Israeli Woman Recounts Driving Fears After Returning Home
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
An Israeli woman describes her fear of driving after returning to Israel, contrasting the orderly traffic in Minsk with what she perceives as chaotic driving in Israel. Despite her resolve to learn, she witnessed disruptive driving behavior that reinforced her apprehension. She humorously concludes that while she is brave, mastering driving in Israel might take her a few more years.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- An Israeli woman expresses significant fear of driving in Israel after years away.
- She contrasts Minsk's orderly traffic with Israel's perceived chaotic driving habits.
- Construction and protests in Israel contribute to a sense of driving freedom.
- Witnessing disruptive driving behavior further increased her apprehension.
- She humorously suggests it may take her a few more years to learn to drive.
A woman who recently returned to Israel describes her intense fear of driving after years of relying on public transportation. She explains that her driver's license, a gift from a "concerned colonel" thousands of years ago, has remained unused, with her preferring to travel by metro and "imagine musicians." Her decision to finally learn to drive was made recently, and she initially attempted it in Minsk, Belarus, which she found to be a calm and orderly driving environment with clear rules and courteous drivers. She contrasts this with her experience in Israel, where she perceives a lack of strict traffic rules, with drivers often acting on instinct. She humorously depicts drivers stopping in the middle of highways to chat and notes the ongoing construction of tram tracks and frequent protest rallies, which she suggests offer some freedom for emotional expression.
Despite her apprehension, she resolved to overcome her fear and attempt to drive a car-sharing vehicle, repeating to herself, "I am brave, I am strong, I can make a circle around the clock tower." However, her resolve was tested when she witnessed an elderly woman parking an SUV on a bus stop curb, while an elderly gentleman unloaded wine from the trunk. The situation escalated with shouting between the woman, the gentleman, a bus driver, and passengers. The author concludes that while she is brave and strong, completing a driving circuit might take her a couple more years.