.
Sunday the fourth I was up early and at the bus station by 7:30 like I was told. Everyone finished showing up around 9 and they just called everyone's name and told us to get on a bus for the Bakum, the main army base in Israel. We had a smaller group than usual because it was an odd draft - just for those going to the course with me and other special programs.
At the Bakum we got some more of the army's hurry-up-and-wait, had lunch, got to meet some of the others... I ended up eating next to a guy from Sharon, MA (the town right next to Wheaton) who was also 23 and had lived at Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi (later we realized that I'm now in his old room). We went through all the processing - getting photographed, x-rayed, our teeth photographed and x-rayed, fingerprinted, several shots, gave blood, and got our equipment.
After everyone was finished, we got on the bus to our new base. On the way we paused at a rest stop and we were all excited to interact with the public for the first time in uniform. The guy working there ruined it, though, because he would only speak to us in English. We arrived at Michve Alon sometime after dark and were immediately sent to dinner. Of course, we had to start doing things the army way, so there always had to be someone around the bags.
After eating and talking to each other for a bit, we got what I felt was the worst punishment of the three weeks - we had to pick up all our bags and equipment and run to our new rooms (maybe 1/3 mile away and involving several staircases). Inside we were given our day-to-day uniforms and equipment. We made sure it was all there and fit us, then we put the uniforms to use by running back and forth for a few hours.
Things get a bit more fuzzy here, as it's hard to remember out what happened in what order or when. I'll give it as best I can.
The next day was more army exercizes. We ran a lot (as always), stood in formation until we got it perfect, crawled, and learned how to carry others who've been wounded. I still can't crawl properly - after three weeks of working on it, I can do 10-15 meters quickly, then just crash. At night we were given a lecture by the Rasap. I should pause here to explain our commanders:
Our course consisted of one plugah [company], which is divided into three machlakot [platoons - single is machlakah], and each machlakah was divided into three kitot [squads - single is kitah]. On the rare occasions we were separated into our kitot, there was one mifaked [commander] for each, but generally all three were together. In charge of the whole machlakah was the MM [mifaked of a machlekah]. Those four were with us almost all the time.
In addition, we had a samal [sergeant] with our machlakah and with our plugah we had a sarsap and rasap. Both of these are abbreviations, although I don't know what for and I'm still not sure which is a higher rank. From all these people in charge of us, four (the mifakdot [plural of mifaked] and the MM mostly led us by encouragement and example, while the other three led us mostly by yelling and punishments.
Going back to the story, I guess this lecture was to intimidate us, although I can't imagine why. The Rasap basically read the rules with as difficult Hebrew as he could (remember, we're all immigrants and generally don't speak so well) while yelling at us to sit with our hands behind our backs and not to look at him. Every few minutes someone would hit a large pipe behind us. And anyone who moved even the tiniest bit was screamed at to go outside and punished.
The next day we were given our guns, the M16, or as it's known in Hebrew, M16, along with a very simple and uncomfortable strap and a magazine. We were told to have the gun with us at all times, only being allowed to let go at meals (where we'd put it under our seats), to sleep (with guns under our heads), or in the shower (with guns on the hooks next to the shower or being watched by a friend).
Sorry, folks. I'm tired and it'll be Shabbat soon. I'll try to finish tomorrow night
Sunday the fourth I was up early and at the bus station by 7:30 like I was told. Everyone finished showing up around 9 and they just called everyone's name and told us to get on a bus for the Bakum, the main army base in Israel. We had a smaller group than usual because it was an odd draft - just for those going to the course with me and other special programs.
At the Bakum we got some more of the army's hurry-up-and-wait, had lunch, got to meet some of the others... I ended up eating next to a guy from Sharon, MA (the town right next to Wheaton) who was also 23 and had lived at Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi (later we realized that I'm now in his old room). We went through all the processing - getting photographed, x-rayed, our teeth photographed and x-rayed, fingerprinted, several shots, gave blood, and got our equipment.
After everyone was finished, we got on the bus to our new base. On the way we paused at a rest stop and we were all excited to interact with the public for the first time in uniform. The guy working there ruined it, though, because he would only speak to us in English. We arrived at Michve Alon sometime after dark and were immediately sent to dinner. Of course, we had to start doing things the army way, so there always had to be someone around the bags.
