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worldtraveller · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: world

Just wanted to know what people have faced upon entry into the Arab/Muslim world.

Any stories of culture shock? Anything that really was different or unusual that you faced? (A friend told me his apartment was directly beside a loud speaker that gave the morning prayer each day at 5 am.)

Or stories, good or "bad" that you would like to share?

What did you find yourself doing when you became desperately "very bored"? (Once overseas I actually found myself thrilled to watch the cartoon "The Little Mermaid." How desperate is that for American television?? LOL)

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

How about simply reading the ME forums, which would take several hours. That should more or less answer your questions. The issues you raise have cropped up time and again over the years.

worldtraveller · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: world

If you don't want to post, then don't.

I'm asking for any unusal or funny experiences.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

He didn't insult you. He suggested that you read about on the board and I agree. Most people are here to get/give serious employment advice

Try a search... Read at random...

VS

omanized · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 152

Yes, you won't get very far being overly sensitive to responses here - the best advice is to read the forum - should the posters here repeat anecdotes over and over again for your curiosity?

Ho hum, another story about funny breakfasts or how strange those muslim beliefs are ! The culture shock I get now is when I go home on leave and deal with people who ask ridiculous questions like, is it safe ? Do the women get to take off their veils to brush their teeth?

If you don't want to read, then don't post.

omanized

stoth1972 · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:35 am Post subject:

Culture shock is much worse repatriating than expatriating, IMHO.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

When you go back to Chipping Sodbury or Bearsden or Des Moines you will feel REAL culture shock !

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

Sorry to be politically incorrect, but I have lived in eight countries outside the US over a 32-year period...Northern Ireland, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia and Japan...and, of course, visited many others. I like our Arab and Indian students here at our American campus in the UAE. But "culture shock" in returning to the rest of the world?! No: Singapore, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Big Sur California, Boston, Florence, Geneva, a village in Vermont...even a leafy area of Nebraska...all will all do very nicely compared to the Middle East, thank you very much. In terms of EFL, I would have stayed in Japan if I could have, but that market is very, very poor now unless you've been ensconced there since about 1990.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

I've also lived and worked in eight countries outside Australia, my native country. Certainly it's nice to return to a 'familiar' culture from time to time. One valuable thing I've learnt, however, is that Western culture is just as 'weird' in its own way as anything one might encounter in the ME, or anywhere else for that matter.

Thankfully many of my current colleagues steer clear of conversations about how 'quirky', 'ignorant'- whatever- the local cultural context is.

Postings that pander to one's ethnocentricity don't add much of value to the ME forum, which is why I was suggesting the OP read through the wealth of information already available.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

I was thinking at least as much about my environmental preferences as cultures--greenery, rain... ah...Indeed, when in my home country, I might complain of certain local, regional attitudes or customs, but I can always find individuals I like. But there are some cultures around the world that I personally like more than others. 'Nothing is cut-and-dry. Americans can learn much about family values from the Chinese and from the Arabs. The Japanese might learn something about creativity from Westerners. And cultural relativity should not be applied mindlessly (not that you're doing that). Nazi Germany, in which the vast majority of Germans lovingly embraced National Socialism, was also a national culture.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

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worldtraveller · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: world

If you can't follow the thread of light hearted experiences. then please don't post or post somewhere else. You really aren't helping with your dribble.

In keeping with the thread:
I know someone that actually had guns drawn for dropping something during the 'prayer" time in a public place.

Now, that's unusual!!

tiberio · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 56