I used to think I was an extrovert. Social situations give me energy. I like meeting new people, learning what makes them tick, and swapping stories about where we’ve had brunch. A slightly dramatized version of me at the grocery store used to sound like this: “I’m Kally, I like gardening and second-hand clothes. Who are you? I see you have tilapia in your cart – how do you make it? Mine always comes out bland…”

However, upon making aliyah, I quickly learned that I am actually exclusively Anglo-gregarious. In Hebrew, I am introverted to the point of aloofness. A completely undramatized version of me at the post office might sound like this: “Slicha, todah, I’m not entirely clear on what’s happening, but I’d really prefer it if you stop talking to me right this second.”

Acute onset aliyah-induced shyness is a challenge to navigate. I don’t want to come off as rude or standoffish, so I compensate by reflexively starting every exchange with both slicha (excuse me) and todah (thank you). The slicha-todah combo is remarkably adept at getting me through a wide variety of complicated social interactions. It allows me to appear kind without having to conjugate too many verbs or maneuver through the confounding masculine/feminine rules of grammar – which is really every immigrant’s dream.  

And yet, as more years of Israeli citizenship........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)