7
am--breakfast, flag raising, briefing
8.30----12
work
12-1
lunch
1-4.30
work
6
pm dinner
7
pm --activities, lectures about Israel
we
eat with soldiers in cafeteria--buffet style, 5-6
types of vegetables every day, meat or fish food
is good and healthy, we sleep in the barracks, few people in the room
on
the cots, shower
and toilets in the separate house to walk outside,
basic
conditions , but no problems, people
have higher purpose than personal comfort,
we
have 3 madrichot--women soldiers who are liaison between volunteers and
the
Army, they
take care of us, help us and teach us about life in Israel,
the
atmosphere is very friendly, spiritual, educational and
devoted to Israel,
commander
of the base told us that last year on this base volunteers saved 10 million
shekels which is $2.5 million by not calling
reservists--miluim-
and
not paying them salary and
by fixing old equipment instead of buying new.
i
always wanted to be in Israel at this time to experience Yom
Ha Shoa---Holocaust day, Yom
Ha Zikaron--Memorial day for fallen soldiers
and victims of terror and
Yom Ha Atzmaut -Israel's Independence Day
on
Hebrew calendar,
i
participated in a very emotional and powerful ceremonies on
the Army base,
listen
to a siren for 2 minutes when everything and everybody stops, all
cars, buses, people get out and stand still, soldiers tell stories of
their
families, people
go to the cemeteries, a lot of crying , mourning and grieving,
but
on sundown it is over and 60 seconds later starts the happiest
holiday-
birthday
of Israel, people are dancing, singing, concerts are every there in
the country, parades,
day off for the citizens, 2 extremes next to each
other,
life
goes on, it is so unique, only in Israel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i
went to a wonderful Yom Ha Azmaut concert with my cousin who is a music
teacher
in the school, children
and adults performing together, singing and dancing, a lot of lights effects,
big TV screens,
everybody
participating from the very young to the very old, very happy celebration
on
the weekends i met my family and friends and visited wonderful places
like
Tel Aviv University, walking streets of Tel Aviv, tour to Masada, Dead
Sea, Hulla Valley.
in
my 15 visits to Israel i am learning about Israeli people, their
life stories, what
they went through, achievements of the country as a nation, diversity
of
nature and people on such tiny piece of land, optimism,
no hate, energy, believe in future.
no
oil, no natural resources, the
only commodity here--great people.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday
i will be home
love
to all, Inna
--
--------------------------------
Inna
Bakker
www.innabakker.net
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