My flight to Israel landed late at night. Tel Aviv Airport unfortunately has no Airport Hotels. So, I had to find my way to the Air BnB that I had booked in Tel Aviv. After a long day of traveling with no internet connection and a new language and new alphabet, using public transport proved to be quite difficult. I soon figured out that it is not possible to buy the bus ticket in the bus with cash, instead a Rav Kav card is required on which you can load money. So, there I was with my three pieces of luggage at night at the airports train station and no Shekels, which is the Israeli currency. Luckily, I found a very helpful, English-speaking person who explained the system to me and helped me to buy this Rav Kav card and to load money on it. He also told me which trains and busses to take, which was really very nice. Without any obligation this person helped me out of pure kindness. On my way to the Air BnB there where several other people who even asked me if I needed help and offered to carry my luggage or google the destination for me.
On the next day I took the bus to get to my actual destination, Jerusalem. When I entered the bus the bus driver immediately and abruptly started driving which resulted in me nearly falling with all my luggage because I had not had the opportunity to find a place to hold on to. At my destination the bus was really crowded and because the people in the bus didn’t move a centimeter the doors closed before I could get out of the bus. I shouted waved to the bus driver to reopen the door, but he didn’t hear me. The people next to me who before did not make space for me to get out of the bus suddenly started screaming to the bus driver. Because of that the doors were reopened, and I could get off at the right station.
This Situation in the bus happened to me several times now and I think it is the best way to describe the Israeli stubbornness. When I asked my Israeli friend about this, she explained to me that Israelis do not like to be told what they have to do, on the other hand when they do not have to do something, meaning they have a choice, they will gladly help, and one can always count on their support.
Since I am in Jerusalem among the people, I meet on daily basis are also a lot of Arabs. I had the chance to experience the Arab hospitality several times and it is overwhelming. I have never meet people so open and they will go beyond to ensure that their guests have the best time.
In general, the people here are very nice and more open than in northern Europe. It is way easier to connect and make friends here. I always felt very welcome and accepted.