Israeli?

Hey guys. I am sitting here at 1 AM. Thanks to a malfunctioning washing machine and the sopping wet clothes that emerged from it, I am forced to keep myself awake for hours to wait as the drying machine valiantly struggles to dry my uniform.

The benefit from this unexpected late night is the opportunity to sit down and write a really detailed post. In terms of whats been happening with me lately, there isn't too much to report. Summer training is mainly fun. We get off practically every weekend, the atmosphere among the guys and commanders is for the main part very relaxed and aside from the hard weeks in the field, being on our base is actually quite pleasant.

As I have already wrote, personally I am getting ready on moving to my new apartment in TLV, psyching myself up for the imminent arrival of my sister on aliyah, and G-d willing, planning to be back in America for a month sometime this summer.

Thinking back to more than a year and a half ago when I was just beginning to draft into the IDF, its hard to imagine the ways I have grown and changed. Why all this reminiscing? Well because its 1:15 AM and what else I am supposed to do now?

Anyways, I have been thinking a lot lately about it. I am not sure why, perhaps it is because I have passed the halfway mark in my service. Perhaps it is because now all my discussions with my Garin have now switched from questions about training and whats happening in the army to post-army trip plans, work/study options, and dating life.

Somewhere, somehow along the line, I have become integrated. Become Israeli in nature and not just in name. Without paying attention to it, I have picked up on the little cues and begun to navigate the cultural landmines. Suddenly, I realize that sometimes I think in Hebrew and display the same dark cynical humor and inexplicable happiness that exist side to side in this paradoxical land.

When at the beginning of the whole aliyah and drafting process, the counselors and offices kept telling me that with time I would integrate and "everything will be okay" and "everything will work itself out", I didn't believe a word of it, now I do.

Now I understand my bank statements and cell phone bills in Hebrew, laugh at the right places in Israeli T.V. and know how to navigate the public transportation system in practically every major city in Israel.

The funny thing about this whole transformation if you will, or my changing identity, is that while I have changed, the people I interact with still relate to me in the same way as if I just stepped off the plane.

From the guys in the army, I still get the jokes about my accent and the same question of "why the hell are you here, bro?"

The bank tellers still explain things to me as if I have the intelligence of a second grader.

The taxi drivers still try to cheat me out of my money.

I know my experience isn't unique and is standard fare for an immigrant. I just find it interesting and most of the time amusing.

So no, I don't regret aliyah or joining the army as a combat soldier for a second. I would do it again. I have never been happier or more fulfilled than I am now. Yes, I miss 4th of July bbqs, Del's lemonade and the Narragansett bike path (only my RI readers will appreciate that), customer service, and watching the Pats, Sox and Celtics at normal hours.

The point or conclusion of all this long rant? Not really sure. I am just giving some expression to my changing self-awareness as I continue on.

Anyways, happy Independence Day America and hope to see you soon!

N