Highway lanes are optional.
Honking horns mean beware.
Many circles exist where multiple roads come togther, get used to it.
Water is cut off weekly for a few hours, still unknown why, but no big deal.
North Israel all signage is in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
South Israel all signage is in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and English.
Everything you get in the media is not everything.
If a woman is wearing dark red hair, Clairol in a box, she is most likely Russian, along with hundreds of other red haired women.
Little old ladies are little old ladies, regardless of language, most are sweet baboushkas insisting you should eat more. Some will push you around covering you with blankets on cold mornings.
Since so many people speak English, it is way too easy to ask them to do so, weakening your opportunity to learn Hebrew.
Tiv Tam, the Russian grocery store has brought pork into Israel, for those of you secretly not eating kosher.
The best foods from all these countries are here for your dining pleasure.
My favorite restaurant is Nafis, opened 24/7. Might I recommend the chicken and mushrooms on a bed of hummus. All plates can feed a family of four.
Take out food is referred to as "take away."
Most cars are white, bold colors not here.
Red and white stripes means no parking, period
Blue and white stripes means parking, but with a fee. Rumor has it there are small, unseen boxes low to the ground to purchase parking passes for your car for 5 shequelim. This is currently unconfirmed and we are still looking.
Parking is deceiptive, and tickets are always available for those unsure. And a rental bumper sticker is ideal for meter maids. They get commission on parking tickets.
Parking up on a curb is considered acceptible, just not recommended.
The lost skills and trades of our country still exist here in Israel.
Tourist and visitors often have bumper stickers on their backs, to verify lack of knowledge. It cannot be seen by the tourist or visitor, but evidently everyone else can see it and knows.
Cats are simply part of the food chain as scavengers.
Plants grow in places that make no sense, in a grove or all alone.
Places where plants should never survive, are being planted with great success.
Most electronics now-a-days handle the differences in currents from each country, only needing an adapter for plug differences. Read the tiny print on your laptop or phone.
There is nothing wrong with the water, we drink it all the time.
There is something wrong with our American diet, so when you arrive and eat the abundance of vegetables, and less processed food, your body system will reflect it.
Laundry is luxury. Too far away, and the possibility for shrinkage is great. Everyone does their own, mostly in the sink.
Bring a small rope or retractable clothes line. It is a great benefit to dry your clothes, beyond limited coat hangers.
There are too many places to visit and explore, and never enough time.
Always say Thank you, Todah. Appreciate the patiences for your lack of knowledge, your differences, and most likely some faux paux you have committed,that they have endured.
Find a bookstore, and seek the children's section or some cool magazine in Hebrew. View and find something so interesting that you regret not knowing your Hebrew better. Buy it and plan on translating it. I found one of a sheep who has wild and woolly hair and is refusing to cut it, and keeps trying different creative ways to display it, much to the dismay of the family. For those of you who know me, this one is worth translating for my enjoyment.
Plan on reading, alot. There is very limited TV.
There are radio stations where songs take turns from Hebrew to Justin Bieber to Hebrew to Jackson 5 (Ben) to Hebrew to Bob Dylan to Hebrew to John Mayer, and so forth. Variety.
While there are more choices in Caffe here, somehow Nescafe is still the instant coffee of choice, red mug version.
People push and squeeze, bump and shove all to get by and position themselves. It is never personal, a little uncomfortable, but quite interesting once you have tried it and no one cares.
In spite of my lack of conversational Hebrew, reading without vowels is becoming very comfortable, even if my vocabulary lacks the interpretation.
Sadly, Christmas looks as though all leftovers found their way here to Be'er Sheva, lining a few markets with gaudy tinsel, and freakish looking small santas that might serve better as lawn gnomes.
Be prepared to cook traditionally. Very limited processed or instant foods. Limited even in canned goods. Breads are about the only things available ready to go.
Windows are complicated in the beginnings with louvers, screens, and glass, but serve a great purpose once understood.
Learn to politely avert your eyes, windows are close by, doors left open, and people are close together.
If you are American, it is commonly believed you have money. Most often, compared to most, you do, whether you realize it or not.
Don't forget to tip!
When staying, you do not have to take back every single thing you have acquired. Leave your groceries, spare shequalim, clothes, etc. for those currently making Aliyah, or those who are in need.
Do not assume "our" way is the correct or better way.
Grab a pen pal, or consider an email to keep in touch with the land.
Appreciate what you have, consider what you can give up, and notice the things that really really matter and make a difference.
Share the beauty when you return stateside.
