Driving In Israel 101

Hi all,

 

Before I address the issue at hand (or at least the issue in the title), I have to share one thing.  In fact, before i do that, I want to mention that if you go to the blog Ross included a link to our picture and an article about us in the Israeli newspaper Mekor Rishon.  It appeared within the week we got here.  It made us a little famous-- lots of people saying-- hey aren't you the family that was in the paper?! 

 

now back to tangent #1:

 

We gave someone from the kibbutz a ride down the mountain.  We were talking about all kinds of things.  Ross was saying how amazing the community is.  He said it is so diverse.  Then he corrected himself and said that considering that everyone is modern orthodox and zionist, it is very diverse.  the guy added "...who are all teachers and social workers."  We all laughed.  Then the guy said that he just read that there is someone on the kibbutz who is a teacher with a masters in social work.  I said that's what I am, and we realized it was from the blurb in the newsletter welcoming us.  Then we all had a big laugh at my expense!  : )

 

Now then-- scroll op to remind yourself what is the subject of this update....  I'll wait.... 

 

Our comedian friend Yisrael Campbell laughs about the fact that Israelis have to have 25 driving lessons in order to get their license.  He jokes, "What are they teaching them?!  Lesson 17-- driving on the sidewalk...."

 

So when you make aliyah, you can drive with your foreign license for a time, but you need to get an israeli license (within a year?)  Besides that, if you want to buy a new car, you need an israeli license.  So Ross has begun the process (I have begun too, but I haven't done the go to Haifa part yet.  Or the doctor's exam for that matter.  In fact, I have just gone for the eye exam).  Anyway, to get an Israeli license, you need to go for at least one driving lesson.  The best part-- at the end of your lesson, the guy who you are paying for the lesson determines whether or not you need to come back again and hire him for more lessons.  It's just awesome how they get away with that! 

 

So Ross went for his lesson (I was with him).  The teacher kept going on and on about what a great driver he was.  But he has to learn to signal left every time he is jutting over into the next lane because of parked cars, and if he passes a garbage truck, he has to look in his side mirror to see if the garbage truck came at that moment and is trying to pass him.   And when turning onto the ONLY one-way street in beit Shean he needs to turn onto the left side of the road and not the right side to show he knows it is a one-way street.  When he looks to the left, he has to move his head with his eyes to demostrate to the teacher that he is in fact looking left, even if this takes his entire line of vision off the road.  And he has to look in the rearview mirror every time he breaks so he can watch the guy behind him smash into him.  And he will need at least 2 more lessons to brush up on these rules.  Oh, and I forgot to mention what the teacher calls "the circle of tears."  It is a "circle," except it has a couple of yield signs IN THE CIRCLE to give the right of way to oncoming traffic!  It is the most dangerous thing since they started letting cars into the old city!

 

Anyway, there's more to tell, but I'm tired, so I'll end there for now, sticking (sort of) to the topic.  I feel like there's a lot more, but tomorrow is another day (at least for another half an hour....)

 

G'nite/morning,

 

Love,

 

em