This is just the beginning?!?

It's been a really long time since I've written a blog entry. Let me preface this by saying that i am sitting in the bus station waiting to get Ina bus to go to the bakum(the place in the army where people go in and never come out...) to switch my uniform because I have been placed in the navy!! I get a pretty white uniform for ceremonies and a khaki uniform for the rest of the time..yay!

The past two and a half months have honestly been the most challenging of my entire life. I have never worked so hard in my life, and it's not easy to literally spend every waking moment studying and then find out that you passed the test, but just barely. I was in, what I think, is the best course for the best position in the army...education!! I was with ninety girls between the ages of 18 and 20, many of whom had never been away from home. I learned about everything there is to know about this country: from the Haredim, to David Ben gurion, to current events, to the ancient history of Israel. I traveled to Gaza and the west bank, had an incredibly meaningful and educational week in Jerusalem, and I learned how to do my job army style.

It wasn't the glorious army life I wanted. There were no boys, no good food, and a ton of tears. There are 2 breakdowns that stick out in my mind that I want to share. The first came after a few day of non stop rain. The night before, I had to be on patrol and walk around the base to guard the perimeter. The mud reached my ankles, and the girl I was walking with thought she was the prettiest girl in the world and insisted on telling me about it for an hour. Then I found out that I had to be on call...meaning I had to sleep in my uniform INCLUDING my disgusting muddy shoes. I don't know why that set me off, but I lost it. First I called my mom and sobbed louder and harder than I did when I saw the notebook for the first time. Then, all the other (incredibly wonderful) garin Tzabar girls came downstairs and sat with me while I wailed and wailed about how I hated 18 year olds and how Zionism doesn't mean sleeping in muddy shoes. Then I sat in a puddle, which therefore made me cry harder. In that moment, I truly felt like it was the end of the world. I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I felt more alone than I ever have in my entire life. I hope that nobody ever experiences the feeling I experienced that night. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. In the end, I slept in my shoes and it was fine, obviously.

My second breakdown occurred after I finished basic training. (this incident was before the muddy shoes). I was on a high, and heddy and teddy had just left the base after watching my swear allegiance to the state of Israel (they didn't know that I swore alliegence at age 10 already). My commander pulled me aside and told me (in her really fast hebrew) that I ha to meet with the commander of my course. I sat down, and she proceeded to tell me that "there was no way I was going to succeed in my course". The Hebrew just wasn't here for me, and there wasn't much they could do-the decision was out of their hands. I cried and cried and told them, in my broken Hebrew, how much I wanted to be there and how I would do anything for a chance. They told me the next day I had a meeting with the commander of my base (not an exact translation) and that she would make the decision. I lost it. I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed all night. I called my mom and Sharon (one of the soldiers that lived with us before we went to the army). She assured me that thy just try to scare people, but I didnt believe her. The next day, I went into my meeting armed with my love for Israel and my passion for education. The commander informed me that she could get me a job where I can speak English and still learn Hebrew, to which I responded that I wanted this position and that they couldn't tell me no. I told them that I have a passion for this country and forthr values it was built on that nobody else in the course had. I explained that my degree in education already proves that I am in the right place and that I didn't intend to leave. Everytime she said "but if you dot succeed..." I stopped her and informed her that there was no way that I wasnt going to succeed. Then she told me she would give me to the middle of the course to see if I was progressing. That was the moment I made a switch. Yes, I still cried every day almost, and I still needed the motivational pep talks from my parents, my garin, and my wonderful friends in the course. But I knew I had no other option but to succeed. And so on Shabbat, when girls slept in, or went out, I read. During breaks, when girls hung out, I studied. And on the tests, when some girls didn't pass, I DID!!!

I wish I had written in my blog throughout my course. I had so many moments of fear and sadness, happiness and pride, and of course, I had my moments of Zionism. Not only did I pass the course and finished, I also received an award "מצטיינת מופת״ which I like to translate to "the people's choice award". Basically the girls in my course voted for me. I did it. I succeeded in my course but I couldnt have done it without the help of the girls in my tzevet, my friends from my garin, my commanders, my "big sister" and my parents.

