If You Don't Like Airports You May Not Like Israel.

If anyone was worried about my safety you can rest assured I'm safe, very safe!!! I had prepared myself for the multitude of Israeli solders and their intimidating guns (since enlistment is compulsory.) However, I was not ready for all the other security procedures. Before you can enter any public space (shopping malls, grocery stores, etc) you must undergo a mandatory security search. Sometimes these can involve interrogations, walking through a metal detector, and X-Ray machines. But normally they just entail a big man with an Uzi looking through your bag... In this respect Israel feels very much like an airport

My first encounter with this was naturally unexpected and awkward… It was at a shady bus station. I started by wandering around the structure to avoid the scary man with a gun guarding the only perceivable entrance. Once I was confident that there was no way of evading the guard I waited to see if anyone else would enter; this of course did not happen. I cautiously approached the entrance pretending to be occupied with my cell phone. This is unimaginably difficult to do when your phone is turned off… My plan was to continue with my intriguing imaginary text message until I had somehow managed to slip past him… This was a horrible idea! One of my worst! If wandering around the building hadn't made me look shady, trying to sneak past security certainly did! …I walked to his left, he moved to meet me, I slid to the right, and boom! He was there!

In his deep dry voice he rambled something, doubtlessly very unpleasant, in Hebrew. "Slikha" (excuse me,) said I, in a meek voice. He repeated his barbarous utterance… After a long strand of "ummm, ahhhh, ahhh..." I told him I didn't speak Hebrew well. He grasped his Uzi with one hand and made a slight nod of his head in the direction of my backpack. I took off the pack. He motioned for me to open it… The next few moments which seemed an eternity were spent with him quarrying through my bags. By the end of his exploration a long line had formed. Humbled and dejected I meandered into the station. My only consolation was that my deep blush from embarrassment was masked by hot and sun-kissed cheeks. It was a sad day!

Here's the security to get into the University: