I’ve thought of starting a thread: Unbelievable driving in Thailand.
But world travelers tell me Thai drivers are almost staid and sober compared with those in some other countries (mentioning Egypt, IIRC).
Football typically means soccer but also means gaelic football. Context is king. In the right context football will of course mean gaelic football, typically, no context given, it means soccer.
Thanks man. OK another question if that’s ok. Do many non-Jewish westerners emigrate to Israel? It’s something I’ve had vague notions about before but is it even possible?
Question for An Gadai (or any other Irish posters) - how is history taught in Irish schools?
There was an extended period when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. Do the Irish people consider the events of UK history during that period to be part of their national history? For example, do the Irish people say that “We won the Battle of Trafalgar” or do they say “The United Kingdom won the Battle of Trafalgar”?
In my experience, UK battles like Trafalgar aren’t taught are our own victories in the curriculum. Much of the Irish history I was taught was medieval and then the modern era struggles against British rule. I actually work in a schoolbook store so can check the textbooks in the next few days to see what they contain. But generally speaking those British victories when all of Ireland was a part of the UK don’t seem to be covered in schools in the Republic of Ireland. It may well be different in Northern Ireland.
I have met a lot of Israeli backpackers in France and Belgium. Is that a popular destination?
Anyway, time for my stupid question: how is Canada viewed in Israel? I’d imagine that we’re pretty much under the radar, and not thought of much at all.
Do settlers have to pay property taxes? inspired from this npr article
Alessan, how religious is Israel? I mean, a good bulk of Americans don’t habitually go to worship, and many don’t even consider themselves religious. Being in the Holy Land and all, and with holy war constantly nipping at the heels of Israel, do a greater portion of Israelis identify themselves as “devoutly religious” compared to, say, North America or Western Europe?
Please let me know if my question wasn’t confusing enough.
Schnitzel with hummus in a baguette? That sounds completely delicious!
Israeli question: I’d like to take my kids to Israel someday (they are being raised as Jews) however, my husband and I are atheist and I was raised Christian. My kid’s grandfather is Jewish (reform) and takes them to the temple every week.
I “get” that having a formerly-Christian and non-Jewish mother is a big hindrance to being considered Jewish by some (most?) Jews, but what would the typical reaction be from regular folks?
Rude? Amused? Uninterested? Offended?
How do Israelis like American tourists in general?
Insects are commonly eaten, and not just in rural areas. Water bugs, scorpions, bee larvae, silkworms, and ants are all considered delicacies.
There are loads of etiquette rules regarding food and eating, and a few isolated taboos for religious or other reasons, but in general pretty much anything goes.
Well, this particular Israeli drives the way he does because he learned to drive in Boston 
In many ways, it’s fair to say that Hummus is the “condiment of choice” in Israel, often popping up wherever an American might expect ketchup.
(But if you try the reverse and experiment with ketchup on falafel… well, I won’t even have to come after you, you’ll be miserable enough as it is!)
To some other questions asked re: Israel:
-
to Sarabellum1976 (and others wondering about non-Jews in Israel, in general) – certainly you’ll be warmly welcomed as tourists; it’s a lot more difficult to set up residence in Israel if you’re a non-Jew. Or more precisely, it’s about as difficult as in most Western nations (i.e., you’d need to start out on a work/student visa, eventually become a Permanent Resident, and maybe someday petition to become a citizen. Or just marry one…), but there’s a specific “short circuit” called the “Law of Return” that allows most Jews to be granted immediate (provisional) citizenship in Israel by virtue of moving here – although a Jew won’t remain a citizen by coming here, declaring intent to live here, going through the motions and then promptly leaving the country.
-
About tourism destinations: There are some idiosyncratic destinations some Israelis frequent, mostly those either related to Jewish Religious sites (e.g., ancient synagogues) or cities that use to have / still have a significant “Jewish” history. A case in point is Umanin Ukraine. Former Ghettos and Concentration Camps are also frequented, for those with a more somber bent.
Also, Israelis are more likely than most to look for off-the-beaten-track experiences, even if they’re not 20-something wilderness backpackers. -
About how religious Israel is… Well, on average, I’d say more than most of Western Europe, less than the US. But it varies hugely in different parts of the country – despite its tiny size, trying to ask something about “Israelis” in general is roughly like asking about “Americans,” not taking into account the differences between NYC, Atlanta, San Fransico, the rural South and a small town in Idaho. E.g., Jerusalem has a huge percentage of religious population, while Tel Aviv may be one of the most a-religious cities in the West. And they’re 40 miles apart.
Oh, dear. I think I am glad that you are not driving on the same continent as I am.
Are rural Israelis more or less likely to be religious than urban Israelis, the way there’s a rural-urban divide in such things in the US?
Does stuff like rocket attacks and suicide bombings scare you?
I’m going to be in the US for two weeks this summer. You have been warned…
(Seriously, I don’t think I’m a poor driver. I did learn to drive in the Boston suburbs though, and the joke was just too good to pass up! :D)
Yes, rural Israelis are more likely to be religious – with the caveat that *Kibbutzim *are more likely than average to be non-religous, sometimed extremely and ideologically so, and some cities having really large religious areas (Jerusalem, Bnei-Braq, Beit-Shemesh and Safed being a few examples.)
Suicide Bombings are mostly A Thing of the Past, at this point, so not really. Rocket attacks, moreso, although (except for a month during the Second Lebanon War) they are mostly restricted to the part of Southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. Of course this includes Beer-Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon…
In any case, even for those times and places where either danger is relevant, it’s more “concerns” than “scares.” Sort of like living on Tornado Alley or in an earthquake-prone area – You know it can happen, it’s always in the back of your mind, but you try your damnest to live your life as usual while you can.
Formally “football” only refers to soccer here, that’s how ABC sportscasts use it for instance. “Footie” usually means AFL (Aussie rules) in Victoria, S.A. and Tasmania, and League in NSW and Qld, but the two rugby codes would usually be distinguished by calling them Union or League (aka NRL).
The “Football means lots of sports” things is annoying for journalists, too - is the Jabberwocky United Football Club a soccer, rugby, league, or AFL club? It could be any of them, so you’ll often see the specific sport mentioned in the first paragraph or so of the story just to eliminate some of the confusion.
If the Swedish ones are like the UK ones (and I assume they are, in these days of EU harmonisation) then they don’t.
The only personal info printed on the passport is:
Surname
Given name(s)
Nationality
Date of birth
Sex
Place of birth
Signature
Along with the date of issue and expiry of the passport, and the place of issue.
Nothing on physical appearance at all (or occupation, which AFAIK hasn’t appeared on passports for decades, so it mystifies me when I read of people being described as “X occupation” on their passport).
The only thing about physical appearance in Swedish passports is height.
Really? I thought all EU passports had exactly the same details on the personal info page. It seems I’m wrong about that, as this French one lists eye colour, for example (although it is a diplomatic passport, if that makes any difference).
I knew an Aussie who was the sports editor at The Nation English-language daily here in Bangkok. He’s in Cambodia now, but while still here he once used “soccer” to describe a game in Australia. That resulted in a blistering letter-to-the-editor decrying the creeping scourge of Americansims, I think from some Brit. My friend explaiend to me that he had gone ahead and used “soccer” because that’s what they called it in the particular location on Oz where it was played.
While “soccer” is the usual term in America, it’s not an Americanism. The British came up with it themselves.