This weekend, we participated in our second-last Garin Tzabar seminar. At the beginning of my process with Garin Tzabar, I wondered what they would do to keep our workshops interesting as they went along, or how each one could maintain value. After all, four weekends on the same subject seemed a bit much. Yet, they have all managed to develop the process for me. Israel, the army, immigration, living on a Kibbutz, culture shock, group dynamics, and the political climate are just a few areas we dealt with, in-depth, this time, alone.
In my senior year of high school, as for much of the rest of my life, I was convinced that I was going to volunteer for the IDF as a lone soldier before college and that I knew the best way to do it. I had read about the army, I had spoken to friends who were serving or had finished their tours, and I had done my research, I thought, enough. I can safely say, three years later, that each new piece of information, discussion, or discovery just teaches you that you cannot know what the experience entails until it arrives. Although Brett and I have "done our homework" and exhausted every resource available to us for the past however-many months and years, the process itself is the only education that matters. That has been true for the period of "getting ready" as I'm sure it will prove, on a much more heightened level, at each new phase.
With that said, Garin Tzabar has been an amazing opportunity to prepare for the change we are about to make in our lives. For some examples of the kind of insight it gives to a prospective lone soldier, this weekend we were able to meet with a representative of the army, who presented us with information on the positions potentially available to us in the IDF. He entertained our curiosities and interviewed us personally with the goal of determining any obstacle which may stand in the way of eligibility requirements for our ambitions in the army. We also interacted with a panel of Israeli government representatives who shared, on a personal level, their experiences in the IDF, and offered words of advice (to the whole group and individually). Like at the other seminars, we had many discussions and group activities, and even had a surprise Saturday night trip to a roller-skating rink. (I didn't know places like that still existed!) It's good for us, too, that we have been able to connect with the people in our group and feel that we are building friendships which we will see us through some of the harder times to come.
The most important and meaningful moment of my weekend, though, was saying "farewell" to my fraternity brothers at my last chapter meeting ever as an undergraduate member of Beta Theta Pi. While I was at the seminar this weekend, I was missing my brothers, who were initiating twelve new Betas and then attending our "Formal," an end-of-the-year celebration which would have been the perfect way to spend quality time with the people who have made my college career everything that it has been. It was one of the first times that i have felt what it would mean, on a personal level, to sacrifice for this dream I have. Brothers called to say how much they missed me and sent text messages and pictures. It was a glimpse of the future, in many ways, for me.
Needless to say, the weekend away only built up to how extremely special my last chapter ended up being. We stayed until three in the morning to part ways with a brotherhood that has meant so much to us. I will never forget the words of support, the recollections of memories together, the feelings and emotions shared, and the outpouring of love I personally received, and it will be a comfort to me and something I carry with me always. It is fitting that I didn't have to say "goodbye" alone, and that there were so many of my closest friends beside me to feel it with me, being sent off on their own personal journeys.
To my brothers, thank you. I appreciate you endlessly and will never be the same for the impact you have each made on my life.
_ kai _
A "farewell" gift with personal messages and signatures
And don't worry, while the rest of the week, and those to come, will certainly be filled with bittersweet goodbyes and "see-you-laters," this will be my only post about it! With these first farewells behind me (along with two classes - three to go!) the pressure of tying things up at college has started to alleviate and I will be able to focus on enjoying my short time remaining here.
With the summer, and the date of our aliyah, fast-approaching, Brett and I will be enjoying plenty of vacation time with loved ones in different parts of the world. In very positive news, we have both had our flights approved by Nefesh b'Nefesh and will be arriving in Israel when we had hoped to. Our 'plan" has started to fill in, as well, and looking at the calendar, it's incredible to start to see it all come together. Eagerly anticipating the discovery of which kibbutz our Garin will belong to, we also have another (final) seminar in a few short weeks. There should be lots to tell.
- Darren
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