Traffic Fun

The Language of the Horn, long since a lost art in the United States so consumed with road rage and distracted drivers, is alive and well in Israel. The drivers here seem particularly invested in getting from here to there with the fewest distractions as possible and with a great deal of focus, speed, agility and a bit of drama.   I saw some of this last February, but truth be told, we really didn’t have time to enjoy the subtleties of everyday life behind the wheel.  

I remember when I was learning to drive, the horn was not just for blaring along with a rude gesture and perhaps peppered with scintillating insults, questioning intelligence, driving skill, or perhaps paternity.  The horn was an elegant accessory, used to share information with other drivers, like, it’s your turn, or don’t back into me I’m right behind you.  A gentle tap, a mild reminder, big blares were saved for “HOLY MOLEY, STOP!!!”

In Israel, the horn is more than an accessory.  I’m passing you on the right, or the left, or move over because I am passing you and there isn't enough room to pass, or I’m coming around a blind corner and you need to know I’m coming (I actually like that one the best, it actually came in handy already) or I know you’re a bus but I can fit in that space and you can’t.   Today I saw an exchange that went something like: Beep. I see you’re indicating your intention to leave that parking space.  Beep: I’m still waiting, are you serious about leaving or are you toying with me?  Longer beep: Ok, I’m behind you waiting for the space you’re leaving. Double beep: Well? Sustained blare: Ok move it or lose it buddy.  I have no idea what the guy in the parking space with the active blinking light was thinking, but the waiting guy finally gave up.

And then there is the random, I just need to blow my horn because traffic hasn't moved for 15 minutes. I saw that one day as I walked to the office.  The light was red, there was no place to go, when the woman in the car I was walking past laid a good long blast on the traffic in front of her.  I had to look.  She was directly behind the car ahead of her and by that I mean there was no discernible distance between her and the next car.  That car was about a half car length from the car ahead and the next car was, a car length from the bus ahead of it. (Pretty much an unheard of waste of space)  As I turned back to resume my walk, she let loose with another blast.   I have no idea if she was frustrated? Late? Or offended by the space between cars, her face gave nothing away and there were no gestures. 

Oh and I can’t forget cab chatter.  Cab driving by the bus stop, small tap, implied, “Hey, need a cab?”  Slows down, longer but not long beep, “Really lady, you need a cab?” Slows to a crawl, another beep, driver tries to make eye contact, and perhaps calls out Taxi?

Driving is a cultural statement here. The honking and the waving, the gestures that I’m uncomfortable recognizing, the comments I only understand because of the body language and tone of voice, makes traffic watching a pretty enjoyable past time.   Maybe I just don’t get out in big city traffic enough.  I know NYC, Houston, LA, Boston and a host of other cities in the States have crazy driver cultures that are distinct to their local drivers, like Massachusetts drivers never look to the right or the left, they just move forward.

And for those of you who just can’t wait to get your horn on?  How about this for a little help?

Yes, there is a warning light before the green so you can beep BEFORE the green, letting those ahead know that, indeed, you have someplace you need to be and it is not here.

To be fair, I’ve not heard the sound of screeching  brakes though I’ve seen brakes used quite effectively, I haven’t seen an accident, although I’m sure there have been some, and I must say, the cars are in general, dent and scrape free, so the drivers are doing something right.  It would appear the keener focus, more attention to the actual driving, a good thing is after all.

I’ve driven in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Okinawa, Texas, Illinois, Florida, California, Nevada, and cross country several times. I drove competitively and have the trophies to prove my prowess behind the wheel.  But in Israel?  I think I’ll sit this one out, at least for a while.   

Oh wait, here’s my bus!

It’s all coming clear(er)!

St Andrew's 

On Friday, I had the time to do a little exploring and managed to ride the Light Rail and the Bus with little or no anxiety.   I had learned the day before that the #34 bus not only took me directly to the new office from the bottom of my hill (not including the walk from the stop to the office which is also downhill), but that it took me past places I now recognize, some that I've visited, and right past the stop to visit St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Church of Scotland, (Presbyterian). A lovely place with a rich history, built to honor Scottish soldiers who died here during the First World War liberating the land from Turkish rule, ending the Ottoman Empire. 

