While turning into a strawberry...

I love Israel so much.
But since this is my blog, I get to use it for all my selfish purposes - including occasional venting sessions :-)
I had to pee so bad today walking down the street in Tel Aviv. I went into a hotel and the doorman stopped me. I told him I had to use the bathroom, and he said no. I was so taken aback, like please? He shook his head no. A little stunned, I continued down the street and went into a restaurant. May I please use the bathroom? No, the woman said flat out. I'm like, are you serious? At this point I almost started to cry; why will no one let me use their bathroom?! As panic is slowly setting in I continue down the street and go into a bar. I walk in and beg the barman to use the bathroom. Now he was the one taken aback - I don't know if it was more from seeing a girl like me in his bar in the middle of the afternoon, or the fact that I was pleading for a bathroom. Anyway he nodded in permission and I finally relaxed! Also it annoys me so much how some people here walk down the street. You'll be two people walking towards each other on the sidewalk, with plenty of room, and they'll just charge straight ahead right at you, and don't turn to the side until right before they'd be about to walk into you. I'm like, people, go right!! There is such a widespread tendency to be aggressive here, in everything. Everything is an argument. People here actually enjoy arguing. It so does not suit my personality. But I'm learning how to argue when I have to to get what I need. For example, the bank. The bank here is amateurs. No one actually knows what they're doing - sometimes I'm surprised this country functions as well as it does. I went back to the bank yesterday to pick up my long-awaited atm card. I had ordered it when I set up a bank account 3 weeks ago. Everything here takes a week, so when I went back a week later, they told me they had not put in an order for my atm card, so they would do it that day, and to come back in a week. (because who with a bank account would actually want an atm card? Such an unusual request). So of course when I go back a week later, they tell me no one ordered an atm card for me. This has continued week by week until yesterday I had a fit and threatened them if I come back in a week and they still don't have an atm card for me - there will be trouble. But the thing is, there's nothing you can really do. Loving Israel requires laughing at Israel.
Now on to the latest delights of life here. I smile in the morning when I see the weather forecast: "abundant sunshine. 80 degrees." every day, hot and sunny. and its just getting hotter and hotter.. I love it. I had my first doctor's visit and the co-payment was 6 shekels. (approximately $1). wonderful. Also, I am dying over the strawberries here. I bought a kilo of strawberries for 5 shekels, went home and eagerly washed them, and just exclaimed to myself in delight as I stood alone in my kitchen eating them. They are the most delicious strawberries I've ever tasted -bursting with sweetness, lush and red and perfectly ripe. The smell emanates across the room. And the cherry tomatoes. I've never eaten cherry tomatoes the way I do here - they're better than candy. Perfect and fresh and sweet and crunchy - I could eat pounds of them. Speaking of pounds - burekas are going to be the death of me. I have allowed myself to indulge since I've been here, but I have to start seriously avoiding the burekas. An hour and a half of running might make up for one bureka. It's the worst.
Tonight in Tel Aviv is "Layla Lavan" - White Night - an annual tribute to "the white city" (tel aviv), and in honor of Tel Aviv's 100th birthday, celebrating with all-night parties and events throughout the city. Everything in the whole city is open all night. There will be music and performers and all kinds of festivities along Rothschild street, the street where I'm temporarily staying, so I've been told not to expect to sleep tonight before 6am or else to sleep elsewhere. It's going to be crazy!!!
Tomorrow morning I sign the lease on my new apartment, and I can't wait. June 1 is moving day.
On Sunday I take the Hebrew placement test to see which level Hebrew class I will be in. I'm ready to take it on!