Day 2 and beyond

On day 2 at 6 in the morning, half an hour before the official wake up, the room was bustling with activity. 29 people are running like crazy to be able to do all they have to do before 6:45 when we all have to be lined up outside for breakfast. Unpacking, making the bed, dressing up, washing up, shaving, all in a little more than half hour, and for the first time. There’s an excitement in the atmosphere of what the days are gonna look like.
The next days were boring at large, with only basic training being done, but they were also kind of cool cos we are a lot of jokers in the room, so if we don’t mess up with the rules, all goes well and we have a good few laughs a day (and at night, after lights go off). But these things I just cannot describe here, they would lose the spontaneous touch and originality (plus the funny element).
Mainly we have been preparing for the 25th, the day that we got sworn in, to do everything perfect and at the same time, synchronisation for 250 people is not easily achievable (well, in AIESEC it was, but in the army things are different(.
One day we got our basic training on our weapon, which is going to continue once I go back in the camp, starting tomorrow most probably. Wasn’t a very fascinating experience for me, although my father was telling me that it probably is going to be something exceptional. Somebody told me, that I should not be afraid of the weapon, but only respect it. That’s my attitude, and all went well with my first shooting session. But I dread the idea of some specific people getting ahold of a weapon in a few days, as immaturity in these cases can be mother to a lot of problems.
Days went by with our first “special missions” like cooking or guarding the room at night when the rest of the people are sleeping etc etc. It’s gonna get more exciting when we get to guard the camp, so I am looking forward to that, although it’s getting pretty cold at night by now.
Other than that, a few first conclusions/thoughts on my mind are:
- They say that where the logic stops, the army begins. I wouldn’t necessarily agree to that statement. I would just say that some things in the army follow different logic than what they would normally in the outside world. One must get used to this, although it’s not always easy to accept things.
- Everything will be fine as long as you do the job you have to do and obey orders. I don’t have any issues with authority and hierarchy, so things are working out up till now.
- You need a positive attitude to survive in the army. Yes, a lot of people have left their jobs and studies to come here for a year, but holding on to that doesn’t improve things or help us to adjust. The army can be an opportunity for meeting a lot of cool people as well and make connections, at least so far it seems so to me. It’s like going to school all over again, as everyone has to go, from celebrity actors (we have one in the next room) to high school graduates, university greaduates or illiterate people. People who are married and have kids etc.
- Discipline can be hard to adjust to, but along with the attitude of what the consequences of any of your actions might be (i.e. endangering others, breaking the hierarchical conduct etc.) can save you off a lot of trouble. I am lucky I adjusted fast!

In general it’s been a good personal experience so far, since I adjusted quite well form the very beginning and I am trying to focus on the good things happening, rather than holding on a few unpleasant situations that have come by…