What Do You Understand by Culture Shock?

Back on 2009 I had the opportunity to visit some friends from college who are living in Israel. Once landed in Ben Gurion airport in Tel-aviv my first impression was a that I arrived to a very westernized and modern city. I found the city very interesting due to its multiculturalism. People from every corner of the world from Argentina to Ethiopia moved by the right that grants them the State for belonging to a particular religion. This mixed of cultures and tradition makes the atmosphere of the city very appeling especially for youngsters. However, the reality in several parts in the rest of country is far different from what you experience in that cosmopolitan and touristic area.

During my visit to the old-city in Jerusalem, I found that my local friends were scared of actually walking into certain places within the old city that I actually perceived as a very touristic spot. They were scared of being kidnapped by Islamic terrorists. And this scenario kept repeating in certain areas of the different cities we visited. So I found myself that I am not particularly a religious person being practically banned to visit some neighborhoods because it was not safe to a person that could look Jewish even though I am not.

However, one day during a visit to the gaza strip I decided to visit one of those Muslim neighborhoods without the company of my Jewish friends. For the first time in my life I felt excluded, not welcomed and very unsafe. After a couple of blocks I decided to go back. Even though at the moment I felt quite frustrated at the end of my trip I realized the complexity of the conflict the country is going trough. It is impossible for me even now to take a position in favour of one side. The all have their reasons and is incredible how these groups that conforms the society that take life within the borders of the Israeli state have manage to live after centuries of a conflict that from my point of view will take long to solve.