Park This Way
There's an Israeli comedian that tells how in Israel you have to take twenty eight driving lessons before you can take your driving test to get your licence. His punch line is aptly delivered in a simple "Why?"
Our seventeen year old daughter has been working hard to pay for her own driving lessons of which she has so far completed half the required amount. She has also been studying the theory book in English and today I drove her to Hadera to take her theory test which she passed. Since I would be in Hadera with a few hours to spare I called my friend who is a police and traffic officer to meet for a coffee and a chat.
Hadera is Golans beat; he walks through the streets and is greeted by all with affection. Once there was a time where he handed out tickets and fines, but now many years on he knows everyone and they all know him. He no longer hands out fines but rather warm greetings and small reminders for all to be on their best. He agreed to meet me outside the driving school a block away from the centre of the small city and as I pulled up outside he was there to greet us.
On the way Tay had read out loud from her theory book and I had tried to explain the logic behind the answers to her questions. I was curious when she came to the question about parking on the opposite side of a two way street. Can one park on the left side of a two way street facing the same direction? In Israel you drive on the right so the obvious answer would be no. Yet my husband had asked a booking officer that very question one day in Zichron as he rushed out of the American Pizza bar to save himself from getting a ticket. "Ze b'seder", he was told, in fact "b'seder gamor" (absolutely OK) by the cop. I was relieved to discover that indeed it was not absolutely OK, in fact it was absolutely illegal to park on the opposite side of a two way street facing the wrong way and explained to my daughter the seemingly obvious reasons why.
Yet lo and behold as I pulled up outside my daughters driving school, a parking spot appeared on the opposite side of the street and Golan proceeded to stop the oncoming traffic and directed me to park in the spot, facing the wrong way. Luckily a spot appeared on the right side of the road, and I was able to pull in facing the right way, saving myself the enormous stress of having to negotiate Israeli traffic down the narrow side streets of Hadera and the internal conflict of doing something completely illegal with the absolute blessings and guidance of the law itself.
I got out the car and gave Golan a big hug, grateful that at least in Hadera I was on the right side of the law, whatever side that was. "What's wrong with you Israeli's?" I asked him," how can you park on the wrong side of the road like that? And you, a cop right outside a driving school? "
"Here, I am the law" he said shrugging his shoulders ..."and this is Israel."
Our seventeen year old daughter has been working hard to pay for her own driving lessons of which she has so far completed half the required amount. She has also been studying the theory book in English and today I drove her to Hadera to take her theory test which she passed. Since I would be in Hadera with a few hours to spare I called my friend who is a police and traffic officer to meet for a coffee and a chat.
Hadera is Golans beat; he walks through the streets and is greeted by all with affection. Once there was a time where he handed out tickets and fines, but now many years on he knows everyone and they all know him. He no longer hands out fines but rather warm greetings and small reminders for all to be on their best. He agreed to meet me outside the driving school a block away from the centre of the small city and as I pulled up outside he was there to greet us.
On the way Tay had read out loud from her theory book and I had tried to explain the logic behind the answers to her questions. I was curious when she came to the question about parking on the opposite side of a two way street. Can one park on the left side of a two way street facing the same direction? In Israel you drive on the right so the obvious answer would be no. Yet my husband had asked a booking officer that very question one day in Zichron as he rushed out of the American Pizza bar to save himself from getting a ticket. "Ze b'seder", he was told, in fact "b'seder gamor" (absolutely OK) by the cop. I was relieved to discover that indeed it was not absolutely OK, in fact it was absolutely illegal to park on the opposite side of a two way street facing the wrong way and explained to my daughter the seemingly obvious reasons why.
Yet lo and behold as I pulled up outside my daughters driving school, a parking spot appeared on the opposite side of the street and Golan proceeded to stop the oncoming traffic and directed me to park in the spot, facing the wrong way. Luckily a spot appeared on the right side of the road, and I was able to pull in facing the right way, saving myself the enormous stress of having to negotiate Israeli traffic down the narrow side streets of Hadera and the internal conflict of doing something completely illegal with the absolute blessings and guidance of the law itself.
I got out the car and gave Golan a big hug, grateful that at least in Hadera I was on the right side of the law, whatever side that was. "What's wrong with you Israeli's?" I asked him," how can you park on the wrong side of the road like that? And you, a cop right outside a driving school? "
"Here, I am the law" he said shrugging his shoulders ..."and this is Israel."
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