“When I was treated with courtesy
by a woman who worked for the Municipality office, I was
pleasantly surprised. I actually went home feeling good.
Up until now, my experience at government offices were always
full of stress and disappointment at the way I was treated.”
When I first moved here I knew that culturally, it was different
from America, but I had no idea to what extent. I loved
the open air markets and the camaraderie I felt with the people
of my new country, even the cab drivers! Everyone had
advice for me when they heard I was a new "olah" (a woman who
had just moved to Israel), and I loved practicing my Hebrew with
them.
But dealing with the government
offices was a nightmare, especially for a laid back American
from the Midwest. Why couldn't the men and women who
worked there help make the going a bit smoother? And I
knew it was a "thankless" job, but would it hurt them to throw a
smile in my direction? Having a pleasant attitude was free
and would make it so much more pleasant, considering all those
hours spent in their offices. It wasn't just them.
Even the people working in the Post Office seemed to be so stern
and unpleasant. Did I have to be a childhood friend or a
neighbor to get a smile and a pleasant attitude?
Apparently so! I soon realized that these behaviors were
prevalent in my new country and I had better find myself some
friends or neighbors who worked in some of these places, if I
wanted it to be a more bearable. But I wish it didn't have
to be this way!
M. Singer, Skokie,
Illinois
E-mail: 
