Trip

The Gadna's week purpose is to show what is waiting ahead for those 11th graders once they become 18 and join the army. Approximately 270 students from 11st classes(the 11th grade), and me between(ww.) them, went on to experience a once in a lifetime week. During those days we did a variety of actions, starting with cleaning the toilet and the kitchen and ending with firing a couple of rounds with the M-16 rifle. I can say in confidence that I wouldn't trade this experience with nothing(ww.).

We left school at the very morning of Sunday(phr.), heading for the camp located in Sde Boker, Negev. It couldn't be possible not to feel the exciement around the other students and the teachers as well. We, the students, fed ourselves up with enormous expactations and suprisingly we didn't get disappointed(phr.).

By the time we arrived, the commanding officer had introduced us to the staff and the base. We were divided into groups of 20 and started our week right after then(ww.). During that week we did(ww.) a wide variety of actions(ww.). We cleaned the kitchen and the toilets, did some running, made friends with the COs, talked about IDF's casualties all along the wars and on top of the(מיותר) that, we shot 11 rounds with the M16 "arocch" rifle. This was one of the best weeks I have ever had in my whole life.

To sum up, this experience has truly been remarkable. I've come to meet and befriend with students I've never seen before in my school and other students from other schools as well. I did get the general ideas aobut(sp. and ww.) what the army is all about and I feel I'm more preapred for it. Final thing to say(phr.), to all those young guys who are reading this- don't allow yourselves to miss this remarkable and unique week for nothing(phr.).

Not bad, for someone who hasn't actually been there....

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Daphna.