Here are some experiences from Mishpachat Barr, olim chadashim from Baltimore to Kochav Yaakov.

1. At the end of our drivers test we were given a bracha by the examiner that we should be safe and enjoy our new car and lives in Israel
2. Normally the alarm is set for 6:05 AM, this morning I set it for 6 and was awoken by pre-news Kriyat Shema shel boker, followed by the date in Hebrew and English and a remider to count the Omer- not a religious station!
3. We signed up for a cell phone package today: the Orange “Shabbat” Plan, which gives us free week-night minutes instead of weekends!
4. The bathroom in the central bus station has a washing cup attached to the sink.
5. The construction crew working on our corner (putting in another playground) have tzitsit over their American-like undershirts.
6. The bureaucrat at the Ministry of Health told me I could come back during her break and she would help me fill out the Hebrew forms!
7. We got 2 pounds of sweet and juicy strawberries in Machane Yehuda for $1- because they are going out of season :-).
8. I spotted a group of soldiers with camouflage tzitsit beged
9. When I got home from the shuk, I cooked our fresh meats in an oven with a Hechsher stamped on it- and when bentching after my burger meant it when I said “on THE land and on its food”.
10. I’m logging out of my e-mail to catch the Taymani Mincha!

If anyone else has some “Only in Israel” experiences to share, please let me know. It brings a lot of chizuk to those of us still stuck in chutz l’aretz.