Banks

Settling in isn't exactly the hardest thing to do in a country that is so different from your home. Being a soiled American I am used to customer service, especially when it comes to banking I am very used to getting what I want. Well today I decided was the day to open my account. I went down to the Bank Hapoalim on Jaffa st. in Jerusalem. First, I had to wait 30minutes when there was only 4 other people in line before me. The Chutzpah in Israel is great. At times it can be very overwhelming. However, for some reason I seem to enjoy it at this point in time (which could change overnight). When I finally sat down with a representative of the Bank we got down to business after 30 signatures (no joke), and two personal phone calls on the side of the representative of the bank (rude, but she was speaking to her bf or husband in English so obviously i knew where he was coming from) the opening of my Bank account was complete! YAY! So I handed her my shekels and my dollars and was informed of the good news. It is not her job to deposit shekels and dollars that i would need to get another ticket. So i recieved another ticket and went to the teller which only took 10minutes to deposit my shekels and then I was told I had to wait on another line to deposit my dollarim! So I waited for 30minutes with my E3 ticket number to find out that the lady wasn't there. Great, so i spoke to the hostess in the front of the bank who escorted me to someone who could help (after telling me that yes i am right, the bank here is crap and i should consider another bank, at least they are honest). So Micah a Teller informed me that they would be charging me 25dollars to deposit a certified cashiers check, crap. So i took it back and am now looking for different options. Afterwards, the lady next to him got into a big huff about the hostess escorting me upstairs to the tellers and was telling me how its not her job and she "demands" I tell her who brought me upstairs to get them in trouble. So, I looked at her and said "No one in this entire bank has been helpful to me other than that hostess who finally brought me here" turned my back thanked Micah for the help and walked out.

If I ever have a reader that is an Olim or even anyone for that matter, i would stay away from Bank Hapoalim on Jaffa St, Jerusalem.

Afterwards I decided to treat myself to McDonald's (greatest evil coorperation in the world) and got a yummy chicken sandwich. There were a lot of Asians there, I was a bit upset they spoke more Hebrew than I did. However, the meal was hard to get down because I am sick and jetlagged.

Following McDonald's I walked home (after getting lost for 15min walking the wrong direction). Just in time to see a man driving a truck hit my door! :( However, he was very polite and honest about the situation and is paying for all the repairs.

So Thus far today i have accomplished what I need to. I wish I had my dollarim deposited but that will be another day. As well as health insurance.