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CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
WhyWeDo
the
ThingsWe Do
by
Ronald D. Kelly
National character and temperament reflect much of how we feel about each other.
Let's take a positive look at cultural differences and see how to respect them.
M
Y W l FE
and 1 a long
with our
1
0-year-old
daughter were wait–
ing for the number 4 bus on
King David Street in Jerusa–
lem.
lt
was the first week of our
stay, and we were still filled
with the excitement of being in
this historie city.
The already full bus pulled up
to our stop where nearly a score
more shoved their way on to the
bus. We were literall y pushed
aside. Our daughter began to cry,
fearing she would be separated
from us.
l t took a few days to get accus–
tomed to boarding Jerusalem's
buses.
A few days later,
J
waitcd out–
side one of thc ubiquitous banks
that dot every section of J erusa–
lem. T here were two pcople in
front of mc- about 20 o r 25
behind me. When the manager
opened the bank doors, the rush
was on. To transact business one
must take a number card and wait
his or her turn. Remember, 1 was
number three in line. By thc time
1 recovered from the surprising
onslaught, the number card l
drew was 18.
When
1
related these exaspcrat-
~
ing experiences to my friend Zvi
Dagan who manages the 1ntcrna-
~
tional Cultural Center for Youth
~
( ICCY) in Jerusalem, he smiled.
g
He adviscd me: "Whcn you
g
come to Israel, you must learn
~