6:30 am: our day begins at the IsraeliNavalAcademy. Woken up by a peer, rotating every week the responsibility of “first cadet of the week.” It is the beginning of an extremely long day. Noise of the excitement of receiving not one, but three army uniforms for different purposes, is heard throughout the school. We were fitted and sized for our green, everyday, army uniform and belt, our khaki formal uniform worn only by those in the Israeli Navy for formal events and day trips, and a third white jumpsuit (which looks more like a painter’s one-zee if you ask me), resembling a big unattractive balloon for when we hop into the water to sail at sea.

Speaking of the sea, have I mentioned that the base is literally on the sea? The ocean waves crash against the platform on which we raise the flag every morning and is situated next to the Old City of Akko where Muslim Prayer can be heard at almost all times of the day.