An ongoing list of the things that are staunchly different here.
- Cats. Everywhere.
- No squirrels or raccoons
- Israel is obsessed with Amy Winehouse. She’s on everywhere, all the time.
- Everyone has heard of Wisconsin… because of That ’70s Show.
- You have to ask for the check – a server will never just bring it.
- Electric bikes and scooters are super popular, and they’re everywhere – and one will likely run me over before my time here is done.
- Israelis don’t really jaywalk.
- Drivers are the most impatient here I’ve ever seen. At least now I’m so used to the honking that I can ignore it.
- Israelis have these genius tent-like things that they bring to the beach – easy to set up, lightweight, provide shade. I may need one.
- Omelettes are a big deal here. Every meal, it’s on the menu, usually in a sandwich.
- Israelis don’t know that there’s a difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero.
- Very few restaurants have fountain soda machines.
- People don’t apologize for bumping into you or say “excuse me.” If you say “slicha” (“excuse me” in Hebrew), it’s a dead giveaway that you’re not Israeli.
- You’re just expected to know which holidays mean closed stores and no running buses.
- Trying to dodge all of the dripping air conditioners when walking around is futile.
- Even though the drinking age is 18, many clubs and bars are 25+.
- Many businesses close and bus service stops from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.
- The work week is Sunday through Thursday. The big weekend night to go out is Thursday; Fridays are much quieter, and Saturday, though a night before a workday, is still another night many go out.
- Workdays often don’t start until 10am or later.
- The workplace is really casual.
- Tel Aviv is super dog-friendly – they’re in grocery stores, restaurants, even the office. And the dogs are generally extremely well-behaved, following their owners off the leash all around the city. The owners are less well-behaved and rarely pick up after the dogs, however.
Third of a Life Crisis 