With less than two weeks left, I feel that it is time for a reflection:
I was so nervous about coming here because I felt that no one ever told me anything about living situations or about my classes or if I even got in. But I have learned that they really did do everything Israeli style. From little things such as emailing me about getting my stuff (ie transcript, health insurance) to bigger things like, well if I was accepted. I have learned to accept the Israeli style of things and I like the way it's done. No one worries about anything and the attitude is "when it gets done, it gets done." Israel is such a relaxed country. When you look around the streets, no one is rushing to get to work (or class). When you get to class, you get to class. If you're late, you're late. I like this not worrying about being late. I don't have to rush in the morning to get dressed or rush back from my food shopping spree. If I get to class a few minutes late, it's ok.
I really just love almost everything about Israeli culture. Everything about it is due to the relaxed atmosphere. There are no lines. Just clumps. Getting onto a bus requires pushing and cutting in line. Waiting in "line" at the supermarket requires cutting people so that you can get to the front. Buying something from the vending machine requires more cutting. Going through security requires elbowing and swimming toward the detectors. Basically, as long I say "Slichah" (excuse me, sorry) and push, I'm socially accepted.
I also love how there is no time here. I mentioned class, but there is also the bus schedule. If the bus is supposed to show up at 7:30, it'll show up at 8. If the Madrichim are putting on an event, they'll say one time but mean another. All of my friends have assimilated into using Israeli time meaning that if we're going to have dinner or watch a movie, the time we start is usually an hour or two after what is said. Unlike when this happens back home, it's not annoying. It's part of what Israel is about.
I think my favorite part about Israel, though is that the majority of the population is Jewish. Hebrew is used in the classroom as part of a lesson. In America if you used the Ethopian language of Amharic, for example, as part of a lesson (that wasn't related to Ethiopia), everyone would have confused looks on their faces. They would be thinking what are those random symbols on the board? Also, if you go to the Shuk on a Friday, it is more than likely that you will be thanked with a "Shabbat Shalom". Everyone just assumes you're Jewish. It is nice being in a country where you can say the "CH" in Chanukkah or Chummus. I have gotten so used to saying "Chummus" (instead of the English pronunciation of "HA-mis") that when I realized that that's what I say, I decided that it sounds strange to my ears to say it the American way. It's just not right. Since it's Chanukkah now, there are chanukiot everywhere and each day a new "candle" is lit. Every bakery and supermarket sells Soufganiot (jelly doughnuts) and Livivot (latkes, potato pancakes). There are very few signs of Christmas around. There are a couple of small decorated trees in the windows, but that's about it. I haven't listened to the radio since September, but I'm pretty sure that Christmas music isn't playing 24/7. It's not that I'm against all the decorations, it's just that I like being in a country where my religion is celebrated. Where my religion is the national one.
Since it is Christmas this week, my psychology class was moved a day forward. There are seven people in my class, five of whom are Jewish. A few weeks ago, one of the non-Jews asked my teacher if he could move the class from the 24th to an earlier time in the week. The reason she for this, she said, was because it was Christmas Eve and she wanted to go to mass. Understandable. However, all the Jews stood up and were like "What do you think we have to do on Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur and pretty much anytime we want to celebrate a holiday?" We can't miss class, but we don't have a choice. The thing is, it's not that I didn't want the professor to not change the date, but it was the principle. I mean, you are coming to Israel knowing that it celebrates Jewish holidays. I wouldn't go to say India and expect a class to be changed because I have to celebrate a holiday. I would expect to miss class, or whatever my commitment was and find a way to celebrate. I don't know if this is something that I think is an automatic response because it's what I do anyway or if is something that most people would do.
The difference that I find between Israelis and everyone is else, is that they are so OCD about only one thing. One of my roommates is obsessed with keeping things tidy, which isn't that hard and another one of my roommates is very anal about NOT washing dishes. She won't clean up after herself. I'm not sure why OCD hasn't said anything. I can't stand it. It's my turn to clean this week, but if the sink is piled with pots and dishes, it's not getting done. That is my one pet peeve. I cannot stand dishes piled in the sink. I can stand a few here and there, but when I have to wash out a plate and a fork because there are no clean plates, it's kind of ridiculous. This roommate is also OCD about the hot water. It can only be on at certain times which is why me and the other international roommates end up taking cold showers half the time.
