NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, I'm here for the summer, and here are some things I've noticed.

1. Israelis are jerks - Unless they know you, have a particular reason to be nice to you, think you're hot, or are otherwise motivated through pity, fear, awe or admiration, don't expect a default level of politeness or consideration. Adjust your agression and directness about 150% (from average canadian levels) up if you want service of any kind. Remember that men here carried guns, therefore they have the right to be cocky chauvanists.

2. Holy Shit! there's white people on Campus! - Coming from UBC (Vancouver) the abscenece of asian faces at university was quite a shock. Who'll get all the good marks?

3. There alot of pregnant women here - not just religious ones and arabs, who are known to boink like rabbits, but normal people too.

4. Culture here is intensely superior - the amount, variety and quality of cultural events - music, literary, movies, festivals, - is totally insanely great (at least in jerusalem and tel-aviv). I'm so impressed with the culture scene here - people seem more involved than at home.

5. If you take pictures of government buildings that are on your walking route to work because you think the neighborhood is cool, you'll nearly get arrested - as I found out first hand. whoops. So to endanger myself further, and get boosted up nearer the top of the blacklists i have doubtless been placed on, I shall post the offending pictures for y'all. If jolt gets mysteriously shut down, contact the SHABAQ with complaints. So -

The prime ministers office:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/maayan009/8c3341c1.jpg

the bank of Israel:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/maayan009/0d6ab379.jpg

the supreme court:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/maayan009/f9b8d40c.jpg

the foreign ministry:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/maayan009/86ab90a2.jpg


6. Politics - The politics here are alot more varied and crazy than the stance the Jewish community abroad (or at least it's leadership) projects.

7. The Israeli version of American Idol (not part of the franchise) is really fun. no really! it is! *hides* - oh! and another pop cultural note: Israeli advertising firms have not advanced beyond the concept of the jingle, which is ubiquitous on the radio waves in all its annoying banality. I hate Israeli jingles.

8. Food here is cheap - This is the first year I've been here sort of on my own (if you don't count a battalion of extended family and friends), so I've had to do some grocery shopping. 30 shekels (about $7.20 Canadian) will get you (if you know where to shop) a litre of milk, a kilo of tomatoes, half a kilo of cucumbers, a kilo of peaches, three thingies of yogurt, a loaf of bread, some humous, and a can of pickles. you might even have enough for a fallafel.
yummmmm

8. Food here is cheap - This is the first year I've been here sort of on my own (if you don't count a battalion of extended family and friends), so I've had to do some grocery shopping. 30 shekels (about $7.20 Canadian) will get you (if you know where to shop) a litre of milk, a kilo of tomatoes, half a kilo of cucumbers, a kilo of peaches, three thingies of yogurt, a loaf of bread, some humous, and a can of pickles. you might even have enough for a fallafel.
yummmmm

Actually, the best place for cheap food to my knowledge would have to go to Malaysia, primarily the island of Penang. The coffee shops there have got a plethora of food and for roughly the price of 1 USD or so, you can get a full sized meal of your pick (western food costs a bit more) and a drink to boot. Choices range from various types of noodles, broth, chicken rice, etc, etc, etc. All of it good.

The only downside is that you've got to ignore the general hygiene factor of the place. But overall, it's good.

yeah, it hasn't reached that level of cheapness - specially not at cafes and restaurants - after all, they have to make a killing off all the tourists that are back in droves this year. Food in its original forms is still not bad though.

I went to Israel a couple of months ago, I thought it was a beautiful country, from what you've said I agree, but I wasn't there that long so I can't get too sociological about the experience.

PS. I don't envy you there during the height of Summer... I was there in spring, and that was as hot as I was willing to go.

I was in Israel during Christmas/New Years...and while I didnt really like it that much, I will say that it was good to go just for the experience.

But I'll stay with America and Europe, in the future.:)

I was in Israel during Christmas/New Years...and while I didnt really like it that much, I will say that it was good to go just for the experience.

But I'll stay with America and Europe, in the future.:)what didn't you like about it (if you don't mind sharing)? there's plenty not to like, that's for sure, (like the total disregard for the environment for one, the degree of xenophobia and bigotry, the religious control of state affairs) but I always enjoy my time here immensely. Theres alot of good and bad extremes mixed together here.

what didn't you like about it (if you don't mind sharing)? there's plenty not to like, that's for sure, (like the total disregard for the environment for one, the degree of xenophobia and bigotry, the religious control of state affairs) but I always enjoy my time here immensely. Theres alot of good and bad extremes mixed together here.