 

 The church and guest house (The Scottie) were built on a hill overlooking the Old City, in fact, the walk to the Jaffa Gate, is about 10 minutes from the front door of the guest house, well, maybe 11.  I also learned that The Church of Scotland now in cooperation with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has an English Language school in Jaffa, the Tabeetha School which welcomes Christian, Jewish and Muslim children!  How about that?

The worship is traditional and comfortable, the congregation made up of foreign workers, locals and tourists, the Clerk of Session runs the show, and they have a fair trade gift shop which I plan to visit. I must admit I really miss worshipping with my family and home, and I REALLY miss playing my guitar and singing in the Praise Band, but for now, this seems right, I think I’ll go back!

http://www.standrewsjerusalem.org/english/  

http://tabeethaschool.org/english/

And the desert shall bloom! 

It’s not all glamorous!

 

The office for the schools, kind of the regional office, was in the midst of moving when I arrived which was ok, because it takes a day or two to get situated and months to figure out the bus system.  Okay, not months.  I’m actually feeling much better about my commuting skills. But there is something to the whole jet lag issue that takes just a bit of time to resolve.  As it turned out, the move didn’t happen as planned, some things are universal, so I started traveling to the old office to start helping the staff there. 

I’m helping where ever I can at the office with a variety of tasks that I feel well suited to including some editing, document updating, and entering donor information into a tracking and reporting program.  I'll also be working on the website and Facebook page, looking at the layout and the articles, updating and keeping up to date with the many activities at the schools and their associated communities.  Five growing schools with accompanying communities is a lot to keep up with, and so much goes on here that people should know about!   With that thought in mind, have you visited the Hand In Hand web site or Facebook Page?  If not, please do.  And please, Like and Share us on Facebook!  Little Hand in Hand should not be a well-kept secret!

I am still expecting to spend more time at the school, the thought is that I can work with the English teacher.  I can do that, I know English.  

And the new office location?  requires I take only one bus.  I like that.  It’s way more fun enjoying the view not stressing over my transfer point.  Today, Friday, I actually braved the light rail and the bus system.  I did a little shopping and found St. Andrews Scottish Presbyterian church (more on that later) where I plan to worship on Sunday.  So, the bus system isn’t as bad as it would like me to think. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-in-Hand-Center-for-Jewish-Arab-Education-in-Israel/132094370146131

http://www.handinhandk12.org/

Yes, it’s complicated.

I have not yet mastered the bus system, not even close.  I mostly know when to get off a specific bus at a specific spot to transfer to another specific bus, if I don’t miss the stop.  It’s complicated.  What isn't complicated is what I saw at the opening ceremonies of the Jerusalem Hand in Hand School on Monday. 

Pure joy. 

About 600 kids and their teachers, happy to be back together after what no one could deny, was a summer full of potential to tear Arab/Jewish friendships apart.  Children and adults laughing, singing, and introducing each other, ready to deal with life where they live it.  Little hands speaking to the world.  The world will tell you it can’t work, but apparently it can.   

I peeked into classes and saw kids.  Happy kids, getting back into the routine of school and lessons and being told what to do, by not one, but two teachers.  Two teachers who work as a team teaching in Arabic and Hebrew, teaching by example that we can work together, if we choose to.

And yet, this is a real place steeped in the reality that is Israel.  They don’t pretend the summer didn't happen, or that things will suddenly become easy, or that there will never be disputes or hard feelings. These students, and teachers, and families know their reality but are committed to the path of peace, committed to communicating and trying to understand each other, and learning ways to discuss the hard things in life effectively. Communication, I like that.  It’s a skill that is fast fading in the world, where it’s all about me and my needs or us versus them, and people telling us what we should think.

Will there be, along with the happiness, frustration and hard work? No question.  Even when we like the people we go to school with, there is still math.  Really folks, just thinking about math brings tears to my eyes. While school isn't all math, life is full of challenges.  If we don’t learn how to deal with them in a constructive way, they will pull us down and leave us empty.

So look out bus system, first you, then the light rail.  If Hand in Hand can help grow healthy communities with a better future for children and their families, I can manage a bunch of bus routes.