What’s It Like To Be A Teenager in Israel?

If teenagers around the world think that their teenage lives are just what the doctor ordered, they are in for a big surprise. Because they have no idea what a fully-fledged teenage life really is. You may wonder what it’s like to be a teenager in Israel.

I was born and raised in the United States and at the age of fifteen my family moved to Israel. I have experienced life on both sides of the world, and I can proudly admit that life in Israel as a teenager is much more enjoyable and exhilarating than in the United States.

Teenagers in Israel are much more independent than other teenagers. Hiking trips are very popular in Israel and you can see teenagers travelling throughout the country by foot, bus and train. Because Israel is a magnificent place that has every kind of landscape in the world, such as beaches, plateaus, snowy mountains, deserts, forests and hot springs, and because it is such a small country (the size of New Jersey), teenagers are able to “cover” Israel during their teenage years.

Life in Israel is much less formal and more relaxed than in the United States. You’re surrounded by family and friends and there is never any reason to call before you drop by a friend’s house. People are much more hospitable and are always happy to see each other.

The fact that every teenager will serve in the army once he or she turns eighteen gives us a feeling of unity and responsibility to serve our country. We spend a lot of time thinking where we are going to serve in the army and which units we are most suited for. This decision is very important because most of the time our position in the army will influence our future career choices.

In a nutshell, Americans address a stranger with “Hey man!” – In Israel they call each other “brother” (achi). And this is the difference – in Israel we are all one big family!

Reprinted from Eye2Israel