(Very Limited) Advice

Seeing as it's almost 4 months until my aliyah date, I thought I'd share some of my limited advice for anyone considering taking the plunge. Here's a checklist:

• Talk to people - talk to anyone and everyone who has anything to do with Aliyah/the army/Garin Tzabar to help you with your decision.
• Call your local Shaliach - speak to the Jewish Agency Shaliach in your area, or the head office in London. You might end up speaking to a few unnecessary (and confused) people in the process, but call the Shaliach and they'll put you through to the organisers of Garin Tzabar.
• Interview - you'll have an informal interview with the organisers (I had mine on the phone).
• Research - research everything you possibly can about the army/aliyah. I've personally found it really useful to know details before the seminars. Though the seminars are of course there to relate the information, some bits are a bit confusing. It's always good to be one step ahead of the game. Useful things to know are a) units/structure of the army b) rough dates of the whole process c) financial benefits you receive from the government, the army, and agencies, for being an Oleh Chadash (new immigrant) and Chayal Boded (Lone Soldier) (these are a bit confusing).
• Register with Nefesh b'Nefesh - this can be done online. Nefesh b'Nefesh have a support programme for Lone Soldiers, and you can receive a grant from them. You might as well sort that out while you've got plenty of time. 
• Learn Hebrew - I haven't seen what it's like if you do or don't learn it at this point, but you might as well, and they always tell you to work on it.

As I said, I'm reaching the 4-month mark until my aliyah, and it's around 7 months until my draft date (my research tells me it should be November 24th). We just commemorated Yom Hashoah, the Jewish memorial day for the Holocaust. This picture did the rounds on Facebook that day.

To be a part of the rebirth of a people is a total honour for me. I like to think that whenever things might get difficult for me, be that in tests, training or service, I will cast my mind to images like these.

The third and penultimate seminar is coming up, so will update you then.