Spending a year in Israel makes many a gap year student ask "the question": how can I not look like a tourist? From American accents and broken Hebrew to spending hours on Ben Yehuda and on the beaches of Tel Aviv, tourists in Israel tend to stick out like sore thumbs. Avoiding being "that tourist" for an entire year can seem like the most important hurdle to cross as quickly as possible; however, there are tons of perks to living like a tourist (at least for a little while).
Living like a tourist means seeing the sights. Just because you live in Jerusalem and aren't just visiting doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to the Kotel every now and then. Living in Tel Aviv doesn't mean it's dorky to go to the shuk. In fact, being in Israel gives you plenty of time to hit all the touristy spots, not just the top five. Go to the Israel Museum, shop at the shuk on a weekday afternoon, watch sunset over the Mediterranean, walk through the Bahai Gardens... the possibilities are endless! Don't be ashamed to go somewhere just because your friends went last summer or with their high school; the hopping spots around the country weren't only made for short-term visitors. So hit up those hopping spots and follow those fanny pack-clad foreigners to whatever fun your heart desires!
Living like a tourist also means playing a little bit of make-believe. You try to use the few words of the native language you heard once whenever you can, ken? Well, this is actually a really great way to practice your Hebrew! Whether you can name the salads you want on your falafel or if you can just point and say "zeh", use your Hebrew wherever you can. Who knows, maybe someone will teach you a new word or two! (True story: I learned that the word for mushrooms is pitriot because I always put them on my toast!)
Speaking of food, the one thing (some) (good) tourists do right is seeking out local food. While loads of gap year students flock to the kosher McDonalds or Pizza Hut, tourists know that their time is short and they need to try as much local cuisine as possible. Search for the local schwarma places, the Middle Eastern dining, and the local coffee shops (Aroma isn't the only coffee in the country!). Try something new at least once a day and you'll be well on your way to living like the best kind of tourist.
Being a tourist means having fun! It's about appreciating where you are and not taking anything for granted: not your morning commute, your grocery shopping, the language you hear on the streets, or the restaurants you visit every week. Take it all in, and live every day to the fullest...
just like a tourist.
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