After eating and talking to each other for a bit, we got what I felt was the worst punishment of the three weeks - we had to pick up all our bags and equipment and run to our new rooms (maybe 1/3 mile away and involving several staircases). Inside we were given our day-to-day uniforms and equipment. We made sure it was all there and fit us, then we put the uniforms to use by running back and forth for a few hours.
Things get a bit more fuzzy here, as it's hard to remember out what happened in what order or when. I'll give it as best I can.
The next day was more army exercizes. We ran a lot (as always), stood in formation until we got it perfect, crawled, and learned how to carry others who've been wounded. I still can't crawl properly - after three weeks of working on it, I can do 10-15 meters quickly, then just crash. At night we were given a lecture by the Rasap. I should pause here to explain our commanders:
Our course consisted of one plugah [company], which is divided into three machlakot [platoons - single is machlakah], and each machlakah was divided into three kitot [squads - single is kitah]. On the rare occasions we were separated into our kitot, there was one mifaked [commander] for each, but generally all three were together. In charge of the whole machlakah was the MM [mifaked of a machlekah]. Those four were with us almost all the time.
In addition, we had a samal [sergeant] with our machlakah and with our plugah we had a sarsap and rasap. Both of these are abbreviations, although I don't know what for and I'm still not sure which is a higher rank. From all these people in charge of us, four (the mifakdot [plural of mifaked] and the MM mostly led us by encouragement and example, while the other three led us mostly by yelling and punishments.
Going back to the story, I guess this lecture was to intimidate us, although I can't imagine why. The Rasap basically read the rules with as difficult Hebrew as he could (remember, we're all immigrants and generally don't speak so well) while yelling at us to sit with our hands behind our backs and not to look at him. Every few minutes someone would hit a large pipe behind us. And anyone who moved even the tiniest bit was screamed at to go outside and punished.
The next day we were given our guns, the M16, or as it's known in Hebrew, M16, along with a very simple and uncomfortable strap and a magazine. We were told to have the gun with us at all times, only being allowed to let go at meals (where we'd put it under our seats), to sleep (with guns under our heads), or in the shower (with guns on the hooks next to the shower or being watched by a friend).
Sorry, folks. I'm tired and it'll be Shabbat soon. I'll try to finish tomorrow night
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Here I Go
That's one big issue down: I now have a place to live. I was invited to Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi for Shabbat and for them to decide if they'd want me to stay there. After hearing about various kibbutzim, Tirat Tzvi had sounded the best; it's a bit larger than the last one I was on, is in the north, and they have a Garin Tzabar there. Garin Tzabar is a program for people from Americans and Canadians to move to Israel and live on a kibbutz together, and go to the army. So there are 14 other North Americans going through a a very similar experience to mine.
The kibbutz is beautiful. Even after a year on Beautiful View Rd, I spent a long while just walking around and staring. They had apologized several times beforehand saying that they didn't have a proper room open yet, so I'd have to be in one of the smaller and not-so-nice rooms for Shabbat and a week or two. I was expecting something like my room on Be'erot Yitzchak or maybe a bit worse, but instead I had a room about that size to myself (instead of with two roommates), a private bathroom/shower, a kitchenish area, and air conditioner. I can't imagine what their "nice" rooms are like.
Everyone there seemed much friendlier than at Be'erot Yitzchak, although I get the feeling that soldiers (especially lone soldiers) are held in higher esteem overall than Hebrew students. And I was quite proud of myself - aside from when I was with just the Americans, all my conversations were in Hebrew (of course, with some English thrown in for words I didn't know).
The only drawback was that it's a lot more isolated than I had thought. If you go down to the map I provided a few weeks ago, it's next to Beit She'an, by the Jordan River and near the Kinneret/Sea of Galilee. It doesn't look so bad, but let's try this map:
The kibbutz is basically on the Jordanian border and 1.5km from the West Bank. There is a direct road to Jerusalem, but otherwise you have to go all the way around the West Bank.