I am now a מש״קית חינוך (Mashakit Chinuch) and I am in the navy ready to make these soldiers into zionists. Im starting from new, in a new place, with new people, and it's not going to be easy. I have a lotttttttt to learn with my Hebrew and I plan on learning more and more every day. I'm glad I'm here. Israel is where I need to be, and the army is what I need to be doing.

Ps: happy birthday meg!

First Shabbat off of the army!

On Wednesday, November 16th, exactly 10 years after my Bat Mitzvah, I joined the Israeli Defense Forces.  The day was long, but I was ready.  I got my dog tags, my IDF personal number, my ID that allows me to ride public transportation for free, and my dental X-rays.  Following this long day (it lasted from 5AM and we finished at 8PM), we loaded busses to take us to our base in the South. We arrived at the base and had more talks and interviews.  I sat with an army social worker who made sure that I felt that I was getting enough money because of my lone soldier status and I sat with an officer who praised me for coming to join the army despite my "older age".  At 10PM that first night, we finally sat down for dinner, and at midnight I finally got my hour of free time before going to bed.  

The next day was filled with running from a Chet formation to two lines, and back again.  I did push ups, listened to endless lectures about how to wear my uniform, how to wear my hair, how to behave, how to sit in attention formation.  It was pretty miserable, but despite it all, I had a smile on my face.  I had followed my dream, and I was wearing an IDF uniform.  It felt so good.  I was assigned to a mefakedet (a commander), and a tzevet (my group of girls). These people, for the next two and a half months were going to be my best friends, my family, my translators, and my support.  We were together until the end of our course and I knew that we were going to be incredibly close despite our age difference.  

On Friday morning, after waking us up at 5AM, they released a bunch of us early because of how far north we live.  The commander of our entire course told us that we were now Israeli soldiers, Jewish soldiers, and we were representing the State of Israel and the Jewish people.  I was so emotional I couldn't stop smiling and I had tears in my eyes.  She turned to me and asked if I was okay, and I replied "Yes commander, I'm just extremely emotional".  The girls around me giggled.  They understand why I came, why I find it important, but they still found me funny.  But it didn't matter.  At that moment, so early in the morning, as I stood at attention with 15 other girls, I knew that the next two years were going to be difficult, but they were going to be incredible.  I had made the right decision.  I was in Israel, serving in the army, just like all of the other Israelis do.  I was in an army that protects MY people, the Jewish people.  The truth is, I'm excited to go back to the army on Sunday.  It's all an experience, and it's going to be a great one. 

Some thoughts before the army...

Since the last time I posted, so much has happened.  We had a final hike as a garin to the Judaean desert, I went on a cruise with three people from my garin, I've met some great new people, and lastly and most importantly, I celebrated my 23rd birthday!!

Currently, I am sitting in my room with Amy, my roommate.  We just finished breakfast and we're getting ready to go shopping for some last minute stuff before we go into the army.  Amy is going in tomorrow to Kishrei Chutz (foreign relations) and I am going in on Wednesday as a Mashikit Chinuch (education).  The past three months have been incredible.  We formed a real family with our garin, we explored the country, we improved our hebrew, and we began experience the bureaucracy that can also be called hell.  But the best part is, that we fell in love with this country all over again, but this time we fell in love as Israelis.  I could not be happier than I am in Israel.  Every part of my mind, body, and soul knows that moving to Israel and joining the Israeli Defense Forces was the right decision.  This has been a dream of mine since solelim, in 5th grade at Sprout Lake.  Of course I'm scared out of my mind.  I have no idea what to expect, where I will be, who I will be with, and when the next time I come home will be...not to mention the fact that I'm about to enter an environment where everyone speaks a foreign language that I am still trying to grasp.  But it's going to be worth it.  Because two years from now, I am going to be finished the army and I will be a part of Israeli society.  I can't wait.

So I know this is short, and not that insightful, but to all of you who are reading this, I'm really happy.  And I really believe in Aliyah and in Israel. Wish me luck in the army!

Gilad is home and I am home.

