10 SHEKELS FOR A SMILE

Watching a rushing mob of people push and shove, as they cram themselves onto the bus, as the driver peals away from the curb, hardly looking at the oncoming traffic, and completely unsympathetic to the old women, who is yet to find her seat, and has nearly fallen onto her face... and it is easy to forget, that this is one really accomplished and civilized country.

Some things you might not know.

-Israel has the highest per-capita percentage of computers in the home.

-Outside the United States, Microsoft and Cisco have only one research and development office each, and both are located in Israel.

-As a percentage of its population, Israel has the largest number of citizens with university degrees.

-The cell phone was invented here. (how's that for impacting the world?)

But standing in line, at the Dizengoff Center McDonalds I was blown away, by what can only be described as a true harbinger of cultural maturity.

Israel has a 10 Shekel Menu!

For the uninitiated let me explain. In 2003 McDonald introduced the dollar menu. It was a brilliant concept. It works like this. There you are, going to work or school, maybe you're shopping, or visiting a friend, and you see the golden arches. "I already ate lunch," you think. "But wait a second, whats this in my pocket? Some change. 6 dimes, 5 quarters and 3 nickels. Well that mine as well be 2 apple pies, with bus fare to spare. Yeah."

Of course it isn't healthy. Your probably right, if your thinking, that the dollar menu is everything excessive and glutinous about the American life style. But you have to understand, I am talking about a cheeseburger for a dollar, and I haven't been in the United States for nearly two years, and I miss it, so lighten up!!

Anyway, 10 shekels isn't exactly a dollar (as I am writing this the dollar is worth 3.29 shekels, a depressing fact, which I will address in a later post) , and the McDonald's fries in Israel aren't exactly, you know...good, but that isn't the point. The fact is, 4 ice cream cones, for the change I have from the bus ride in the morning, makes me smile.

We are making progress.