My 14-year-old cousin Maya and I have always been close, even though she lives thousands of miles away in Israel. Fortunately, she comes to visit every year. I decided to interview her to see what our cultures have in common (or don’t) and to learn more about Israel, a place I have only visited a couple of times. I was surprised to learn about the things our cultures have in common, even though Israel and America are so far away from each other. We share the same values, like the importance of family. I was also surprised to learn how important the beach is to Israel, because Israel isn’t known for its beaches like, say, my hometown in California. I learned a lot from talking to Maya—maybe you will too.

Do the political problems going on in Israel affect you in any way? If so, how?
They do. We talk about them at school, and sometimes I get in a conversation about these problems with my friends. We all mostly agree, but when someone disagrees we don’t let it come between us. We’re never scared though, because we know the Israeli military is doing a good job and nothing bad will happen.

What do you do in your spare time?
I hang out with friends and family a lot, especially on summer vacation, and after school I do some homework. We also have a lot of parties on the beach. The beach is very important in Israel. On weekends, I bike ride to my best friend’s house because my neighborhood is very safe.

What are your feelings about joining the Israel Defense Forces when you turn 18?
When I come to L.A., everyone is always asking me, “Aren’t you scared for the army?” or “Wouldn’t you go to college instead if you had the chance?” and the answer is no. I know it’s strange but I’m actually excited for the army. I consider myself lucky that I get to serve my country and help Israel defend itself against its enemies, instead of staying at home and watching it on TV. It’s also very safe and I know that I’m well-protected. Plus, it’s a new experience; I will learn a lot in the army, like how to protect myself and also about independence and how to live in the company of others. So I can’t wait to go to the army.

What do you think are the differences between Israeli and American cultures?I think they’re similar because both have the same values; both cultures revolve around family and home, and both are motivated to protect their countries. I think Israeli kids go to parties more often, and the parties in Israel aren’t very fancy—they’re more about having fun at the beach. I think Israelis are also a little more athletic and go outdoors more often; I rarely stay at my house during the weekends. We also walk around more with friends because it’s a lot safer.

What do you think you’ll do after the army?
I will probably go to college, maybe in the U.S., because the universities are really good there, and it will be a good experience. After I get a degree, I will probably go back to Israel.

If a tourist visited Israel, where would you tell them to go?
Well, it depends what they’re looking for. If they want to go to Tel Aviv, they should go to the Nachlat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall or the White City, which is a very nice architectural building, or the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The Port of Haifa is also very pretty. If you like nature, there’s also the Red Canyon in Eilat for hiking. Also in Eilat is the Underwater Observatory Marine Park, which has a shark tank and aquarium. For kids, there’s Kings City or Amazing World, which are also in Eilat. You can also visit the Timna volcano. In Tel Aviv, an extremely good place to eat is Abu Hassan, a hummus joint. If you like pizza, there’s Pizza Fino. There are also good gelato places. Jerusalem is also an important city to visit. Israel is a great place to visit, so I [encourage] everyone to see it.

Arielle Soussan lives in Santa Monica, Calif. She has a younger sister and a kitten named Truffles, and she enjoys reading, writing and talking to her friends. She’s also a member of the JVibe Teen Advisory Board.