Last week started out really cool as we had a surprise Masa (hike wearing full gear) 4 (4k). At the end of it we got the cover for our dog tag. It says our unit and our entry date on it and has a picture of our unit symbol. Then on Thursday all the lone soldiers in kfir (my unit) went to a 'day of fun' at a hotel. I pretty much tried every form of water therapy there was there. There was a Turkish Bath, sauna, steam room, indoor/outdoor pool, jacuzzi, homemade baked goods for breakfast, and homemade chicken and meat for lunch (all provided by the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center). It was really relaxing and after the program ended we went straight home! I stayed at my friends apartment that night so I could sleep a little later. Then for shabbat I was at Shlomo and Malka and fam and had a great and restful shabbat.
This week started off with us quickly getting into things. Usually Sunday is kind of a do-nothing day because everyone is still coming back to base but they took us right away to base and we quickly changed into uniform-b. We got all our equipment in order, preparing to go to the shetach (desert) right away. That day they had a class on the radio which the "non-fluent in Hebrew" speakers had already had so instead we became the Samal's (one of the officers) workers for the day. The entire day we had to carry stuff up and down the hill to the Shetach in the heat of the day. It was hard work and we didn't get dinner afterwords until really late bc they forgot about us. Also we got to sleep later than everyone else because we had to stay by all the stuff until one of the kitot (smallest group) came to the Shetach to guard the stuff (they slept there that night). So the mefakdim (officers) were pretty annoyed but what can you do! Tough luck. We still woke up with everyone else and went to the shetach really early to start shooting. From Monday morning until Thursday afternoon we were in the Shetach shooting. We slept in small tents, three to a tent to keep warm. It was hard the first night to fall asleep because of all the rocks poking into my back but eventually I acclimated to the environment. During those days we did runs with our gear, without gear and we did a Krav Maga (martial arts for military) lesson. We learned how to fight with our gun (without bullets) in that lesson and ran a lot. I by accidently forgot my years of training from my parents to burp with my mouth closed and the madrich (teacher) heard it and made me do 40 push ups. However I thought he said 20 so when I stood back in line it was too soon and he noticed and made me do 40 more. woops. Let that be a lesson to people! When your parents teach you manners it pays to listen.
Following that we continued to 'target' our guns. Each time you would shoot at the target 25 meters away, and if it was off you would have to adjust it. We did other cools exercises and what not. It was difficult but there were the fun moments. At one point we all were dancing in the rain (Machlaka Beinish... what you gonna do) and we had a kumzitz one night until the officers told us to stop.
On Thursday we packed up, went back to base, ran a couple miles, and then showered for the first time in a week! I figured I had water points saved up from not using water the whole week so I took a nice shower.
These past few days I've been staying in Chama and Avi's vacant apartment (they all went to America without me!) and no... I have not burned down the place. For the seder I am going to a friend in Chashmonaim. Its my first Pesach in Israel! Forced to stay b/c we are closed on base for Wednesday and Thursday.
Its cool being in Israel at this time. I bought food earlier and brought it back to the apartment, when I realized I may have just been eating Chametz in their apartment I got worried b/c it was already cleaned but I looked at the food and it was all kosher for pesach! Who woulda thought.
If anyone is in Israel last week of May come to our tekes (ceremony)!
Chag Sameach!
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