is it still the army?

Hi Everyone,

It feels like forever since I have written an e-mail and when I looked this morning, the last one I wrote was in January. that was quite a while ago. Things continue to move along at an army speed which for some things are really fast and other things are really really slow. The past few weeks I have been learning hebrew at what feels like warp speed. We spend about five minutes on one lesson and then move onto the next lesson. I am learning and picking things up, but it also feels like my brain is on over drive and overflowing with information. I never get a break or a time to just slow down. on the other hand, since I have joined the army I have been trying to see a neurologist to get medication for my migraines. well the first time they sent me two weeks ago they sent me on the wrong day to the wrong base, so i had to wait until last week to be sent again only to find out that that the doctor did not speak any english and could not understand anything that I was trying to say to him. So he wrote prescriptions for me, but they were wrong because the drugs are not prescribed here, so I now have to go back to the same doctor with the hope that he learned some english overnight or I became fluent in hebrew overnight to get something accomplished.
This past week in the army we took a two day trip down to Jerusalem. I thought it was a little weird to be in the army and go on field trips, but it is also really amazing to see that the army is interested in giving the soldiers and educational experience and not just a combat experience. Being in Jerusalem in uniform was really amazing especially being at the western wall. the first day we went to Ammunition hill and mount Herzl and had tours there. it was all really interesting and then in the evening we had an evening activity and then we had guard duty at the base that we were staying at. the next day we went to yad vashem and the old city. at yad vashem they gave us tours in english so I was very grateful even though i had been there before i learned more and saw different things than the first time i was there. I recommend anyone that comes to israel go to yad vashem. even though it is a hard place to go to, it is an amazing experience and shouldn't be missed. in the afternoon we went to the old city and took a walking tour of the old city. we ended our tour at the western wall. we spent time praying at the wall and then had flag raising. it was one of the most emotional experiences to be at the wall in uniform raising the flag of our country and having people surrounding you and crying and laughing and singing hatikvah with you supporting you and your causes and what you are doing for the country. it was amazing and really lifted my spirits.
Anyway, what else has been going on. Two weekends ago I got introduced to a family that was looking to adopt a lone soldier. Since I have been having trouble with my kibbutz and really just needed to have someone that was like family here, I decided to try it out and see what they were like. I really like the family and have officially moved into their house and will be living with them for the next two years. They are a really nice family and have taken really good care of me so far. There are two sisters and one brother. I already feel at home here and feel so much better here then I did on the kibbutz. below is my new address everyone please make note of my new address.
Roxanne Fogelman
C/O Yossi Lis
252 Hadekel st.
Moshav Ge'Alya
76885

Some other important news is that I put in my application to make aliyah and will be making aliyah within the next few weeks. I am really excited and feel that this is the right thing for me to do. I cannot wait to actually be a citizen of my country that i am serving.
This has been a long letter, but there has been a lot going on in my life. I hope that everyone enjoys getting these letters. i would love to hear from all of you. if i don't respond, please understand that it is not because i don't want to, it is because i don't get internet on the base, only on the weekends I will contact you as soon as possible but i do read all of the e-mails and they do brighten my day and give me the strength to get through the hard times.
love,
roxanne