Tel Aviv, Israel Report of what it's like to live there - 08/14/10
Personal Experiences from Tel Aviv, Israel
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
no, china, venezuela, bosnia, japan, cote d'ivore
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Tel Aviv. 12 Hours to USA via Frankfurt, or direct to Newark or Atlanta
3. How long have you lived here?
one year
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
government
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
It's apartment living for most, some houses. Infrastructure is poor for the most part. Apartments are small no closets, European-size appliances. Repair technicians skill level is moderate to low, usually simple repairs require many trips and visits before the issue is adequately resolved. Embassy families commute about an hour, they are looking at moving further out due to high housing costs.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Everything is probably double to quadruple the prices of the States. You will order most non-food items Amazon.com.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
More food items and staples. Amazon.com works well for anything else you need.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
It's mostly local fast food, falafel and humus pitas, pizza. Quite expensive however.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
A few ants, a few mosquitoes. Nothing worth being concerned over.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
APO generally. Mail to Israel is fast, to the States takes 2-4 weeks for some reason, seems to be a bottleneck with USPS in New York.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Readily available but fairly expensive. Fairly expensive, you can't hire anyone part time. Government requires you sponsor your help, pay insurance, pay for trips back home.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Not at the embassy. Local gyms are not up to par with the rest of the world, very basic. You can get a good workout, but don't expect muchbeyond that.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards and ATMs abound. High fees for using however.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
Probably not, everything would be in Hebrew.
6. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
Local cable TV providers are pretty basic, choices of channels are poor, many end up canceling after their contract is up and rely only on AFN, although the military ads drive you bonkers after a while.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
None
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
No thought to making the life of the disabled easy.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Can't ride a bus, but trains, taxis, and small commuter buses are fine and cheap.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Just like being in the US, any car is fine as long as you don't park on the street. Israelis have no respect for personal property. If you park on the street you car will be bumped and dinged. Routine way to exit a parking spot is to ram the car in front of you and back of you until you clear a space to get out. On the road, Israeli's drift from lane to lane aserting their dominance of the space about them.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes. Internet speeds and reliability is improving. Overall its a shock to many to find out Israel is really a third world country on all levels. However internet service is fine, about $30 a month.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Not really. Local contracts are easily obtained. Rates are comparable to USA.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
unknow
2. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
Seems to be good.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
No. Wages are low, jobs are difficult to find. Embassy tends to require qualifications for family member jobs that no one can meet. So difficult even there. They also pay very low wages.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Casual at the embassy.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
None, danger pay for the embassy folk has been reduced and will probably be reduced until it's gone. Tel Aviv is like living in any normal big city. Locals joke about the next war,but the level of concern is the same as sitting in your home county and watching a war in someone else's country on CNN.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
None. Basic health care is good. For anything major head back to your home country. Doctors here like to be called professors not doctors, quality of major operations reflects this. Dental work is primitive, cleanings are fine.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Air quality is good, certain times of the year there are dust storms, but most of the year is clear and quite humid.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Humid and warm in the summers 90-100 degrees. Winters are quite cool, but you only need a light jacket.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
None. Families seem happy with the schools.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Yes. Families seems to find lots for the kids to do.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
If you are not outgoing, you won't be happy here.
3. Morale among expats:
Good on average. You will be surprised however to find out how much you are on your own. There is no support community with the American Embassy. CLO is quite good at lip service, poor on delivery. You're on your own.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Good city for singles. Embassy personnel stay to themselves don't socialize much, you're on your own. But restaurants are good. If you live downtown, life is good. Families are isolated in the suburbs. Embassy has a REC center, but they never make much use of it, Americans are not a social bunch.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Unknown, but the gays I've known seem pretty happy here. It's a prejudiced society, so if you aren't Jewish or Caucasian it will be a difficult tour.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
If you are black or Asian, life will be difficult. This is not a tolerant society. Local people are quite tense. It spills over into our life. Embassy staff are tense and not customer service oriented. They enjoy making your life and their own difficult. Skill levels are low, so getting anything accomplished is quite a feat.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Hiking in the Negev desert, exploring Golan Heights, seeing Masada and Petra
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Roman ruins are pretty much piles of rocks. To see the sights go to Jordan or Egypt. Masada is interesting, Dead Sea on the Jordan side is great. Israeli side not so much. Religious sites and the beach are the place to be and see. Restaurants are quite good.
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Haven't seen any. TDYers search for days for something representative of the country to take home, usually they don't find anything.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Beach for the beachgoers, hiking in the desert, driving to Jordan, driving to Egypt, touring the Golan Heights, touring the dead sea and Galilee areas. Expensive to survive, you won't save money.
11. Can you save money?
No, quite the contrary
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
No. Because of the argumentative and Domineering nature of the Israelis, you burn out quickly and find yourself wishing you were somewhere else.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
ideas that this will be an interesting tour. It's just like everyday normal life in a big dirty US city. Hot, sweaty and not exotic at all.
3. But don't forget your:
bathing suit and your bicycle, bring a big lock.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
5. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
6. Do you have any other comments?
No matter how hard you try, it never gets any easier here. Simple life is made so complicated and issues never die in the Embassy. Everything develops a life of its own, it wears you down quickly from shopping to work, life is complicated here.
