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Valerie had been appointed to take the most crucial part in a mission that she will consider her last, so of course, she will feel great apprehension to the task. However, before having to do it, she discovers her old friend that she hadn't spoken to in a while: Eynat Haymovitch.
Seeing her gave Valerie the strength the finish the mission and finish her time at the base strong, for both wrapped up their time there at the same time.
Once the mission was completed, the two finally felt free. Free to go out whenever they desired, free to leave their beds messy in the morning and free to go out and be with friends whenever they felt like it.
Such an event led the two girls to the beach, where they were finally free to take their uniforms off and relish in the once-forbidden waters of the ocean.
However, on their way there, Valerie caught sight of a new wave of 18 year old girls that are just beginning their serve as a soldier, plastering a genuine smile on her face.
She thought,

I was once one of those girls.

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In Israel, the serving time for men is two years and eight months; the serving time for women is two years.

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Conscription exists in Israel for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 who are Jewish, Druze, or Circassian; Arab citizens of Israel are not conscripted. Other exceptions are made on religious, physical, or psychological grounds. The normal length of compulsory service is currently two years and eight months for men (with some roles requiring an additional four months of service), and two years for women (with some roles that requiring an additional eight months of service).

In 2013, 26% of potential conscripts were exempt from military service: 13.5% for religious reasons, 4% for mental health reasons, 2% for physical health reasons, 3% due to criminal records, and 3% due to residing abroad.

The Israeli Defense Service Law (חוק שירות ביטחון) regulates these duties and exceptions. According to the Defense Service Law, the enlistment to the Israeli Defense Forces is mandatory for all Israeli citizens who have turned 18 (with the above-mentioned exemptions enshrined in the Defense Service Law).

In 1949, after the founding of the State of Israel, the Defense Service Law gave the IDF the authority to enlist any citizen. Draftees would then be required to show up for the draft in accordance with the military's decision to enlist them. Under this law, the period of service for men was 30 months and for women 18 months (although in accordance with a temporary order from January 10, 1968, six additional months were added to the mandatory service, 36 months for men and 24 months for women respectively.) The service for men has been reduced to 32 months since 2015.

The draft requirement applies to any citizen or permanent resident who has reached the age of 18, and in accordance with the law, the individuals who are exempt from the draft are dismissed for various reasons, such as incapability, medical problems, military personnel needs, etc. Many of the soldiers who complete their mandatory military service are later obligated to serve in a reserve unit in accordance with the military's needs.

Economic constraints on the IDF have caused them to reconsider their structure and slowly shift towards a more modern military. A shift towards a professional militia has caused the IDF to adopt more career-oriented attributes, thus becoming more selective than in prior years. Instead of focusing on "role expansion," Israel, most specifically its government, is focusing on "nation building." One of the most extraordinary recent developments is a focus on inclusivity of gay and especially disabled citizens.

The IDF determines a medical profile for each soldier; according to that profile, the army decides where to assign the draftees. The highest medical profile draftees serve in the five infantry Brigades, Field/Combat Intelligence units, and Combat engineers. The second highest medical profiles are assigned to serve in the Armoured Corps, Artillery, Military Police, Border Police, and Aman. The lowest acceptable level of medical profiles are drafted into the combat support and combat service support Arms, such as the Adjutant Corps, Logistics Corps, and the Ordnance Corps. Draftees with lower than acceptable profiles ( Profile 21) and draftees diagnosed as not suitable for military service are fully exempted from military obligations. The highest profile is 97.

Although the conscription is officially compulsory, in practice a significant percentage of the population does not enlist for various reasons. Among other things, recent decades have seen a growing, but still very rare, phenomenon of draft dodging from military service, mainly due to conscience or political reasons (See Refusal to serve in the Israeli military). Exemptions have come under attack on grounds of fairness, and also because of a perceived shortage of combat personnel.

Yeshiva students who declare that "Torah study is their artistry" (Torato Umanuto) (תורתו אומנותו) can delay their conscription as long as they continue their studies, under the so-called Tal Law. In practice, many of them end up never serving at all. This is a very controversial issue in Israel and key component of religious relations in Israel. Several attempts were made to change the practice, notably the establishment of the Tal committee in 1999, which led to the Tal Law, implemented in 2002. Yet the Torato Umanuto exemption continued largely unchanged. The Tal Law was later ruled unconstitutional in its current form, and a replacement is needed before August 2012. Most beneficiaries of this exemption are Haredi Jews. Members of the Religious Zionist sector often serve within a separate system called Hesder which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF also tends to make the military service easier for recruits at an older age and recruits with families, as well as athletes and musicians of note.

