- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,056
- 18,910
A while ago [MENTION=33104]Hezam[/MENTION] asked me to compile my experiences in the Middle East (where I have actually lived longer than in Japan). I remember we used to have a lot of heated ME-related discussions here on the forum, but somehow they completely melted away after several regulars had complained about the alleged flood of threads not related to Japan (the very same people who railed against anime and Jpop, too). ;-)
Sorry it took so long, Hezam. This is for you, and I'll keep it short.
The GOOD
First and foremost, hospitality. Never before or after have I experienced such generosity and kindness as among Arab people. As a guest of an Arab family you're certain to be spoiled and pampered, downright occupied and protected from harm, literally treated as a part of the family... or even better. That belief transpires throughout all social classes and seems to be a pillar of Arab society. Hospitality goes hand in hand with a sense of helpfulness that's unparalleled. If you run into problems - in particular as a foreigner - prepare for townsfolk gathering in droves, wildly engaged in debating the best way to help the stranger. The downside: if you're a lady you might find their help and their interpretation of protection quite obtrusive (non-Islamic females are often regarded as fair game).
The rich food: if you are into lamb, spices, tabouleh, fool beans, chickpeas, olive oil, cumin, rice, pita bread, goat cheese, whether it's the rustic food of Egypt or the elaborate delicacies of Lebanon, you'll enjoy culinary delights beyond imagination.
The culture, the history, the biblical landscape: whether you're an admirer of Lawrence of Arabia, a desert junkie or a history buff, wherever you set your foot thousands of years of history have actually taken place: Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Akkadians, Nubians, Phoenicians, Hittites, Medes, Persians, and countless others have left their mark on the region, even before Judaism, Christianity, and Islam shaped the ME. And let's not forget that it was the Arabs logicians who transmitted the classics of ancient Greek philosophy to Europe.
That abundance of cultural diversity is confusing yet fascinating.
The BAD (and sometimes UGLY)
- Hypocrisy: the strict rules of Islam and the resourcefulness used to circumvent them ("temporary" marriages, the gluttony in Ramadan, etc)
- the inability to discuss religious matters, the inability to have an open religious discourse without being branded as heathen or heretic
- the obvious lack of discipline (in traffic and in many other situations of daily life)
- fatalism: "insha'Allah" (God's will) abused as an excuse for sloth and apathy
- excessive emotionality and a propensity for drama (although I love it in Arabic music and old Egyptian movies)
That's all I can think of now, I shall expand that list if anything else comes to mind. This was scribbled in a bit of a hurry.
By the way, I found this account - written by an Arab-American girl - quite amusing:
25 Things I Hate about Arabs
Not to be taken too literal.
Hezam said:
Sorry it took so long, Hezam. This is for you, and I'll keep it short.
The GOOD
First and foremost, hospitality. Never before or after have I experienced such generosity and kindness as among Arab people. As a guest of an Arab family you're certain to be spoiled and pampered, downright occupied and protected from harm, literally treated as a part of the family... or even better. That belief transpires throughout all social classes and seems to be a pillar of Arab society. Hospitality goes hand in hand with a sense of helpfulness that's unparalleled. If you run into problems - in particular as a foreigner - prepare for townsfolk gathering in droves, wildly engaged in debating the best way to help the stranger. The downside: if you're a lady you might find their help and their interpretation of protection quite obtrusive (non-Islamic females are often regarded as fair game).
The rich food: if you are into lamb, spices, tabouleh, fool beans, chickpeas, olive oil, cumin, rice, pita bread, goat cheese, whether it's the rustic food of Egypt or the elaborate delicacies of Lebanon, you'll enjoy culinary delights beyond imagination.
The culture, the history, the biblical landscape: whether you're an admirer of Lawrence of Arabia, a desert junkie or a history buff, wherever you set your foot thousands of years of history have actually taken place: Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Akkadians, Nubians, Phoenicians, Hittites, Medes, Persians, and countless others have left their mark on the region, even before Judaism, Christianity, and Islam shaped the ME. And let's not forget that it was the Arabs logicians who transmitted the classics of ancient Greek philosophy to Europe.
That abundance of cultural diversity is confusing yet fascinating.
The BAD (and sometimes UGLY)
- Hypocrisy: the strict rules of Islam and the resourcefulness used to circumvent them ("temporary" marriages, the gluttony in Ramadan, etc)
- the inability to discuss religious matters, the inability to have an open religious discourse without being branded as heathen or heretic
- the obvious lack of discipline (in traffic and in many other situations of daily life)
- fatalism: "insha'Allah" (God's will) abused as an excuse for sloth and apathy
- excessive emotionality and a propensity for drama (although I love it in Arabic music and old Egyptian movies)
That's all I can think of now, I shall expand that list if anything else comes to mind. This was scribbled in a bit of a hurry.
By the way, I found this account - written by an Arab-American girl - quite amusing:
25 Things I Hate about Arabs
Not to be taken too literal.
