Israel, the only pancontinental country in the world

During my first visit(s) in Israel, I was kind of ready to label the place as one of those typical Mediterranean countries like Greece. There was a lot of text book material in Israel to draw this conclusion from and just to name a few...

• the ever-baffling equation of low salaries and high rents - how do (young) people get by...
• time: it's not uncommon to have lunch at 3-4pm, dinner at 10-11pm
• the free, small, thin and afterwards useless plastic bags at supermarkets
• public transport is overruled by cars, cars and more cars, and the traffic is probably where you're as a tourist most likely to get killed (not the rockets from Gaza or suicide bombers)
• and yes, don't walk anywhere, always take a car
• if people raise their voices, it doesn't necessarily mean there's an argument or a fight, they just are loud
• mothers have a genetic mutation which makes them unbelievably talented in the kitchen
• they make great wines
• and I don't really need to mention the climate.

So yeah, I was heavily starting to believe that the Mediterranean has some sort of substance in its water which evaporates in the air, making all the countries around it, including Israel chaotic and similar somehow. I mean, when you think about it, Spain, Italy and Greece are totally lost with their capability to handle money. On the other side of their shore are Tunis, Egypt etc. who have been in a turmoil and political imbalance for some time already. Not to mention Lebanon, Syria, Turkey. Israel falls under this category, whether it wants to be there or not. The only country who more or less has its act together in that region is actually France. The only reason must be that geographically France extents so much in the North so it is able to breath in some of that cool air to create sense, order and stability.

Photo borrowed from www.greenprophet.com

 (I hope that you readers are smart enough to sense the sarcastic tone of this text. As I don't know you, just wanted to be on the safe side and mention this at this point.)

Wikipedia says Israel is in Middle East, Madonna claims her Sticky and Sweet world tour ended in Israel, Asia. Some claim that the country does not even exist - depending on which source you have at hand. I was, however, based on my first conclusions, ready to label it Mediterranean, which would make it, well sort of European. Israel is participating in the Eurovision song contest, too and I remember someone rooting for Israel's membership in the European Union, as most people living there originate from Europe.

But was I right? On second thought, maybe not. When visiting the country again, and then again, I started to sense some North American tones in the air. I'm not talking about Nike and Coca Cola here (these could be categorized global nowadays) but it shouldn't come as a surprise that some extra American influence has landed in Israel. USA is good buddies with Israel after all.

Photo borrowed from www.tabletmag.com

I mean, take a look what's going on in the retail business in Israel: malls. Everyone does their shopping in huge, clean, state-of-the-art malls. With food courts, cinemas and the GAP. Old cute city centers are suffering in the shadow of these beautiful air conditioned architectural erections. Or how about that Mediterranean style traffic? On a second thought, everyone is driving an SUV, Jeep or any other monster truck that is sure to set you back with the gasoline budget. There must be more Buicks in Israel than in Europe, not to mention the unexplainable absence of the ultimate solution to congested, parking-handicapped busy Mediterranean cities: the Smart car. I did not see even one in Tel Aviv, although my logic was that this would be the car I would own if I was living there.

Another thing to add to this mix is the food and restaurants. Stingy Scandinavian restaurant owners will leave you hungry but in the land of plenty - both USA and Israel - your food portions will be huge and probably too large for you to handle. Tipping is common in some places in Europe but it is far more prominent in Israel, just like in the States. It is mandatory and if you leave too little, the waiter will run after you asking "what the hell". This would never happen at least in my precious Finland, and no need to add that I am a cheap tipper. Put the final price on the tag or the menu so I know what I'm getting, please. One more thing the US and Israel have in common that the society is a melting pot. The US has by now formed a strong national identity and culture (yes, I think the US has culture, you Euristocrats shush now), Israel is getting there but the fact remains that both countries are built on immigration.

So, there obviously are some factors that make Israel more American than most of the countries in Europe. I don't want to let you off that easy, though, since things never are so simple when it comes to Israel. There are some key American factors that are missing in that country. Despite the huge food portions, obesity isn't nearly as big a problem in Israel as it is in the US. So, it must be the famous healthy Mediterranean diet that keeps their weight normal? Also, in American companies' high school, Starbucks and Burger King would easily be voted "most likely to succeed". Nope, not so much in Israel. They prefer their own Aroma coffee, Moses burgers and maybe the kosher McDonald's on the side.

So, I am left a bit confused here. The country located in Europe, Asia or Middle East. The country that uses other than Latin alphabet (Hebrew, Arabic and Russian must be most popular), speaking at least a hundred languages and driving American cars with Mediterranean attitude, while eating a kosher American burger and sipping Israeli coffee. I guess this is something you get when you combine centuries of exile and diaspora around the world in a religion and these people cramming themselves together again in a tiny country, cooperating with the Americans and located in a bad crazy neighborhood. With all its beauty, complexity and flaws, a truly unique country in the world. This is what Israel is now.

Photo borrowed from www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk