Why do they Yell?

I have always tried to figure out why Israelis get so upset when trying to communicate with Americans who don't speak a very good Hebrew. over the years I have developed a few theories which I would like to share with you now, as illustrated by the following story.

I was on the bus to Kever Rochel (Tomb of Rachel). As we were approaching, there was some announcement over the loudspeaker, but I was on the phone and not paying attention ( which I really need to do if I am to translate and understand an announcement). The way this particular bus line works is that the bus arrives around a quarter to the hour, and leaves the following half hour.  I, of course, did not know this. So as I got off, I asked the driver when he was leaving.

This immediately created a firestorm of hand waving, teeth gnashing, yelling, and general all around foul moodiness on the part of the driver. (The good thing about the Israelis is that when agitated, which is most of the time, they speak expressively with their hands, so I KNEW that he was annoyed that I had not followed the announcement, since he was gesticulating at the mic quite vehemently.)  So i told him, in English, of course, ": I know you made the announcement, but I didn't hear it, so when are you leaving?"

He begrudging, in Hebrew informed me that he was leaving at 11:30. I, of course, still being half asleep from the flight over, did not compute this fast enough or correctly, and asked him if that was 11:15.

I cannot begin to describe the ensuing eye rolling, general shouting and overall annoyance of this gentleman, who could have saved a lot of time and grief if he would have just said the time in English ( which I truly believe every can or should speak, just like on Mutiny on the Bounty).  Completely exasperated, he TYPED the time into the little change computer on the bus, and made me read it.

I politely thanked him, and made sure to be on the bus at 11:28, so as not to cause any more problems.

And got off two stops too early so as not to have to engage him again on the return trip.


So why do they yell?

Either

1)  because they like to, and it is the preferred form of communication in the Middle East ( this theory has some merit shared by others as well)

2) they are frustrated that Americans can't speak their language and feel that everyone should.

3) they are frustrated that they do not speak English and have to try to communicate with foreigners, which is not necessarily in their job description as bus driver.  Therefore they feel inadequate, which causes them to default to yelling ( see number (1) above) .

4) They are just grumpy people who don't feel like being helpful ( a trait shared by bus drivers here as well, at least for the Jewish bus companies, so it might be part of an international union thing)., and that is why they are bus drivers.

instead of working for the DMV.



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