From time to time a public debate emerges in Israel around the issue of exemption from military service in Israel.

A basic law of Israel is the Israeli Defense Service Law. It lists the guidelines and regulations of mandated military service in Israel. Some regulation includes age, duties, service requirements, time of service, etc. Chapter 5: Reserve Service: Going Abroad covers the rules and requirements for going on becoming a temporary reserve and going abroad. (a) A person designated for defense service and a person of military age who belongs to the regular forces of the Israel Defense Forces shall not go abroad unless granted a permit from the Minister of Defense. (b) A person of military age the continuance of whose regular service has been deferred for any reason shall not go abroad during the period of deferment save under a permit from the Minister of Defense. (c) A permit under this section may be unconditional or subject to conditions, including a condition relating to the holder's stay abroad. (e) Where any of the conditions of the permit is not fulfilled, the Minister of Defense may revoke the permit and may direct him, by order, to return to Israel within the time prescribed in the order. (f) The Minister of Defense shall not exercise his power under subsection (e) before he has given the holder of the permit an opportunity to state his case to him.

The IDF had strict restraints on letting individuals go into the reserves, even if just temporarily because of their high risk of attack from neighboring states. Through the dissolution of partnerships and peace treaties in recent years, that threat has reduced considerably. Consequently, the high demand for IDF soldiers has slightly decreased as well.

The IDF does not conscript Arab citizens of Israel who are Muslim or Christian, however, increasing numbers choose to volunteer for military service. Many Bedouins enlist on a voluntary basis. For Druze and Circassian men, enlistment is mandatory.

Yeshiva students who declare that "Torah study is their profession" (Torato Umanuto) (תורתו אומנותו) could delay their conscription as long as they continue their studies, under the so-called Tal Law until it has been cancelled.

Female draftees who state that they maintain a religious Jewish way of life are exempt from military service, and many of them choose to volunteer for an alternative national service called Sherut Leumi.

Male members of the Religious Zionist sector often serve within a separate system called Hesder which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces. They normally serve for a year and five months instead of three years.

Draftees who state that they are pacifists are required to appear before a committee tasked with examining the credibility of their claim. Exemption from service is granted if the committee is persuaded that their pacifism is sincere and meets the agreed criteria. Only a few individuals each year are granted an exemption on grounds of pacifism; all other self-declared pacifists are required to enlist.

Immigrants who immigrate to Israel at the age of recruitment get various concessions in their military service.

Draftees with a physical disability which are exempt from military service may still volunteer to serve. It can be a symbolic service of four hours a day, but they might also end up serving in full-time military service.

Leading active athletes might in many cases be granted an "Outstanding athlete" status which allows them to get a more convenient and shorter service, so they can continue to develop their career and represent Israel abroad in international competitions. The "Outstanding athlete" status is given only to athletes competing in Olympic sports. In addition, the military also grants the similar "Outstanding dancer" status and an "Outstanding musician" status. This status is granted in the same way and after the individuals have been examined. They may also be granted a more convenient service so that they can continue to improve their abilities and career during military service.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.

The military draft process occurs in the following steps: The Army calls upon a potential soldier in a letter and this is called the "First Calling" or Tzav Rishon. This letter states that the teenager must report to a certain place at a certain time for a day-long examination and interviewing. After careful looking over of the Tzav Rishon's results the army will call the people to enlist when they turn a certain age to begin the army process and basic training.

There are various routes which allow the draftees to postpone the date of recruitment. An automatic postponement is granted for student to graduate from high school. Additional routes which lead to the postponing of the recruitment:

Volunteering for a one-year service in a youth organization.

Postponement of conscription due to the IDF needs, usually due to a course beginning in a date which occurs later than the original drafting date given to the draftee.

Postponement of conscription due to various personal reasons.

One can postpone the draft in a year in order to go to Torah studies.

One can postpone the draft as part of the Hesder agreement.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.

