Differences

Pop cans here in Israel are made from thicker aluminum than I’m used to. 

This makes them heavier – this MEANS I always think there’s more pop in my can than there really is.  I’m continually disappointed as I go for that laast sip and… nothings there.  The can has tricked me again. 

That’s not the only thing weird about Israel.

Though they drive on the right hand of the road, there traffic is still a bit weird in that the middle lines dividing flows of traffic are WHITE, not yellow like they’re supposed to be.  Talk about confusing, especially in town.

While I’m on the issue of roads, someone here didn’t get the memo Jumbo Sized roads are best.  In fact, many roads here are so tight it’s absolutely ridiculous.  There have been times my driver has had to literally stop in the middle of the road and back-up to let another car pass.

Here’s another difference: some places (like the barn I work in) have the hot water knob on the right side instead of the left.  But I think that’s just because whoever made that barn was in a hurry and hooked everything up backwards.  Everywhere else it’s normal.

And here’s another thing: we don’t wash dishes here with dish rags, but rather with a sponge.  I have yet to see a dish rag in any home, apartment, barn, eating establishment, or anywhere else in Israel.  Sponges are in.

Here’s a difference I find odd: I work with cattle, but there is exactly zero “Country Western” attitude in the Israeli cattlemen (and cattlewomen).  No one wears cowboy boots or big belt buckles, and the radio isn’t tuned to Country (hey, what’s Country? no one even knows who Taylor Swift is). 

Instead, we’re tuned in to Galgalatz radio, a pop music station here operated by Israeli Defense Forces Radio. 

The song I here over and over again a ka-jillion times every day is called אביב גפן ושרון ליפשיץ – נוסטלגיה  Obviously I have no idea what the title is or much less the lyrics, but I put it below so you can hear it.  It’s not so bad the first thousand or so times:  (if I hear it one more time I might scream or go pyscho)  [audio:http://simplefollower.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Israeli_Song.mp3]

While we’re speaking of Differences, let’s talk food.  First, the food here is good, don’t get me wrong.  I like tomatoes and cucumbers, I really do.  Here at the Kibbutz I have them for part of every meal (breakfast, lunch, and supper).

At first I thought tomatoes and cucumbers were a Nir Oz thing, then I went out in the “Real World” like Tel Aviv and guess what every market sells?  Yep, tomatoes and cucumbers.  But that’s fine for me because I love tomatoes and cucumbers.  Here they frequently put them in pita bread with humus and falafel.  But I (being American) think “sandwiches.”  I put my tomatoes and cucumbers on my egg sandwich (in the morning), my chicken sandwich (at lunch), and my tuna sandwich (at supper). 

Ok, enough differences, I’m going to bed.