Alas I am starting the next chapter of my life. Today is the day I begin my Israeli military service.
Due to the recent circumstances of my life I haven't had to have a "real job" in more than a year- so you could say I'm pretty excited to get back out there. But with my excitement to finally be "at work" again and on my feet also comes nervousness. I have zero clue as to what my life will look like in the next two or three years. While the thought of diving into a pool of the unknown surely gets my adrenaline going, I'd be lying if I said I was 100% confident in my ability to succeed and be competent in all do what is asked of me. But all I can do is my best.
What I've been told is that I will spend about a month in general basic training. At the conclusion of basic training I will complete some tests so that I can be assigned to a job and unit.
The last time I wrote I think I told you that I was set to be drafted on December 20 of this year. The reason this changed is because I sent a letter to the IDF asking for my draft date to be moved up to November, realizing that the December draft is not a combat draft. I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn't ever force myself to sit at a desk. The promises you make to yourself are those that are most important to honor. After all, you can't run away from you.
And here's a short recap of what I've been up to since I last wrote:
The past couple of months, though one could say they were largely unproductive, for me they have been an interesting mix of adventure, romance and boredom. Upon the conclusion of my Ulpan in mid September I flew to Rome to meet my parents for a two-week Italian adventure. Somewhere in the middle of the trip my Haifa friend Leon came to meet up with me in Milan and we are now a bit more than just friends ;) After Leon went back to Israel I still had five nights left with my parents in Italy. During the course of the trip I covered Rome, Verona, Lucca, the Cinque Terre, Florence, Venice and Milan. My favorite part of the whole experience had to have been meeting "long-lost" Italian Taranto cousins in Rome. With each new cousin I meet it's like I'm piecing together this huge family puzzle. I cannot express in words how grateful I am to my parents for bringing me along with them.
Upon the conclusion of my two weeks in Italy, it wasn't home to Israel for me but rather home to good ole' America. It was my first time back in the States after close to one year. I spent some time in Maryland/ D.C., and also had a great little side trip to Atlanta. Three and a half weeks and 50 degrees Fahrenheit weather later I couldn't have been more ready to return to a nice and sunny 75 degrees in Israel and a smiling Leon waiting for me at the airport.
In the few weeks I've been back in Israel I spent a whole week battling jet lag, road tripped to Eilat with Leon for my 25th birthday, had two little trips to Tel Aviv, got the ball rolling on the driver's license conversion process and have been running around doing random odds and ends preparing for the army.
So with this last post as just a regular civilian, wish me luck as I embark upon a completely new chapter in life.
And I mustn't forget!!! Thank you to all my friends and family who have been so supportive along the way. Every Facebook comment, phone call and hug has truly meant the world to me.
