Many people who come to Israel have glorified expectations. They are inevitably surprised to find a normal, functioning environment which seems to be quite similar to their "home." People wake up, go to work, return home at night, and spend time with their families, just as others do back "home."
Some people expect Israel to be imbued with a tangible holiness. Observant visitors may expect every establishment in the Holy Land to follow the strictest Kashrut requirements. They are amazed to find Israelis who violate laws, regulations, or halachot. The holiness is there, of course, but things still look and feel the same.
Other people expect to find a burned-out heap. After all, CNN reports constant bombings and attacks, yet Israel does seem to look quite normal. Those bombings are cleaned up and removed quite rapidly.
Still others may expect to find a kibbutz on every corner, with Israeli hora dances that extend well into the night. They expect farmers to be busy turning the desert green, because that is what they were taught in Sunday School. Yet, people seem to act the same as they do abroad.
The results of these unrealistic perceptions of Israel are also different from the results of their preconceptions when visiting other countries. Their subsequent visits to France, England, or Russia on the way back from Israel often leave a blank in their minds. They happily accept whatever they see in those countries.
Visitors to Israel are different. They inevitably have memorable expectations that continue long after the trip is over.
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