Before I left for Israel, my peers at school had many questions. “Are Israelis very different from Americans?” “What is the culture like there?” “Do you think you’ll fit in?” Since I have been here, I have discovered that there are indeed many differences between Israelis and Americans. An obvious difference is the way Israelis drive. In America, you have to follow the traffic laws. If you don’t, you could get pulled over and/or given a ticket. In Israel however, the people here seem to have no regard for the laws of traffic. It also doesn’t help that none of the lights are synced. For example, the other day when I was walking to get falafel, there was a traffic jam on the road beside me. Instead of the driver waiting a few minutes to get around the lane, he decided to just drive up onto the sidewalk and drive up the street until he reached the light. When people park here, they park half on the curb instead of on the street, and if someone is on a motorcycle, they just tend to ignore the traffic laws all together. Another difference I have noticed between Israelis and Americans is that Israelis tend to be a lot tougher (in many ways) than Americans. In Israel, almost everyone goes into the army right after high school. This leads to a tougher mentality than many other countries would have. This makes them more blunt (which I tend to appreciate) but also increasingly brave. They don’t sweat the small stuff and instead look at the bigger picture. Things that might be considered more challenging for Americans, such as crawling uphill on your stomachs in a cave three feet above the ground is a happy trail to Israelis. Israelis also have different priorities than Americans do. In Israel, fashion is important (most Israelis are very fashionable people), but practicality comes first. In fact, practicality is the fashion. Blundstone boots are very popular here not because they are “cute,” but because they are extremely well made shoes able to be worn in any weather. On Shabbat, it is more common to see Israeli women walking in shoes with good traction and support than it is to see someone walking around in pumps. The biggest difference I have noticed between Israelis and Americans however, is in their authenticity. In America, you always hear about “fake” people. Carbon copies of each other in personality and trend. In Israel, that is not common. The reason it is so interesting to talk to Israelis is because in Israel no one is trying to be someone else. Everyone is their own unique person. It is a breath of fresh air to talk to someone who is truly themselves and not just trying to embody a trend. Overall, Israel is very different to America, but neither is better than the other. I think I have really assimilated into the Israeli way of life since coming here, and I am very much enjoying it.