Academic Reserve - a program designed to enlist and train soldiers which have an academic background in fields vital to the military's needs.

Talpiot program - an elite training program for young people who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability in the sciences, physics and mathematics. Graduates of the Talpiot program pursue higher education while serving in the army, and then utilize their expertise to further IDF research and development.

The pilot course also offers a Tal college degree.

The Israeli Naval Academy (קורס חובלים), whose candidates study for a degree from the Haifa University during the course.

During the drafting process sometimes draftees get exempted from the draft because of incompatibility. Sometimes the incompatibility of an individual is determined later on during his or her military service, and leads to dismissal from the army. The incompatibility may stem from various reasons:

Criminal record or history of using drugs.

Low motivation to serve.

When there is a surplus of recruits, the military often raises the threshold required of recruits, and grants an exemption due to incompatibility to a much larger number of recruits. In addition, there is a widespread phenomenon of granting exemption from military service because of incompatibility to female candidates who were identified as having a low medical profile and/or low motivation to serve. In such cases the reason for the exemption would usually be stated as: "Excess of female recruits."[citation needed ]

The IDF can also determine that a draftee has adjustment difficulties. A soldier with adjustment difficulties would not serve as a combat soldier.

A draftee found unfit for military service may still choose to volunteer for military service; his status will be similar to all the other draftees found to be fit for service. Once enlisted, these volunteers cannot choose to quit the military early.

There is an alternative voluntary civilian national service in Israel for those that cannot or do not wish to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Most participants are Jewish women from the Religious Zionist sector. [citation needed ]

The IDF has reportedly concluded that it will, at some point in the future, have to end conscription in favor of an all-volunteer force. Reasons include growing unpopularity of military service among Israeli youth, a growth in draft-dodging, and budgetary constraints that would prevent the IDF from conscripting all those eligible even if draft-dodging were not an issue. Israel is reportedly studying how the United States and European nations ended conscription and transitioned to all-volunteer forces, for a possible future transition.

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Conscription exists in Israel for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 who are Jewish, Druze, or Circassian; Arab citizens of Israel are not conscripted. Other exceptions are made on religious, physical, or psychological grounds.

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To get her mind off things, Valerie ventures out to bask in the warm sand on the beach, along with the beautiful waters that accommodate. Upon arrival, there is nothing of interest in the sandy recreation area other than the ocean that she dips her feet in.
However, a few moments pass, and Valerie comes across an old friend of hers that she used to talk to everyday: Gali.
The two take this moment to catch up and walk around the area, talking about how each others' lives are doing:
Gali claims to be very happy with his boyfriend (he is a homosexual) and is doing very well.
Valerie, in contrast, tells about how she was chasing after a boy who was never actually there for her—only hurt her in the end.
Gali's importance is that he gives her strength with his kind, thoughtful words that she needed to hear the most at the time, allowing her to get her mind off of the matter and focus on what's truly important: getting the last bits of her quota at the base well and done.

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With her heart in flutters and stomach in knots, Valerie, once again, found an open space in her schedule to go and visit her one and only: Jean-David.
However, when she rung him up to inform him that she was in Jerusalem, there was uncertainty in his voice, evoking suspicion within Valerie. Nonetheless, he told her where the key was to his apartment, since he was not yet at home—but was heading back. Valerie went on her way to his place and wrapped herself in his blankets, immersing herself in the unforgettable aroma Jean-David always walked around with. However, while doing so, she felt a few things in the bed: a purse and a perfume bottle that possessed a scent she despised with her entire being.

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"'At least stay and have supper with us!'
I burst out laughing, a hopeless, despairing laugh.
'I don't want you to be hurt,' he said in a stubborn voice.
'Well, you've failed,' I replied and slammed the door.
I just had time to see a girl a bit older than myself (22 or 23) looking at me in astonishment. She wasn't even pretty" (197).

In this excerpt, the bitterness in Valerie's voice is prevalent; the desire for Jean-David to set things right with her, yet making sure they don't hit it off once more, bleeds through the words and expressions he conveys.

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After showing how well she can handle all the assignments and the physically/mentally draining tasks that are assigned to her, Valerie was given a higher rank as Corporal in Tashal, allowing her to solve and participate in actual current real-life events and issues.

