On December 21st, I went into the army. The next three weeks were dedicated to basic training. I had ups and downs, laughs and cries. I made new friends, friends I'm planning on staying in touch with for a long time. I had panic attacks, met with psychologists. I almost passed out, went to the nurse, the doctor, got sent for blood tests. I got yelled at and encouraged, I was tired and energetic. A whirlwind of emotions, senses, experiences, in only three weeks. Each day was excruciatingly slow, each week passing miraculously fast.
My commander was one of the nicest people I've ever met, genuinely caring and encouraging, a really sweet woman. I'm keeping her updated on my army service as well, and she truly is interested and wants the best for me.
I was with 5 other girls in my room. We really bonded over the three weeks, talking about everything from boys to food to life experiences. We spoke about our commanders, made guesses over what would happen that day, and gushed over boyfriends that sent good morning texts. I can't thank them enough for being with me, even though it was not a choice they made. They were supportive and caring, and listened to everything I had to say without judging. I love those girls.
Food was difficult for me. For about two years now I have tried to minimize my consumption of wheat and white sugar. I've been mostly good about this, keeping to my plan and finding alternatives. The first week of army I made adjustments as well, shifting my appetite and eating what I knew I should eat, instead of what I wanted to eat. The next two weeks I started being less and less careful, eating snacks my roommates brought and midday sandwiches.
Initially, I was supposed to be a medic. However, since I suffer from panic attacks (something the army didn't previously know), I am disqualified. This is understandable, as the army does not want to risk me panicking when instead I should be acting. Therefore, I am currently on a waiting list. This means that the army is trying to figure out where to place me. If I have any requests, they may take them into consideration, but as of now I have not yet asked to be anywhere. I have endless options, and it's overwhelming, making the decision even harder. In the meantime, I am likely going to be back and forth between my base and home, interviewing with multiple people in an attempt to find me a job.
When I have time, I miss my friends. I miss my family, my house, my bed. I miss sleeping, and music, and internet. But despite all that, these last three weeks have been some of the most exciting times in my life, and I truly will remember my experiences for a long time.