This thanksgiving i am thankful that we are leaving the army

*FROM 11/25*
Happy Thanksgiving (for everyone in America cause we don’t celebrate it here ☹). When we woke up this morning we immediately started cleaning. We piled up every blanket, sleeping bag, and mattress. Then we walked over to Ben Gurion’s grave for our closing ceremony. During the ceremony the sergeant and a commander were promoted and we were all given certificates of completion. When we got back to the base we cleaned more (shock) and then we finally got to take off our uniforms! It was so nice to have normal clothing and flip-flops on again. Then we waited while all the uniforms were folded and accounted for. Then finally the moment we had all be waiting for…the breaking of the distance (a.k.a. we got to actually meet our commanders). For the first time all week we got to have a real conversation with Maya (our commander). She was the best commander we could have asked for (and she said we can all friend her on facebook and e-mail her whenever). We also found out that we were her first group ever and were her “final test” to become a real commander. Then we got to take pictures with her, the head commander, and the sergeant (which we were all ecstatic about). Maya also gave us our hats back (they had been collected with our uniforms) and we noticed she had written a note to us on each one. Sadly though we had to say goodbye to her. But we were happy to be leaving Gadna and going to Eilat. We had a half hour drive to a restaurant area for lunch. Izzy, Sydney, Larissa and I were very excited when we went into the gas station across the street to use a real bathroom (and for a gas station they were actually really nice bathrooms). Then we got back on the bus and had a 2 hour drive to the hostel. I called mommy and then slept for the rest of the ride. When we arrived at the hostel we got our rooms and I jumped into the nice, warm, not crowded shower. My rooms for the weekend is Sivan, Larissa, Yael and I but Yael is with her family so there are only 3 of us. Before she left, after I showered, she told Sivan and I to close our eyes. Next thing we knew she was trust walking us to the balcony that overlooks the water and boardwalk. After dinner we went to the boardwalk and had time to walk around. Then we went back to the hostel and slept in real beds.