Every time I tell someone that I'm an olah chadasha (new immigrant), they tell me that I came at an exciting time.  But the truth is, life is never boring in this country.  I just got back from Regba after being away since last Wednesday, and it feels good to be home.  On Wednesday, I met up with a friend of mine from Young Judaea who I always looked up to.  Teddy made Aliyah last week, and I went with him to Beit Tzipporah (aka his family's apartment in Jerusalem) to spend Simchat Torah. We did a little shul hopping, met some religious Americans, and then went to yet another Judaean's apartment for the chag.  Steve is also  Teddy's age (25), from Young Judaea and made Aliyah three years ago.  After dinner, we decided to turn the chag into a secular one, and we went out to a few bars and I even got into the King David Hotel! (A story for another time...)

It felt good to be with some Judaeans.  After all, Young Judaea is the reason why I made Aliyah.  It is really great to be able sit and talk with some Zionists who think like me, in terms of my idealism (not so ideal anymore) and in terms of Zionist thinkers (gotta love me some Golda and Herzl).  Not only do I owe my Zionism to Young Judaea, as well as my Aliyah, but I also must say that almost my entire base of friends in Israel is because of Young Judaea:  I've got old counselors, co-counselors, fellow campers, and of course, my incredible scouts on year course.  I have Year Course teachers, machon leaders, and Israelis that came to camp for a summer and who now offer me the shirt off their backs.  I would be miserable and lonely and in America if it weren't for Young Judaea.  It only makes me hope that the relationship I built with my campers affects them as much as my relationship with my counselors affected me.  I know that I'm not done giving back to YJ, but I hope that what I have done thus far is enough to sustain me until after the army.  Not to mention, I'm going to be in the education unit in the army and I plan on writing some kick ass peulot that, obviously, I learned how to write in Young Judaea...

Anywho...I'm starting to really feel acclimated in this country.  It feels like I never left.  And it's an incredible country to be a part of.  When Gilad came home, and we were all watching on television, I could only imagine how many people were glued to the TV.  This country is a giant family, with an infinite number of opinions and beliefs, but nonetheless a family.  I now am privileged to be a part of it.  I keep getting asked by friends in America what I think about the Gilad Schalit deal.  I like to think that my thoughts haven't changed, but being here and being drafter in a month really has cemented my thoughts on the matter.  Yes, it is really terrible that we had to give 1000 prisoners back in order to get Gilad Schalit back.  But I would expect Israel to do the same to any of the boys in my garin (g-d forbid), any of my friends, brothers, neighbors, and eventually my sons.  It is true that these terrorists may become terrorists again, but regardless, when our boys show up on the day of their draft, they are promising to protect this nation and the Jewish people no matter what it takes. For three years they do whatever it takes to keep this country safe.  The least we can do it promise them that we will try whatever we can to make sure they come back home safe and alive.  It's a simple request, and one that I truly believe needs to be granted for every soldier that fights in the IDF.

This chofesh/chag, it felt good to be home.  It felt good to be in Israel, it felt good to be with friends and loved ones, and it felt good to be home.  Making Aliyah and joining the army really is a dream, and I am floating on the clouds...at least until I arrive at basic training! :)

Fresh start!

A month from today, I will be joining the Israeli Defense Forces.  Slowly, slowly, it has begun to sink in that despite the fact that this is my dream, I am about to give up my life and my free will for the next two years.  When I am released from the army, I will be 25.  That's really old.  And though people tell me that it isn't that old, and I have my whole life ahead of me, I can't  help but panic a little bit.  My friends in America will be in law school, or med school, or will be climbing the ladder in the work world.  I'm going to have to start from scratch and decide what I want to do with my life.  I'm trying to think like an Israeli--one step at a time.  What's the rush to start my life?  But as hard as I try to think like an Israeli, I can't get past the idea that the next two years are going to be long and challenging and probably the hardest thing I've done so far.  

