A cross-cultural experience I had was when I went to Israel for the first time in the summer of 2014. It was a very meaningful trip to me as I was hoping to connect with my Jewish culture. I went with an organization called National Council of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), who took us around the country doing activities that were to get us to understand the land more.
We spent a large portion of time hiking. However, this was hiking I had never quite experienced before. The safety regulations in Israel are much more relaxed than they are in the United States. For example, we climbed along a small walkway with a deadly drop with no ropes or protection. When we did ziplining, it seemed like we were incredibly high up and there did not appear to …show more content…
I experienced this when I was walking down stairs and one step was completely missing and when I walked down the street and noticed a huge pothole. Coming from America, this seemed reckless and dangerous. What if someone sued the property owner or the city? However, unlike the United Sates, where it seems like people sue each other for everything and are often rewarded large sums for their discomfort, the culture in Israel is that of survival. In talking to some Israelis there, I learned that they have bigger worries than a pothole they can easily avoid or jump over. I was told that they learn to be careful. They have to be on the lookout for terrorists and other more serious dangers and people there rarely sue others for what they consider to be …show more content…
It allowed me to have a more open outlook on the world and understand that other cultures do not necessarily work the same way we do. The food is different, the language is different, some of the clothing is different and some of the attitudes are different and some of the behaviors are different. However, once I was able to accept the differences, some of which seemed significant, it was easier to see the even greater similarities of our major principles, such as love, faith and
We spent a large portion of time hiking. However, this was hiking I had never quite experienced before. The safety regulations in Israel are much more relaxed than they are in the United States. For example, we climbed along a small walkway with a deadly drop with no ropes or protection. When we did ziplining, it seemed like we were incredibly high up and there did not appear to …show more content…
I experienced this when I was walking down stairs and one step was completely missing and when I walked down the street and noticed a huge pothole. Coming from America, this seemed reckless and dangerous. What if someone sued the property owner or the city? However, unlike the United Sates, where it seems like people sue each other for everything and are often rewarded large sums for their discomfort, the culture in Israel is that of survival. In talking to some Israelis there, I learned that they have bigger worries than a pothole they can easily avoid or jump over. I was told that they learn to be careful. They have to be on the lookout for terrorists and other more serious dangers and people there rarely sue others for what they consider to be …show more content…
It allowed me to have a more open outlook on the world and understand that other cultures do not necessarily work the same way we do. The food is different, the language is different, some of the clothing is different and some of the attitudes are different and some of the behaviors are different. However, once I was able to accept the differences, some of which seemed significant, it was easier to see the even greater similarities of our major principles, such as love, faith and