Has it really been one year?

Hi everyone,

I can't believe it but one year ago today I got on a plane for the second time heading to Israel. My plans were to volunteer on a kibbutz and then return home. Apparently that did not happen as you can all see, I am still here! After arriving in Israel I went to go volunteer for three weeks with Sar-el. It is a program where you can volunteer on different army bases helping around the base and learning what it is like in the army. It is a program for all ages and I enjoyed it. Within the first week of returning to Israel I called my parents and told them that I most likely was not coming back home and would be making aliyah(getting citizenship). After my second week of volunteering I called home and told my parents that I was also going to be joining the army. that was a little of a surprise to them. they could handle the moving here part, but I think the picture of me with a gun was a little hard to handle.

I had a draft date set for the 21st of december. up until that time i continued to volunteer with sar-el and travel around the country. On the 21st of december my life changed forever. I became a soldier in the Israel defense force or IDF. I was taken to a hebrew course for three months because i knew very little hebrew and needed to expand my hebrew skills before getting placed in my unit. Those three months would push my limits and there would be times when i would not want to go on. It was hard and grueling and intense, but I kept pushing through not wanting to give up. I finally finished in the end of march and couldn't believe that I had finished.

In april I got my new base assignment. I was sent to sayeret nahal which is the elite special forces of the nahal brigade. My new job was working in the clinic as a medic/paramedic. I was absolutely thrilled to be in the base and in this unit and to be given the job that I was given. I have been so happy and am loving being in the army and working with all of my friends. I learn so much and get to teach so much at the same time.

As some of you might know, the past couple of weeks have been tense here in Israel, especially around the west bank areas. When I last wrote i was being called back to base from home. We had numerous attacks close to the base and they were calling back all of the necessary soldiers in case more attacks occurred. that weekend on base was pretty tense but luckily quiet, but at the same time we tried to enjoy it( the israel mentality is to never show fear, so they have fun whenever they can) we played cards, hung out, sang songs, and had whatever fun we could think of. I finally was allowed to go home wednesday morning after being on base for 21 days.

Some people have asked does the increased tension scare me? Yes and no. Why? yes because i have not grown up in Isael where this happens often and people mourn but then get on with life. It is new in my life, and probably always will scare me to a certain degree. No because after being in the army and seeing how well my unit can react to an act of terror and defend the border when it is needed I am not scared. 98% of terror attacks are stopped before they can even happen. right now that is because my unit is going out to arrest terrorists, and perform other operations to stop hezbollah. what we have seen in the past weeks is the 2% that our intelligence has not caught.

I hope that everyone has a great new year. Stay safe and have fun! I am thinking of you and miss everyone back home. I miss going to high holiday services at temple and seeing everyone.
Hag Sameach and Shana Tova!

Love,
Roxanne