Rainy Day Bus Ride

Recently we've had several of those cozy rainy days, just right for snuggling up with a good book and a cup of chai tea. But chores have called us outdoors into the drizzle.

It doesn't seem like people here are the least bit upset about the rain. If they are complaining, we don't know enough Hebrew to understand their gripes. (I don't think they are perturbed, though, because they are expressive enough without speaking! And even their non-verbal expressions do not communicate aggravation about the weather.) Since we arrived here, we have heard people say, "We need rain...and a lot of it." This is a country desperately reliant on winter's rainfall to get them through the hot, dry summer, since they have insufficient water supplies without it.

Today found us out in this weather, chilled to the bone but not minding it one bit. While waiting at a bus stop, just barely under its shelter, we engaged some schoolgirls in conversation. They asked us if we knew "Justin Somebody." I was clueless but Bill was rescued since he had just seen an article about "Justin Somebody" on the Internet. (See, everyone once in a blue, blue moon that worthless time-consuming information comes in handy.) He must be a famous singer or movie star. One of the girls said, "I love him!" The girls all giggled. Switch the language and it could have been a conversation conducted in America.

A few minutes later, a mother walked by holding her son's hand as he reluctantly followed. He held his tongue out, hoping to catch some raindrops with it. We laughed; he was so cute. He reminded me of American children doing the same thing with falling snow.

Our bus arrived and we boarded. Whether it is getting a place on the bus to sit or stand, crossing the street, or shopping at the market, here in this country it is every man for himself. (The slogan "You snooze, you lose" comes to mind.)

It was interesting to watch as an elderly woman spoke to a younger woman, who immediately vacated her seat for her elder. That is a good example of not needing to speak much Hebrew to know what has been said!

We got off the bus, asked directions to our destination, walked quite a ways, got slightly lost, asked directions again, walked back the way we came, found our destination, accomplished our task, and headed back to the bus stop.

As we waited about 20 minutes, a young mother with four small children - one of them in a stroller - walked by. She was wet from head to toe but smiling. One of the little boys took advantage of the rain and splashed his feet in a puddle. It did not splash onto us, but I would not have minded if it had. After all, boys will be boys, no matter where they live!

Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of any of the great rainy-day events. (My camera is not deluge or even drizzle-proof.) But I was reminded of something important: People are the same no matter where you go. We may have language barriers and culture differences, but inside all of us are needs, hopes, dreams, and desires that are the same, regardless of our language, skin color, or lineage.