It can be surprisingly difficult to discern actual cultural differences between two nations that are as surprisingly similar as Israel and the United States. Before I left, I heard that the one cultural difference that I might encounter would be the direct, straightforward nature of the Israeli people. Up to this point, I have encountered more references to the stereotype than I have found the actual stereotype. However, today I realized that maybe I have been confronting Israeli directness all along.

Today started out as a normal day. We went out for a late dinner last night with the other Red Cross representatives in Israel, so I was not very happy when my alarm went off at 5:30am. Nonetheless, I recognized my obligation to MDA, so I dragged myself into the station. Happily I was placed on an ambulance with Katherine and we had two rather straightforward calls—an older woman with stomach pains and an elderly man who was slipping in and out of consciousness (we took the former to the hospital and we called a mobile ICU unit to care for the latter). Then we headed back to the station.

At the station, we waited for about five minutes and our ambulance was called again. As we headed to the door another girl started speaking to Katherine and me in Hebrew. Katherine slipped out the door, but the girl then stood in the doorway, blocking my exit. A nearby volunteer translated her words for me; I needed to stay at the station because she was taking my spot on the ambulance. Before I knew what had happened, my ambulance was gone, and I was stuck at the station.

I was not very happy. I had woken up at 5:30am to be on time for my shift, and I deserved my spot. I stayed at the station for about 2 ½ hours, planning to replace the girl as soon as the ambulance returned. However, the ambulance did not return to the station all afternoon, so eventually I left.

Growing up in the United States (and Oregon nonetheless), I was raised to value politeness. I say pleases and thank you, I ask permission when necessary, and I try to avoid a dictatorial style in my speech. This does not go over so well in Israel all the time. Many Israelis are much more direct about what they want, and they avoid the pleasantries. After several hours of reflection, I realized that I just should have told the girl, politely yet firmly, that I was staying on the ambulance. Although I will never get back that afternoon on the ambulance, I have learned a valuable lesson that will help me through my remaining time in Israel, and probably the rest of my life.