Another typical Friday in Israel

As we walk out of class on Friday at 12 o’clock, my friends and I decide how we should spend our Friday afternoon. The die-hard hummus fan that I am, I convince my friends to come with me to Abu Hassen in Jaffa. On Eilat street we hit heavy traffic and head for the local route. Joseph and I end up getting lost and ask these two Rastafarian looking guys how to get there. Joseph pulls down his window and says, “Guys, how do we get to Abu Hassen”?. They tell us that they are going to Abu Hassen as well and we tell em’ to hop in. They end up being really active in the Israeli reggae and nightlife scene. I dropped Joseph and them off to stand on the line and I went to look for parking. Abu Hassen on Friday is a typical TLV thing to do and the lines get crazy. All of us are waiting on line for a bout 30 minutes and just schmooze.

Abu Hassen is owned by Arab-Israelis and is probably the best Hummus in Israel (one can argue Abu Gosh). The hummus is like heaven in your mouth. Its not too heavy like other places such in Raanana and has a great flavor. Everyone takes the Masbacha, which has warm chickpeas under the hummus. The place was so busy, people were about to kick people out of their chairs as they stopped eating and were just chatting. The “waiters” are on auto pilot and do whatever they want. We must have asked several times for drinks, but he didn’t even care. If Abu Hassen started reporting with the SEC, I wouldn’t be surprised for them to be a FORTUNE 500 company. Companies should go there and study their efficiency.

The guy then yells “Five!”. We quickly sit down with the 2 Rastafarians before others behind us trample us. We end up having a lovely meal with them speaking about past travels in Central America, the music scene in Israel, rent prices in Manhattan and comparing Hummus restaurants around the country.

My ordinary Friday once again turned into an exciting day in Israel. No one-day is identical to another in this crazy country. Life is exciting and never gets bored. The warmth and casualness of Israelis is of its own kind. At first glance, it might be a bit much but when you settle into the culture here, you begin to love it.