The only thing I didn't like about Israel was the fact that everyone (and I mean everyone) was on the cell phone at the same time. Far more cell phone usage than I see in Europe or the US.

And I really enjoyed seeing all the young women walking around with rifles.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/jtkwon/girls.jpg

well, yes, there are alot of guns wandering about here. I stopped noticing it a long time ago. The tradgedy is that the girls you see that are *not* carrying guns are probably stuck in some useless boring make-work job for the duration of their army service. Since girls are still not allowed in many of the combat roles, there is an excess of them. In fact, there is an excess of soldiers in general. A bit of a waste, really. On the other hand, if you make army service shorter or non-compulsory you have a whole whack of other problems, including recruitment, and the loss of an important national rite of passage.


oh yes - the cell phones are a curse. This is the first time in my life I've had a cell phone and I end up leaving it at home most of the time. The dependency on them here is willful and obsessive.

They have an open air supreme court in the woods?

Well, I'm here for the summer, and here are some things I've noticed.

30 shekels (about $7.20 Canadian) will get you (if you know where to shop) a litre of milk, a kilo of tomatoes, half a kilo of cucumbers, a kilo of peaches, three thingies of yogurt, a loaf of bread, some humous, and a can of pickles. you might even have enough for a fallafel.
yummmmm


Has anyone noticed how adorable it is anytime Kreitzmoorland says anything at all??? Just curious...

Well, I'm here for the summer, and here are some things I've noticed.

1. Israelis are jerks - Unless they know you, have a particular reason to be nice to you, think you're hot, or are otherwise motivated through pity, fear, awe or admiration, don't expect a default level of politeness or consideration. Adjust your agression and directness about 150% (from average canadian levels) up if you want service of any kind. Remember that men here carried guns, therefore they have the right to be cocky chauvanists.


In fairness it must be said that I've heard similar about NYC, Boston, London, and Paris. Its a phenomena associated with large cities.

well, yes, there are alot of guns wandering about here. I stopped noticing it a long time ago. The tradgedy is that the girls you see that are *not* carrying guns are probably stuck in some useless boring make-work job for the duration of their army service. Since girls are still not allowed in many of the combat roles, there is an excess of them. In fact, there is an excess of soldiers in general. A bit of a waste, really. On the other hand, if you make army service shorter or non-compulsory you have a whole whack of other problems, including recruitment, and the loss of an important national rite of passage.


oh yes - the cell phones are a curse. This is the first time in my life I've had a cell phone and I end up leaving it at home most of the time. The dependency on them here is willful and obsessive.

Girls are in Combat roles in Israel. Not Front line, but support, police, "militia", etc. I've got pics if need be to post. They are even squad leaders in some places and I beleive much higher.

Ahh, yes, my fellow Goyim....;)

Post those pics please.

And I really enjoyed seeing all the young women walking around with rifles.
Yeah, because gun toting women are soooooo sexy!! :rolleyes:

Yeah, because gun toting women are soooooo sexy!! :rolleyes:
That's no doubt true for those with kinky proclivities. Personally, I find guns and titillation make for poor bedfellows.

That's no doubt true for those with kinky proclivities. Personally, I find guns and titillation make for poor bedfellows.
The only weapon that should be near or in the bedroom is THE weapon. :D

what didn't you like about it (if you don't mind sharing)? there's plenty not to like, that's for sure, (like the total disregard for the environment for one
Disregard for the environment? There's so much greenery in those photos. Hasn't Israel concistently been a leader in the fight against desertification as well?

Yeah, because gun toting women are soooooo sexy!! :rolleyes:

The Michigan Militia clearly thinks so. They even put out a calendar every year. Utter sillyness, but if you're into that sort of thing, I guess.

http://www.michiganmilitia.com/INDEX1.jpg

Yeah, because gun toting women are soooooo sexy!! :rolleyes:

All the hot looking women are at the shooting range.

Disregard for the environment? There's so much greenery in those photos. Hasn't Israel concistently been a leader in the fight against desertification as well?Yes Israel leads in environ mental RESEARCH. However, it doesn't even use some its best innovations like solar technology for example. The population in general a) isn't aware of environmental issues enough to care b) doesn't care about what they are aware of enough to adjust their lives and votes. It just isn't really on the public agenda - which for a tiny hot parched country woth basically 0 natural resources is a real problem. The level of litter not just in cities but also in natural areas and trails is just one way to see the cavalier raping of the environment here by normal people.