Garfield and Guns

Hello readers! It has officially been three blog-less weeks, and I realize that is unacceptable. So, here is an update:


I arrived back to Arad ten days ago and needless to say, America was weird. Everything was in English, everyone spoke English; I even tried to say “todah” a few times and people were very confused. It was wonderful to see family and friends, but everything that once felt “normal” and that once felt “mine” seemed very foreign.

Despite the jetlag, returning to Israel was wonderful. I came back with a second suitcase, filled with (thanks to my grandparents, Poppy and Grandma, and Aunt Amy) stuffed animals for the children at the gan. I opened the bag, emptied its contents onto the floor and I honestly thought their eyes were going to pop out of their heads with excitement. Immediately, several kids sprang for a Garfield doll, which became “chatool sheli” (my cat). However, there were a few too many “shelis” and only one chatool. So, Garfield had to take a little chofesh (a break) so the arguing, screaming and crying over him could subside. Unfortunately, attention turned immediately to a giant stuffed money whose mouth makes a “squeak” sound when pressed. This did not bode well for the monkey, or for us. Like Garfield, the monkey was also forced into “chofesh;” he is now tied around one of the gan ceiling supports, out of the reach of tiny hands to avoid any and all bickering, pulling and spitting (the competition for this monkey was major).

Last Thursday, we went on a group siyur (trip) to a local army base. This particular training base is for combat soldiers; they are some of the hardest working and most rigorously trained soldiers in the IDF. We had a complete tour of the base, and to finish the day, we got to shoot M-16s! One of the buildings on the base is a room that looks very much like a movie theater; huge screens along one wall, and a projector at the back with someone controlling it from a small room connected to the larger one. Well, this is not a place to watch Titanic, although I’m sure the picture quality would be excellent. Instead, a combat scene is simulated on the screen; different locations and enemy fire are projected, and I had to point and shoot the gun (it doesn’t shoot live rounds, but instead, small laser beams) at the targets on the screen. The soldiers instructing us kept screaming to change our positions as we shot: stand up, down on the ground, sit, reload! It was insanity. However, I must say, my aim was pretty decent. Another conclusion? Don’t wear rings on your trigger finger. It’s very, very painful.



Me, shooting my "M-Shesh Esreh" (M-16) at the base.

This week has been yet another of GCL (Gan, cook, laundry; slightly similar to the TV show the Jersey Shore’s abbreviation GTL, which stands for gym, tan, laundry. At least the laundry part is the same…)

The countdown has begun to my departure for Rwanda. Takeoff is in 18 days.

That’s all from here! More soon!
Love,

Elana