As this is a new experience for us...
TC just got her initial paperwork for the Army in the mail today. She has to show up on May 21st.
You know it's weird. Here I've been so focused on the fact that when I was 16 1/2, I was a mere 2 years away from being married and 3 years from becoming a mother, I totally lost sight of what it means to be a teenager in Israel.
I don't think she'll opt for the IDF, but rather National Service (NS) which many religious girls choose to do instead of serve in the Israeli Armed Forces.
However rumor says that NS jobs are getting scarce and will only get more so since Yuli Tamir decided on cutbacks in the program and to have Arabs participate as well. Add to the fact that it's a two year service so companies and institutions are more prone to hiring girls entering their second year rather than first year young ladies, there's no guarantees.
We were also told that the way many universities work (although the person telling me this is in Bar Ilan), if you don't serve in the IDF or NS, you can't go to university. Period. Doesn't matter why you didn't do it, doesn't matter if it's through no fault of your own.
So. Yeah.
3 comments:
Keep us informed on how it goes. I, for one, would be interested to hear about what it's like for a girl/woman(?) in the Israeli army.
hey - this post reminds me of a documentary my friend Maital made, called "Mechina." It's about her cousin and his friends, as they were getting ready to serve in the IDF.
it actually just recently went to DVD!
check it out:
http://www.mechinathemovie.com/
good luck with everything.
p.s. i like your writing. :)
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