How I'm slowly becoming Israeli...

By Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein
1. I seem to like middle eastern food much more now.  I buy fresh pita weekly and use that instead of bread.  I WAS eating a ton of sesame, until I concluded last night that I think I might be allergic to it.  But now I'm addicted to techina, chummus, halva, sesame seeds in everything. 

2. I don't get that bothered when someone honks at me while driving anymore.  Which is a daily, if not hourly occurrence when driving in this country.  If you dont' move your car the millisecond it's green (actually really you should be moving it BEFORE it's green), you get honked at.

3. I did not feel guilty when some woman helped me for five minutes at a store with some cheap $3 plastic baskets.  

4. I feel it's refreshing to just be more direct.  It truly is freeing.

5. My kids go around the neighborhood by themselves (to the ice cream stand, to the park etc.).  

6. My reflexes are so much sharper driving.

7. I don't sleep much. 

8. I drink a ridiculous amount of caffeine daily.

9. I wear a jacket or sweatshirt if the temperature is below 70 degrees.

10.  I whatsapp everyone, and am slightly perturbed at any american who doesn't have it, who I actually have to email (ahem, parents of mine....)

11. I have finally gotten used to Sundays being a workday.

12. I asked some stranger to help me back my car around some car parked right behind mine.  Again, little guilt.

13. I'm learning Krav Maga.

14. I've rekindled my love of olives on everything (my family hates olives, so for years, I repressed my urges).

15. I think I'm starting to think in shekels.  Actually, let's be honest. I just think in whatever amount helps me feel the best about the money I'm spending.  I have a "feel good" conversion rate of divide by 4.  And round.  Down.  :)

16. I definitely think in metric system for length now, and even....gasp....temperature!  Not quite there with kg.  I just know that I like my weight better in kg.

17. I do not wait to get help.  I ask for it.


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