Ok, enough ranting. More reflection later.
I was so nervous about coming here because I felt that no one ever told me anything about living situations or about my classes or if I even got in. But I have learned that they really did do everything Israeli style. From little things such as emailing me about getting my stuff (ie transcript, health insurance) to bigger things like, well if I was accepted. I have learned to accept the Israeli style of things and I like the way it's done. No one worries about anything and the attitude is "when it gets done, it gets done." Israel is such a relaxed country. When you look around the streets, no one is rushing to get to work (or class). When you get to class, you get to class. If you're late, you're late. I like this not worrying about being late. I don't have to rush in the morning to get dressed or rush back from my food shopping spree. If I get to class a few minutes late, it's ok.
I really just love almost everything about Israeli culture. Everything about it is due to the relaxed atmosphere. There are no lines. Just clumps. Getting onto a bus requires pushing and cutting in line. Waiting in "line" at the supermarket requires cutting people so that you can get to the front. Buying something from the vending machine requires more cutting. Going through security requires elbowing and swimming toward the detectors. Basically, as long I say "Slichah" (excuse me, sorry) and push, I'm socially accepted.
I also love how there is no time here. I mentioned class, but there is also the bus schedule. If the bus is supposed to show up at 7:30, it'll show up at 8. If the Madrichim are putting on an event, they'll say one time but mean another. All of my friends have assimilated into using Israeli time meaning that if we're going to have dinner or watch a movie, the time we start is usually an hour or two after what is said. Unlike when this happens back home, it's not annoying. It's part of what Israel is about.
I think my favorite part about Israel, though is that the majority of the population is Jewish. Hebrew is used in the classroom as part of a lesson. In America if you used the Ethopian language of Amharic, for example, as part of a lesson (that wasn't related to Ethiopia), everyone would have confused looks on their faces. They would be thinking what are those random symbols on the board? Also, if you go to the Shuk on a Friday, it is more than likely that you will be thanked with a "Shabbat Shalom". Everyone just assumes you're Jewish. It is nice being in a country where you can say the "CH" in Chanukkah or Chummus. I have gotten so used to saying "Chummus" (instead of the English pronunciation of "HA-mis") that when I realized that that's what I say, I decided that it sounds strange to my ears to say it the American way. It's just not right. Since it's Chanukkah now, there are chanukiot everywhere and each day a new "candle" is lit. Every bakery and supermarket sells Soufganiot (jelly doughnuts) and Livivot (latkes, potato pancakes). There are very few signs of Christmas around. There are a couple of small decorated trees in the windows, but that's about it. I haven't listened to the radio since September, but I'm pretty sure that Christmas music isn't playing 24/7. It's not that I'm against all the decorations, it's just that I like being in a country where my religion is celebrated. Where my religion is the national one.
Since it is Christmas this week, my psychology class was moved a day forward. There are seven people in my class, five of whom are Jewish. A few weeks ago, one of the non-Jews asked my teacher if he could move the class from the 24th to an earlier time in the week. The reason she for this, she said, was because it was Christmas Eve and she wanted to go to mass. Understandable. However, all the Jews stood up and were like "What do you think we have to do on Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur and pretty much anytime we want to celebrate a holiday?" We can't miss class, but we don't have a choice. The thing is, it's not that I didn't want the professor to not change the date, but it was the principle. I mean, you are coming to Israel knowing that it celebrates Jewish holidays. I wouldn't go to say India and expect a class to be changed because I have to celebrate a holiday. I would expect to miss class, or whatever my commitment was and find a way to celebrate. I don't know if this is something that I think is an automatic response because it's what I do anyway or if is something that most people would do.
The difference that I find between Israelis and everyone is else, is that they are so OCD about only one thing. One of my roommates is obsessed with keeping things tidy, which isn't that hard and another one of my roommates is very anal about NOT washing dishes. She won't clean up after herself. I'm not sure why OCD hasn't said anything. I can't stand it. It's my turn to clean this week, but if the sink is piled with pots and dishes, it's not getting done. That is my one pet peeve. I cannot stand dishes piled in the sink. I can stand a few here and there, but when I have to wash out a plate and a fork because there are no clean plates, it's kind of ridiculous. This roommate is also OCD about the hot water. It can only be on at certain times which is why me and the other international roommates end up taking cold showers half the time.
Ok, enough ranting. More reflection later.
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