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"'Private Valerie Zenatti, I name you Corporal in Tashal, the Israeli army, and I hope you will honour your new rank'" (181).

Such an exciting event induces joy in not only Valerie, but those around her as well.

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In Hebrew, Mazal Tov translates to "Congratulations!"—the phrase that is declared in the book after Valerie's rank upgrade.

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The Hebrew phrase mazel tov (also spelled mazal tov, or mazel tof) literally translated means "good luck." In practice, mazel tov is usually said to mean "Congratulations!"

One can expect to hear people shout "mazel tov" at Jewish weddings just after the groom breaks the glass, at brit milah (bris) ceremonies, and at bar/bat mitzvahs. Mazel tov is an appropriate response to any good news, from an engagement to a graduation, a new job, a new house, or any other honor or milestone.

Some people avoid saying mazel tov to a pregnant woman out of superstition that something might happen to the baby. Instead, it is customary to say " b'sha'ah tovah," (beh-shah-AH toe-VAH) meaning "at a good time." The implicit wish is that the baby will be born healthy and safe - at which point mazel tov would be an appropriate greeting.

Below is a performance of the song "Siman Tov uMazel Tov," which is frequently sung after calling out "Mazel Tov" at weddings and other joyous events.
For lyrics in Hebrew, English and transliteration, click here:

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What "Mazel Tov" Means | My Jewish Learning

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The Hebrew phrase mazel tov (also spelled mazal tov, or mazel tof) literally translated means "good luck." In practice, mazel tov is usually said to mean "Congratulations!" One can expect to hear people shout "mazel tov" at Jewish weddings just after the groom breaks the glass, at brit milah (bris) ceremonies, and at bar/bat mitzvahs.

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No one has grown accustomed yet to stay at the base for an entire weekend plus. Valerie is no exception.
After all that extra work that was piled onto her already arduous schedule, Valerie scored a 92 on her next test. Consequently, she ended up with an awfully potent headache that earned her a spot in the casualty infirmary.
Fortunately, when the girls came back from their weekend break, they ran to Valerie: concerned and remorseful.

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80.
An unacceptable score.
A score that conveys an uneducated mind.
—The score Valerie received.
Unlike everyone else at the base, Valerie got an 80 on a crucial written exam. The said score is unacceptable and must be made higher, due to how important having knowledge on the situation at hand is. Therefore, she was forced to stay at the base during the entire time she was initially supposed to go home (the entire weekend until Sunday). Valerie takes these few extra days to do more guard duty, cleaning, and most importantly, studying.

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As it was planned for the longest time, implemented into Valerie's head like a screw on a wall, she finally found the right time to meet up with her favorite boy, Jean-David. Of course, Valerie knew that she couldn't go far with him anymore, since he already has a new girl, so she did the best she could to get close with him again (however futile that seems) to potentially refuel their love.

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"He leant over to me to say goodnight. He kissed my forehead, my nose, my eyes, I kissed his forehead, his nose, his eyes" (147).

Valerie was set for life—or so she thought.

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After having spent a few weeks at the base, Valerie is finally ready to do what she'd been longing for the whole time: shooting a gun. Inbar Katz, their instructor, reminds them that not every event in life is some silly game. This event, in particular, takes the risk of choosing either life or death, and that it's not just some party filled with girls who want to shoot bullets. Katz was successful in getting the idea through the girls' heads.

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"'Negligence, poor concentration and silly mistakes can cause irreversible disasters. You must get it into your heads that you're not only responsible for yourselves, but for the others too' ... The excitement we were feeling a few minutes before has dissipated. That's clearly what she was trying to achieve" (129).

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Jean-David, the boy that Valerie will not stop obsessing over, has finally took the time to call her. And of course. The natural response for such as exciting moment is a to have a huge smile plastered on your face. This is what happened to Valerie.
J.D. rung her up to let her know that he in inviting Valerie to his home, Jerusalem, in a fortnight. Being the obsessed girl she is, of course she accepts.

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"'Perfect. I'm having the most fantastic holiday up in the north. It's so wonderful that I get up at half past three every morning to be sure I don't miss anything. It's a four-star resort with all the mod cons, sand beneath your feet, showers just across the way and temperatures drop to ten below at night. Do you want the address?" (125)

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I was just really curious on what this word meant. The book uses it a lot in the story, so I had to search it up.
It means 14 days.

