But then of course, there's a reason that this is a blog, and not a one word sum up (even if that's not really one word). Exhaustinglyawesomelyfun doesn't really give a good picture of what's been going on.
The standard apology applies as always; "i'm sorry, i've got no real idea what we actually did in two weeks". Aside from that, let me fill you in!
The first few weeks of basic training i believe (because i'm clearly an expect having done it twice), are there just to break you down. It's a lot of very small times to do things, a lot of yelling at you, a lot of run there and back, and a lot of letting you realise that you really have no control of anything anymore. It was interesting this time to see everyone cope with the change from being in control, to having a small bracket of time for even going to take a pee. So, aside from a lot of cleaning areas in very small amounts of time (or long amounts if you keep getting 20 seconds to roll up and tie the sides of the tent-in 20 seconds you do half a roll...which you then have to redo because you drop it) The two weeks were broken up into three main categories:
- Learning stuff
- Doing stuff
- Counting stuff
The soldiers:
Put together a bunch of 100 girls and you're going to have a bad apple or two, it's simply statistics, in this bunch however you really have to search hard. As well as 100 girls (i'm making up numbers here), there are around 22 boys. The boys at first (i believe) were a little bitter, it's basically no boys dream to grow up and be in caracal (why, i don't fully comprehend, probably just stigma) but as the days went on it defiantly grew on them. The girls, i sum them up this way: picture your typical cute, girly isreali 18 year old, now take her make up off, put her hair up in a pony tail, put her in a uniform and watch her drop down and do 20 pushups without complaint. The girls here are sweet, tough and most of all incredibly patient. They giggle often at my accent but always assuring me that their laughing out of love, i of course assure them that i have no accent, to which they repeat what i've said in a strong American accent. hmmmm.
The base:
Not the most beautiful place in the world i'll give you that. Located in the desert it's rocky, sandy, windy and bare. We sleep in giant tents (which don't always have lights). Basically it's no Michve Eilon with a beautiful view, buildings, numerous trees, grass, shower curtains or edible food...but it is my home for the next month and a bit so i'm getting used to it!
The ones in charge:
My Mefakedet: the first ever Arab Christian woman to be a commander in a combat unit...yep that's my commander! A funny one, laughs alot, doesn't believe in distance between soldiers and commanders, and told me her birthday (i'm older!). Pretty great.
There are some real scary ones though...one who doesn't smile even when it appears impossible. For instance: We were in our lines outside the food hall when i asked to blow my nose. Unfortunately i didn't know any of the words so i said "attention mefaked..." then made hand gestures. Well everyone was laughing (apparently that is hilarious!), but he without a hint of a smile said, leave the lines then ask to join after. tough cookie that one!
Learning stuff
As always we did a lot of lessons. Lessons on rules, on army structure, on drinking and driving, on micro tavour (our guns), on the oldest radio communicator alive (that's probably not what it's called), and also sort of discussions on why we wanted to be fighters.
Some lessons were easier to understand then others, i have major problems understanding when men speak hebrew (cant' tell you why) and also for some reason our assistant troop commander (the cutest little girl...expect she's kinda badass!).
For that reason myself and another 4 or 5 new immigrants received special lessons. Special in the way that essentially it's the same lesson as everyone else gets, it's just we have more time for it and they are able to explain things every few minutes. It works really well for me, as i can't fall asleep if it's only 5 people in the class!
Doing Stuff
We did alot of fun stuff in the two weeks too. Some of it frustrated me to no end.,...but fun none the less. Firstly there was the baror (essentially a fitness test to track progress), there were large portions of pushups outside of the food hall, there was trying to jump over a wall -took me many many fails but when i finally did it, wow was i happy! climbing up a rope, again many fails (i couldn't get the foot technique down) when i finally made it to the top though i was on top of the world!
But wait, the wall and rope are part of a bigger picture. Their part of a test we do, i don't know when, called the bochal maslul. It's a big obstacle course (I KNOW< HOW FUN!) that we have to do wearing all our gear, vest, helmet gun. At the moment we are practising just as is. but it's the most fun thing i've done in a while. there are monkey bars, tunnel thingys, a big pyramid thing that you walk up and down, the wall, the rope, and quite a few other things. Something weird, when we were practising the other day the mefaked machlaka (platoon commander) gave me a gun, told me to take care of it and let me continue practising all the activities with the gun. Probably i was just the first soldier she saw, but made me rather happy!
The weeks ended off with a masa for our unit tags. 
that's caracal. Not an especially long masa (2 km), easy in fact apart from the pace. We did it so fast that you were running every few meters. Odd for a masa, we did it without our guns and sadly also without a flag. Next time it won't be so easy...not even slightly!
that's caracal. Not an especially long masa (2 km), easy in fact apart from the pace. We did it so fast that you were running every few meters. Odd for a masa, we did it without our guns and sadly also without a flag. Next time it won't be so easy...not even slightly!
At the end of the masa we had a little ceremony for receiving tags, i was really shocked to receive my tag from the mefakedet machlaka (platoon commander) with a personal message written on the back. Will get back with full translation (the Hebrews a little above my level).
Counting things
At the start of the two weeks we received our base equipment, including our base uniforms. Brilliant you say; hmm yes and no. Yes, as our home uniforms are very hot, and rather uncomfortable to run in. No, the army does alot of counting. I think 3 or 4 times we had to take all our base equipment out for a check. That's not a simple thing let me tell you. You have to put all the blankets on the floor in a neat chet, then put all the equipment on it with each thing in its place. this whole process is done in small times (duh), and ultimately it's a pain in the ass!
A small thing i forgot; Morphias. Who or what is Morphias you ask...well he is my gun. I think anyway, haven't fully settled on a name yet. Photo's to come. Brand spanking new and simply beautiful...if a gun can be beautiful. Haven't decided yet. Morphias will be my personal gun until the end of my service. After a certain amount of time...i don't know exactly how long, he will be coming home with me as well. As all combat fighters take their personal guns home as well so they are ready at all times.
To sum up though...
The past two weeks were great, i'm really extremely happy that i've arrived where i have. At times a little hard with the language, but even then the majority of the time i'm able to join in, which is defiantly a relief. At the end of the first week my entire body was in pain and i was convinced that in a very small period of time i would look like this:
But I'm pleased to report that no, steroids are not part of the army diet..oh don't get me started on what is in the army diet!
That's about it,
Lots of love,
your ginger fighter.
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