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"Being a lone soldier is really fun. Living with 17 other lone soldiers is a blast. Meeting new people all the time from different parts of the world and Israel is fascinating. Living in Israel is exciting. Joining the army is an extreme growing and learning experience. Reflecting on the life I’ve created for myself here is empowering. Following my dreams is fulfilling.  I love my life here and there is not ONE SECOND that I truly doubt my decision."

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"Within these last months, everyone in my Garin have gotten all their jobs now and catching up what each and one does is hard. Back in the day, I wrote  about how badly I wanted to be in (Oketz) canine unit. I drafted into the army  on November 13th as lohemet (fighter) into a new combat unit called Lions of Jordan  . After a month of training, there was an upcoming gibush (tryout) for Oketz that I knew was partaking. Little did I know this tryout was nothing I could get ready for. The tryout was two days. Although,  the tryout was to see who who was strong   physically , it broke you down mentally."

"We’ve now been living on the kibbutz for a week. I can say with full certainty that this was the best decision I’ve made yet in regards to the army. I cannot state enough how important it is for a lone soldier, particularly one who does not speak fluent Hebrew nor fully grasp the cultural differences between Israel and America to have a support network in place. In the last week I set up an Israeli bank account, got myself on a phone plan, set up my pre-army Health-care, got my Teudat Zehut (National Identity card),  got my paperwork in for the Ministry of Absorption’s funding, took care of the paperwork for my driver’s license, and passed through my Tsav Reeshone (the army’s initial testing).  Had I done these things by myself they would have taken me five months."