I passed the written portion of the Israeli driving test today.
Finally!
This was my fourth attempt, and I feel very relieved to be done with it.
If you didn't read my earlier post on the subject, let me explain my frustration.
No real text book exists in English. What I got was a list of about 1,500 questions, and a corresponding answer sheet.
My efforts at studying were stymied by the fact that the questions were obscure and translated poorly from the Hebrew.
I found my self spending my well earned Shabbat afternoons memorizing facts about Israeli farm equipment procedures, in broken English.
However, now that I have passed the stupid test, it occurs to me, that an interesting aspect of Israeli culture is revealed in this experience.
The rules and laws of this country are extensive, detailed, widely known and understood. But ultimately, the laws are ineffective, because Israeli's all feel entitled to break the rules whenever they deem it appropriate.
So, it is necessary to pass a rigorous driving exam, in which every detail of Israeli traffic law is covered. And yet, when on the road, not a single person seems to be driving according to those rules.
They pass you on the right in their mopeds. They double park down narrow one way streets. They chase you down in the cross-walks forcing you to dive to the curb. And they honk, and honk, and honk.
After the test, my wife and I celebrated by taking a walk down Rothschild St. It was a stunning spring afternoon, and we stopped at one of the outdoor cafes to share a sandwich and drink coffee.
Next to us was a classic Israeli scene which really illustrates my point.
Hanging from a cigarette vending machine was a huge no smoking sign.
I started laughing and asked the waiter if smoking was allowed. He said that it wasn't.
He came back a minute later and put an ashtray on our table.
"Whats this?" I asked in Hebrew.
"You want to smoking," he said using his best English.
"I thought you said that smoking wasn't allowed."
"Its not", he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Are these laws or just suggestions?
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Matt
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6 comments:
Funny!
Mazel tov on the test.
Congratulations on passing the driving test!
I'm curious now--what are the Israeli laws regarding traffic circles and do Israeli drivers disregard those, too?
In Buffalo we have more traffic circles than any other city I know and virtually nobody gives the right of way to the person in the circle LOL.
It sounds like Israelis do indeed value the law but are also pragmatists and violate the laws within reason.
I'd probably laugh my head off at things like the situation at the restaurant and the ashtray.
BTW--thanks for the suggestion re hummus and pita bread. I'm going to try that this week.
I find myself exactly at the point you were at. I already went through my first failed test and I was so mad after this, that It literally took me a month to chill off of it. I came storming out of there, asking why, oh why, was that test so poorly translated and if it wasn't enough to have the pressure of actually doing that exam, I had to go through the ordeal of deciphering the questions while the clock was ticking away. I'm planning to try again this week and all I can wish for is some luck! Any thoughts on why there isn't an English manual? Mazel tov to you! :D
The tests are poorly translated in ANY language. It is impossible to study in spanish or in russian for example. The pics are inverted, etc. etc. I had the hope to pass the test in english...but now I am not sure..
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