“In America it’s so much easier to shower. The shower’s attached to the wall; you don’t hold it.
“In America air conditioning’s a necessity not a luxury. And it’s central air. And you hit a button before you leave the house to make sure the air conditioner or heater will be on before you get home.
“In America there’s so much meat The fruit and vegetables are huge — and it’s all soooo cheap.
“In America there’s Wal-Mart. And everything’s open till 4:00 a.m. And we have a supermarket every ten blocks.
“In America houses have pools attached to them and other people clean them. The biggest apartment in Israel is the smallest garage in America … all right not exactly a garage.]
“In America soup is an appetizer — not a meal.
“In America we have 1% milk skim milk 2% and whole delicious cheese great pizza hot dogs hamburgers deli … and there’s Taco Bell. I know it’s not kosher but …
“In America we drive everywhere. Cars are inexpensive — and there’s no 100% sales tax.
“In America everything’s cotton. We have plush towels thread-count sheets … Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number matresses — you push a button to choose how hard or soft you want them.
“In America kids grow up on TV and video games. We buy a new computer every six months.
“In America there’s built-in closets … and garbage disposals.
“In America no one freezes bread.”
Steve tastes the pomegranate. “In America the pomegranate’s red and full of juice. Here it’s pink and pale — but there’s nothing like it.
“In America … ” he begins again but already he catches himself. It has become a sort of joke. At one point he’s about to say something — and my husband says “In America…” Steve laughs hard. He’s caught he knows it and he appreciates how we make light of it.
I hadn’t realized how many differences there are how many traditions rules that we live with — until we’re asked to explain new ideas unfamiliar actions almost every minute.
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