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a period of 14 days : two weeks… See the full definition

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Freddy, Rahel's (One of Valerie's best friends) boyfriend, has been on a constant run from the military officers, due to his illegal leave from the base. They want him back, and for the longest time, he had been running and running away from their sight.
Alas, Freddy couldn't take it anymore—he didn't want to continue living life that way, so he finally turned himself in.

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'"He can't handle it anymore. The military police are searching for him at the moment. He's been hiding with Rafi for two weeks my parents have refused to leave him at home. So he's decided to hand himself in, to take his punishment and go back to the army" (119).

According to this and real-life events, situations like this never last.

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On her first actual day at the base, Valerie experiences the sorts of obstacles and challenges that comes with being a soldier—or rather, on the road to becoming one. The vigorous tasks that come her way, along with the arduous scheduling concocted by the higher-ups induces Valerie to reflect on how life will be for the next several months or so.

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"That's a directive from the headquarters, and everyone is subject to it. Twenty minutes to eat and six hours' sleep a day, those are a soldier's fundamental rights, and their only rights, as far as I can see" (79).

According to this, slowly, yet surely, Valerie will be able to grow accustomed to her new life on her road to becoming a soldier. And of course, to earn such a respectable title, a price must be paid.

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Pertaining to the story, being a soldier consists of consistent training, tiring duties and scarce amounts of sleep.

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As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, you're tasked with upholding the Constitution and protecting America's freedoms. But it's not always work"Soldiers have free time just like everyone else to spend with friends and family, or take part in sports or hobbies. Soldiers continually strengthen themselves mentally and physically through Ongoing Training. And most important"Soldiers live the Seven Core Army Values every day.

Soldiers are the essence of our Army - they always have been and always will be. For more than three decades we have demonstrated that an all-volunteer Army can be the world's premier fighting force.

The expanded missions that the Army is involved in today place tremendous demands and great responsibilities on our Soldiers and leaders. This Nation and our Army place extraordinary confidence in our small-unit leaders and individual Soldiers. They are our credentials.

You hear a lot of talk about technology and advanced weapons systems, but we know that at the center of every mission and everything the Army does, is the Soldier. There are more than 320,000 Soldiers deployed worldwide doing the best they can to accomplish the mission handed to them. And each and every one of them is doing a great job. Much of what they're doing gets no recognition, no medal, no picture in the paper. But they do it because it's the right thing to do, and because they are dedicated to excellence.

Life On Post
Most Soldiers are pleasantly surprised by the facilities an Army Post offers. You'll find fitness centers, movie theatres, even tax-free shopping at the Post Exchange (PX) and Commissary"where you can buy almost anything from DVD players to groceries to clothing. With all this within reach, an Army Post isn't just a place to live"it's a community.

Where you live on an Army Post depends on your rank and family situation, those with higher rank or number of family members, have more housing options. For most new Soldiers, living on Post is a lot like living in an apartment complex. See an example of the places single Soldiers are living with these panoramas.

An Army Post is also a place to make friends and spend your free time. From bowling alleys to computer labs, weight rooms to restaurants, Soldiers have plenty of options for fun, relaxation and learning.

Army Posts offer a variety of facilities for Soldiers to do almost anything they want during their spare time. These facilities can include:

Gyms and fitness centers
Movie theaters
Libraries
Computer labs
Places of worship
Parks and swimming pools
Bowling alleys
Golf courses
Tennis courts
Riding stables
Auto shop
Restaurants
Bars and clubs

Living The Army Values
Many people know what the words Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage mean. But how often do you see someone actually live up to them? Soldiers learn these values in detail during Basic Combat Training (BCT), from then on they live them every day in everything they do"whether they're on the job or off. In short, the Seven Core Army Values are what being a Soldier is all about.

America's Soldiers personify the Warrior Ethos. They are bound to each other by integrity and trust.

The Soldier's Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

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What It Is Like Being A Soldier - MilitarySpot.com

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As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, you're tasked with upholding the Constitution and protecting America's freedoms. But it's not always work"Soldiers have free time just like everyone else to spend with friends and family, or take part in sports or hobbies. Soldiers continually strengthen themselves mentally and physically through Ongoing Training.

