Lessons from My Memoir on Serving in the Israel Defense Forces: How Cool Are You?

Lessons from My Memoir on Serving in the Israel Defense Forces: How Cool Are You?

May 21st, 2015|new memoir, Uncategorized|

Just the other day I went to a networking event on a rooftop lounge known as Sky Bar in Pittsburgh. I felt antsy though prepared. It seemed as if everyone knew each other. Each person had a colored coded name tag for his/her industry and it seemed as if everyone was deep in chat. Who [...]

Finding Love in Gaza – Snapshot from My Memoir on My Service in the Israel Defense Forces

January 29th, 2015|memoir writing, new memoir|

I'm an innocent nineteen year old American who decided to leave my hometown of New York City to serve in the Israel Defense Forces mainly to get away from Mom's irrational fear and worries. Everything I've in fact, learned about the Arab speaking world in Israel has been heavily influenced by the media in relation [...]

The One Top Lesson I Learned from Basic Training in the Israel Defense Forces

January 8th, 2015|memoir writing, new memoir|

It's one thing to go through a difficult or challenging life experience. It's another thing to figure out the best way to write the lessons of that difficult period of myself, a mere 18-19 year old, complete basic training in the IDF, one of the most famous armies in the world. Simply put, along the [...]

Staying Positive in Tough Times: 3 Top Lessons from my Memoir about Serving in the Israel Defense Forces

January 6th, 2015|memoir writing, mindset|

One of the hardest things I had to deal with while serving in the Israel Defense Forces was learning to keep the faith and staying upbeat in touch times. I hardly spent enough time in Israel as a kid to feel a comfortable connection with the country, and serving in the military albeit by accident, [...]

3 Lessons I Didn’t Know Before Writing My Memoir About Serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

December 29th, 2014|memoir writing, new memoir|

"I want you to show me what type of power they exercised over you when you were younger. I really want to experience your life early on. What I would also like to experience is the emotional pull of your writing; I want to be transported into your emotional life more. I believe that your [...]

The Power of One Woman’s Quest: Everything I Ever Learned I Got from Serving in the Israel Defense Forces

November 14th, 2014|authenticity, Classroom, defining moments, faith, memoir writing, new books, new memoir, pain stories, the heroine's journey, transformation, vulnerability, writing|

In 1989, I was a sophomore at Suny at Albany. While my peers were declaring their majors, I felt I was wasting my time, which made me feel there was something wrong with me. One night, I had banged my head against the wall of my room crying. I've got to get out of here. [...]

How I Was Able to Write About a Bullying Experience While Serving in the Israel Defense Forces for My Memoir Accidental Soldier

November 2nd, 2014|new memoir, writing, writing tips|

Chapter 10 of my memoir, Accidental Soldier: What My Service in the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me About Faith, Courage and Love and I'm faced with a daunting task of writing about a bullying scene which is key to solving my problem with a specific garin member, who happens to be British and a new immigrant. [...]

What Makes You Feel Emotionally Connected? Memoir of Serving in the Israel Defense Forces

July 10th, 2014|Uncategorized|

The difference in size between the US and Israel is what makes the culture in Israel so accessible. When I first had my taste of watching IDF soldiers hitchhike and entertained the possibility of volunteering for the service, what comforted me greatly, was how well these soldiers were integrated and that is attributed mainly to [...]

Blogging the Themes of My Memoir: Trying to Find a Home while Serving on a Kibbutz (Israel Defense Forces)

June 3rd, 2014|blogging, defining moments, memoir writing, new memoir, storytelling, writing|

Doritos? Like what the fuck? How did he know to call me that name? He’s a Brit. They don’t have Doritos over there. Or do they? I want to tell him to go to hell. To shut the fuck up. I’ve been traumatized by the name “Doritos” all my public school life and right now, [...]

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How I Got to “BreakthroughLand” with My Memoir, “Silence: What the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me About Faith, Courage and Empowerment

May 22nd, 2014|author platform, defining moments, memoir writing, new memoir, storytelling, transformational author experience, writing, writing as inspiration|

Each day when I go to write at our local library or our neighborhood coffee shop to write my memoir, Silence: What the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me about Faith, Empowerment and Courage, I'm already filled up with nervous anticipation:  will I make progress with this scene?  Can I get into the right mood and [...]

The Long Bus Ride to the Kibbutz: Pre-Induction to the Israeli Defense Forces

June 11th, 2013|Carmen Czernik, defining moments, new memoir|

Note from author: A "garin" is a term used to describe a group of young people (either immigrants or native born Israelis) who do the army together - from start to finish - usually in the Nahal unit/division of the army. Historically, Nahal included such pioneers as Golda Meir and Yitzchak Rabin who were attracted [...]

Landing in Israel in 1990: My First Steps as a New Immigrant

June 9th, 2013|Carmen Czernik, defining moments, new memoir|

Once I'm outside Ben Gurion airport and without my immigrant card, I try to remember what I'm supposed to do. Luckily, I have kept the letters my Dad and stepmother telling me about the brave decision I did to leave Mom and New York City. These letters are kept super close in my side pants pockets and for [...]

Green Beret: Our Twenty Eight Kilometer March in the Israeli Defense Forces

December 17th, 2012|new memoir|

I had no idea how much 28 kilometers would really mean until we were about halfway through. Part of our march would lead us through the backway of houses and orchards and more apple fields. It was the first time I had the opportunity to size up the camp. We would pass by the same [...]

Green Beret: Our Twenty Eight Kilometer March in the Israeli Defense Forces

December 13th, 2012|new memoir|

The day of our twenty eight kilometer march was scorching hot. Our “special” meal for the day consisted of the same old – eggs, cottage cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, and hot tea – similar to kibbutz food. I ate an extra helping of each for extra energy. We loaded up our gear for the trek [...]

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Basic Training in the Israeli Defense Forces

December 13th, 2012|new memoir|

“Smol, smol, smol, yamin, smol!” Left, left, left, right, left!” Groups of girls march in uniform past our tents, to the dining room and from every which way. As we waited for our commanding officers to arrive to our platoon for our morning gathering, I listened to the shouts at this base called “Machaney Shmonim” [...]

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