I don't yet know when or how I'll move all my stuff from Haifa to the kibbutz, but I've been told that the army gives extra days off at the beginning to move and some friends in Haifa offered to help and drive (I've also heard rumors that the army will transport my things for me, but I'm not sure on that).
And of course, the other big event and purpose behind this blog. In 9 hours, I have to be at the main bus station of Haifa to begin my service. I still don't know much of what will happen - I expect we'll go to the Bakum, the huge base near my first kibbutz where every soldier spends their first and last day in the army. We'll get our unforms, IDs, and various other items and forms. From there, we'll see. Some people have told me I'll do a Hebrew course (anywhere from two weeks to three months long), others have said I'll find out my unit and go directly there.
As for the unit, the common unofficial opinion is that I'll be put in Golani. If not there, perhaps Givati or Nachal. Basically, one of the infantry units. Again though, these are just estimates from people not currently in the army, based on my call-up date.
The plus side to being in the Hebrew course is I'll have more time off in the beginning, so it would be easier to move and get somewhat settled into the kibbutz, plus I'd be able to take advantage of the free public transportation for soldiers to visit people. On the other hand, I've heard horrible things about the course. Well, not the course itself, but the people who are in it - mostly your typical asshole teenagers who just want to look cool and piss everyone off, plus they don't speak Hebrew.
In any case, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough, and I'll let you all know when I can.
I'll leave here with a quote from the most famous Israeli soldier:
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you will be serene. May there be peace within your walls, serenity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and my comrades, I shall speak of peace in your midst."
The kibbutz is beautiful. Even after a year on Beautiful View Rd, I spent a long while just walking around and staring. They had apologized several times beforehand saying that they didn't have a proper room open yet, so I'd have to be in one of the smaller and not-so-nice rooms for Shabbat and a week or two. I was expecting something like my room on Be'erot Yitzchak or maybe a bit worse, but instead I had a room about that size to myself (instead of with two roommates), a private bathroom/shower, a kitchenish area, and air conditioner. I can't imagine what their "nice" rooms are like.
Everyone there seemed much friendlier than at Be'erot Yitzchak, although I get the feeling that soldiers (especially lone soldiers) are held in higher esteem overall than Hebrew students. And I was quite proud of myself - aside from when I was with just the Americans, all my conversations were in Hebrew (of course, with some English thrown in for words I didn't know).
The only drawback was that it's a lot more isolated than I had thought. If you go down to the map I provided a few weeks ago, it's next to Beit She'an, by the Jordan River and near the Kinneret/Sea of Galilee. It doesn't look so bad, but let's try this map:
The kibbutz is basically on the Jordanian border and 1.5km from the West Bank. There is a direct road to Jerusalem, but otherwise you have to go all the way around the West Bank.
I don't yet know when or how I'll move all my stuff from Haifa to the kibbutz, but I've been told that the army gives extra days off at the beginning to move and some friends in Haifa offered to help and drive (I've also heard rumors that the army will transport my things for me, but I'm not sure on that).
And of course, the other big event and purpose behind this blog. In 9 hours, I have to be at the main bus station of Haifa to begin my service. I still don't know much of what will happen - I expect we'll go to the Bakum, the huge base near my first kibbutz where every soldier spends their first and last day in the army. We'll get our unforms, IDs, and various other items and forms. From there, we'll see. Some people have told me I'll do a Hebrew course (anywhere from two weeks to three months long), others have said I'll find out my unit and go directly there.
As for the unit, the common unofficial opinion is that I'll be put in Golani. If not there, perhaps Givati or Nachal. Basically, one of the infantry units. Again though, these are just estimates from people not currently in the army, based on my call-up date.
The plus side to being in the Hebrew course is I'll have more time off in the beginning, so it would be easier to move and get somewhat settled into the kibbutz, plus I'd be able to take advantage of the free public transportation for soldiers to visit people. On the other hand, I've heard horrible things about the course. Well, not the course itself, but the people who are in it - mostly your typical asshole teenagers who just want to look cool and piss everyone off, plus they don't speak Hebrew.
In any case, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough, and I'll let you all know when I can.
I'll leave here with a quote from the most famous Israeli soldier:
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you will be serene. May there be peace within your walls, serenity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and my comrades, I shall speak of peace in your midst."
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