The Complete 180 Shift

Over this past month, as I've made my way back into the soldier life, I have seen the complete 180 shift from where my life is now, to where it was a month ago while I was home in America.

As a lone soldier, I get the special right of traveling home one month a year, where I get to seemlessly join a life I once knew and was so comfortable in, and one that feels so far away while in the IDF. From November 23rd-December 22nd I spent time at home, traveled a little, and saw family and friends I haven't seen in a long long time. I then came back to Israel and on December 25th came back to the army for the first time in over a month. Since then, while doing guard duty, training, and other army things; I have thought in my head about what I was doing a month ago, and how different of a life I was living.

On December 25th I came back to the army, one month prior I was rock climbing with my parents and we had a nice Shabbat dinner with many family friends.

On December 27th I shot my new gun for the first time, making sure it was up to standard. One month prior I was traveling to Delaware and Maryland to see some friends, where I would never have thought in a million years about shooting a gun, something that feels so normal while in the army.

On December 28th I participated in my first helicopter drill practicing to evacuate those injured in a battle. One month earlier I was in Delaware visiting a friend, staying close to the ground and not in a helicopter way above.

*This is me "injured" on a stretcher in the helicopter, moments before flying in the air

On January 2nd I moved to an outpost in Karnei Shomron in the West Bank where our pluga was placed to guard over the next few weeks. One month earlier I was visiting my sister and friends in Binghamton.

The next day on January 3rd I was put on my first task outside the Arab city of Azun, a very different city than Binghamton NY where I was one month ago for Santa con.

January 4th I was in the army where I reached the halfway point of my service, a happy moment for sure, but one month prior I was at the Giants game, a very different world.

On January 6th I celebrated my birthday in the army for the first time, and one month earlier I was in NYC seeing my grandparents and some friends, and getting a "free" haircut with my grandpa.

On January 8th I was on my first siyur (סיור), which is where we ride around in a vehicle patrolling the different villages in our district. This is very different than flying to Jamaica one month earlier.

On January 10th I had my first tough guard duty where I was outside in the cold until 11:30 at night due to heightened tensions in the area that day, very different than the warm weather I had in Jamaica one month prior.

On January 12th I stood outside the Arab village of Azzun for 16 hours in what might be one of the longest shifts I'll ever have to do, and one month earlier I was with Savta Syl in Florida.

*Guarding outside Azzun

A few days later on January 17th and 18th I shot the Negev gun for the first time, my new specialization. One month earlier I was celebrating my grandpas 90th birthday at Oheka castle.

Finally, today, January 22nd, I am heading back to base for the start of War Week, where we once again simulate what it'll be like to fight in a war. Exactly one month ago I was finishing up my time at home and getting ready for my flight that night. A month at home went by like that, and so has a month in the army.

Bottom line, it has been very weird over this past month to think about where I was one month prior, and to think about the stark differences between life here in the army and life back at home. Furthermore, while I focused on the contrast between the physical things I have done over this past month and my month at home, there is a whole list of additional differences if you take the culture, language, and just pure lifestyle into consideration.

I guess I have seen a complete 180 shift in my life, but that's what I expected. Living that 180 shift however is the weird part.