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Valerie got into an altercation with another girl at the base. They were arguing about the actual need for them to be there: training to become soldiers. As the two exchanged very aggressive opinions at each other, Valerie was beginning to show her true colors—whether verbally or mentally.

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"'What truth? The truth you want to believe in, so that you don't have to ask yourself any questions about the uniform you're wearing, about what it means to the Palestinians, for example'" (112).

This event sparked something in Valerie, inducing her to realize what it really means—and why she is there. Of course, being the type of person she is, she will defend her side.

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Valerie appreciation for going home is at an all-time high, for taking a break contrasts greatly from the arduous life at the base. So, at last, she is given the weekend off: from Friday to Sunday night—when she has to head back to the buses to her most favorite place.
(For the time she was at home, she received adequate attention from her friends and family.)

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Upon arrival, Eynat and Valerie head toward the base together. Valerie, being younger, tends to cling more to Eynat, due to apprehension and not knowing what is going to come next.
Since Eynat and Valerie have last names that are miles apart from each other in the alphabet, inevitably, they will experience separation, for there are four groups for the girls, that are coordinated according to the first letter of the person's last name.
This initiation would not be complete without the mention of the new identities the girls received; Valerie: 3810159, Eynat: 3810168

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At last, Valerie has hopped onto the bus, and she assumed that the drive to the base would be dreadfully long. So, to avoid boredom, she placed her earbuds in to listen to music. However, when doing so, a girl criticised her for listening to music on the ride to becoming a soldier. They altercated for a few, until both sides started taking a liking to the other. The two exchanged names: Valerie Zenatti to Eynat Haymovitch; Eynat Haymovitch to Valerie Zenatti.

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All the depressing events made a turn when Valerie heard the voices of those she held most dear to her on the other side of the front door. Turns out Valerie does have caring friends. Yulia, Rahel and Freddy (Rahel's boyfriend) truly do care about her, for they all made their surprise public when they showered Valerie with hugs, food platters and gifts.

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"I don't have time to finish my sentence before bursting into tears. It's hardly appropriate, but I can't help myself, it's happened of its own accord. they huddle round me and get me to sit down on the sofa" (51).

Referring back to event #2, Valerie is known to have an incredibly caring, yet sensitive personality. If her friends aren't there to see her off before heading to the base, she will remember that. Vice Versa: If her friends are there to see her off, she will also remember that, and hold it dear to her.

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Since Valerie had moved to Israel a few years back, she became destined to take a few years out of her life to go be a soldier, just as every other 18 year old in sight must do. However, she was appointed to go serve before all of her other friends: Yulia and Rahel, so she inferred that they would both be there to comfort her before she heads to the buses to the base. However, on the day before her leave, no one is there to even just hug her. Yulia, Rahel, and most-importantly, Jean-David, are absent right when she needed them most.

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Jean-David.
Valerie, for the longest time, loved this boy. Even after they broke up, she still retained the same feelings for him—whatever reason that may be.
After finishing up the literature portion of the BAC, Jean-David rung her up to inform her that he had found a girl in his new home, Jerusalem.

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As requirement of the high school, all three girls are appointed to take a test, the bac.

Once she has taken a seat in the exam room, Valerie will, on the first day of testing, be assigned to answer questions about the Holocaust and General History. Writing about the dreadful events of the Holocaust causes Valerie to shed a few tears, emphasizing her caring personality.

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The Bac (Baccalaureate) is an exam primarily known to be taken in France.

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What does the "Bac", the final school exam, look like in France?

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| |  When I Was a Soldier  | |  Bibliography  

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| |  When I Was a Soldier  | |  Bibliography  

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Zenatti, Valerie. When I Was a Soldier. Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2005.

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Valerie, along with her two Russian best friends are introduced into the story: Yulia and Rahel. All three, being eighteen years old, live in the desert of Israel. Valerie is deemed as unusual in their area, for she is French. (Therefore, her presence catches the attention of all those around her.)

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"I answered with a long silence before saying goodbye to him, in one breath, with the beginnings of a sob, then I ran to cry in Rahel and Yulia's arms, for a long time" (37).

This part in the book introduces her profound love for this one boy, and how greatly she thinks of him—for when Valerie had discovered the heart-breaking news, she couldn't help but burst into tears.