This past week has been a particularly difficult one for me and it was a slap in the face.  My garin gave me the support I needed, but I still felt isolated and alone.  I've only been here for 2 months!  We're all still learning a lot about each other, and figuring out what each person needs.  All I wanted was to be at home in America with my friends.  Though I reached out to my friends in America and some of them responded with texts and calls and emails, some of my closest friends have barely responded.  It was because of this that I realized that I need to jump into this thing head first.  Its not that I want to forget my American friends, because I love them dearly (really...I love you guys to the moon and back) but they aren't going to be here.  They won't be able to hug me, or go out with me for my birthday.  They can't sit with me when I'm sad, and they can't just pick up the phone to call like it's nothing.  I live in Israel, now.  I need to focus on building my life here, and make all of my decisions based on what I want as opposed to my relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. (Even though those are obviously important, too).

This is a fresh start.  For me, this week helped me realize a lot of things, though it will take time to get used to them.   Garin Regba is my family, Moshav Regba is my home, and the army is my life for the next two years.  I can't wait to begin my two year service in the army, and there is nobody I would rather go through it with than with my Garin. 

Gilad Schalit!

This is an op ed I just wrote for the BU newspaper...I really hope that they print it in the paper, but I wanted to share my thoughts!

My name is Arielle Adler.  I am BU alumni.  I graduated from the School of Education in May 2011 and in August, I picked up my entire life and moved to the State of Israel to join the Israeli Defense Forces.  I did not know how much my life and my studies at BU would affect my life here in the Middle East.  I did not realize that I was going to be placed in the Education unit in the army, and I was going to be able to use my degree to teach soldiers about their country, about the heroes who have fallen in battle, and about the struggles Israel faces every day.  Since I’ve been here, there have been multiple terrorist attacks, threats of a third intifada, and just now, rumors of a  kidnapped soldier, Gilad Schalit, coming home.

            Needless to say, it has been a pretty busy couple of months adjusting to my new life.  My adjustment period is almost over.  My draft date is November 16^th, and I am ready and excited to go into the Defense Forces armed with my BU education on how to be a good teacher.  But more than that, I am ready to make a difference.  Being a student at Boston University taught me that we really do need to take a stand on something…whether it is composting in the GSU or rallying for Darfur.   As I sit by my radio anxiously waiting to hear the news about the deal Israel has made with Hamas to bring Gilad Schalit home, I think about how lucky I was to go to BU.  I understand compassion because of the friends I made there, I understand the meaning of hard work, and most importantly, I understand why we need to change the world.  Enjoy Boston University, guys…but don’t forget that the rest of the world is waiting for you to change it. 

This year in Jerusalem! (slash Tel Aviv)

Life in the Eretz is still going pretty well.  Despite the fact that I've been here for a little more than a month, it still feels like Year Course.  We're having the time of our life!  On Friday morning, they woke us up at 3:30 AM and told us we had ten minutes to get ready.  We then walked from our lovely moshav to Acco for breakfast, where we enjoyed Israel's best hummus.  Afterwards, we went to a country club where there were water slides and jacuzzis and all sorts of wonderful things.

My hebrew has gotten a lot better and I've only been here a month, but I can honestly say it's the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my life.  I find myself getting frustrated incredibly quickly and overwhelmed with my learning.  But I know that I'll get there.  We also received our "manillas" which are the list of options we are allowed to choose from in the army.  I chose education as my number one choice, and then I chose a job that would be working with international organizations and then my third choice is a fitness instructor (i could teach spin class!)  Supposedly I will get one of my top three choices, and I'm counting on my education degree to get me into the education unit.

Everyday I find things about Israel that make me smile and remember why I'm here.  This country is just incredibly unique and ridiculous and also really compassionate.  A couple of weeks ago I was in Tel Aviv and I needed directions so I stopped to ask this older man with a kippa where I should go and after giving me directions and talking for about 15 minutes, he pinched my cheeks, called me a cutie, and sent me on my way.  Had that happened in the States, who knows what my reaction would have been, but it felt so normal here!  Everywhere we go, my roommate and I tell everyone that we are new immigrants and more than half of the time, we receive discounts.  It's a beautiful thing that whenever we do tell people we are immigrants, they don't scoff like people may do in America.  Instead, they smile and say "wow, kol hakavod (all of my respect), welcome to Israel!".  That's amazing!  And this happens EVERY DAY!

The holidays are coming soon and we have a lot of free time!