Upon landing at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was ready at all what the media has served in recent decades - the army, police, guns, panicked faces and constant fear of the next bombing - and then came the shock.
stereotypes
Nobody looked at askance by holding your finger on the trigger and watched my every move to determine if I was a potential threat, the atmosphere was actually incredibly pleasant and cheerful, just like the time I was in this morning waited.
Okay, maybe you just do not notice the subtle methods of control and security that are all around me because I'm new, certainly everything will become more apparent when I come to the city and the hotel.
As we passed through the streets of Tel Aviv, the sun slowly quilted on the horizon facilitating me a closer look what is happening around him. The streets were quiet, serene, there was no sign of armed soldiers, a big disappointment was the lack of, and any indication that I was in the heart of one of najmilitarizovanijih countries in the world which is often targeted by suicide bombers.
Nothing. Even at the hotel. The only reminder of the potential danger represented a security officer who was armed with a walkie-talkie and a pistol.Of course, here and there I passed by armed men in civilian clothes, and as we discussed - it was soldiers on leave who rules do not allow to part with weapons.
The rest of the day was no better. I encountered only the smiling faces and the peace of mind of residents and the beautiful streets of this city. However, I am not allowed to take her guard, the head as we continue passing the images that we see regularly in the media at the mention of Israel.
Of course, there is always the danger that will happen something bad (like anywhere else in the world), but obviously for them it is not a burden and try to enjoy every day that is before them. And this is best seen during the bomb threat that was waiting for me when visiting Jerusalem. But again, despite the potential danger, it seemed as if people simply did not want to fall under the mass hysteria, but they just continued with their work, leaving special forces to solve a potential problem.
I still was not ready to surrender
And then I came to the beach. Beautiful beach that stretches along the entire town and which was full of people who just enjoy the weekend. Just as it did in any other city in the world. The sand was small, hot water, and beer too expensive.
For a moment I hoped that the prices could create some tension in this seemingly idyllic situation. Again, I was wrong.
All with whom I had the opportunity to talk did not have too much trouble with prices that are definitely 4-5 times more than in Belgrade, and well above average when it comes to European cities. They really had no problems, but then I began to notice something that I was seriously out of line, not to say shocked.
The pride and love for their country
It was all so surreal, like it was in a commercial, but the camera was not even for a cure. After a few days I realized that the Israelis really, really, proud of their country and what they are.
It seems to have been numerous torments they have gone through only united, like bricks, and the state has provided much needed mortar in order to maintain this house.
Each interview would be at some point turned to how all proud of their country, many of the people I spoke came from all over the world to raise their family in Israel. Something had just pulled out and left New York, London and Barcelona this world and went into a small sandy ground surrounded by hazards - and that they did not mind.
On the contrary, expression that accompanied the hymns betrayed nothing but sincere happiness and pride.
They were ready to fight to the last breath for what they have, and they did not mind, but it is much more than what we have, I mentioned the price right and ability to pay?
The central figure of each conversation quickly became states, and it rightfully.She was there to make sure that their dreams and aspirations become reality.She took care of law and order. She took care to all who wish to return to their homeland, they can do it in the easiest way possible. But that's not all, as I understand it, seriously took care that the quality of life of returnees remains almost identical to the one they had before arrival.
Here I was caught, it was for me to have a rather foreign concept - a country that helps people and a nation that is so proud of her in the same sentence, without mentioning the party and politics?
It seems that it is possible to be satisfied with the state
Then along came another important thing in the whole story - ecosystem. In our case would have any kind of system was quite OK, but here is something else entirely.
Many will surely get the right information to the importance that the military serve all citizens, men four years, and girls 2. It came to him that Israel is not only a state of its citizens, but also the state of professional soldiers. All who are in the last two years had the opportunity to wear a uniform in Serbia know very well what it's like suddenly interrupted life something quite meaningless at that point and even better that it seems once again return to civilian life.
This is not the case. The army is only the next logical step after high school.There actually begins the lives of many, because, to be there and how you position yourself in those estimates, there are great chances that you and the rest of my life to be like that. If you were a great programmer, or manager who is with 24 years directing military projects worth millions, you will continue to work for one of the big companies in this country or the world.
Bonus fact to which I arrived - one of the most important things you can have in your CV it is not Harvard or Cambridge, but the Israeli army. And are we confirmed these same developers and managers who have worked in the world - and again returned to their homeland.
What's the difference?
It seems that the state took care of everything and takes care of almost everything.
Um, but we have a state, and some of us are proud of it, here now I must again mention the party khm khm. But this sincere, and well supported, admiration desolate piece of land so far I have not had a chance to see.
What's the problem? And Serbia has a very similar number of people, and we had our own suffering, we wold, at least not in a direct sense of the word, and then I realized, no matter how hard you try to express the pride and find reasons to do that he proudly waved the wind, inevitably we come to the last item, which is the state.
And I knew that this same country waiting for his return, and all the problems that it creates rather than solves them. However, I was able to in a few days I see is really like to love my country wholeheartedly without hesitation and I hope that one day we will have the opportunity to do the same face we show to our guests - and ourselves.
