Thursday, December 15, 2005

Socially Inappropriate


A lot of things my former culture considers "normal behavior" are actually considered extremely socially inappropriate (" 'ebb") by Qatari society.

A woman eating an ice cream cone in public is basically considered profanity!

Other things (Qatari) women would apparently be mortified to be seen doing in public include eating a sandwich while driving the car, smoking in public, and laughing loudy!

Well, of course I do all of these things. I guess a lot of Arabic women embrace these norms too. People think I'm bizarre because I don't. I think a lot of folks confuse culture with religion. They think that because I am muslim, I will act just like them.

Well the last time I read it the Quran said nothing about these things!

2 comments:

Bravecat said...

LOL@ eating a sandwich while driving - I did that yesterday! I was SO hungry I couldn't wait! Crums crums crumbs everywhere... And then husband drove the car in his new suit, hehe. Crumbs crumbs crumbs all over the suit. He was NOT amused, I tell ya.

As for the ice cream - yeah I don't do that in public either. Not here, not back home. I eat bananas instead. Works so much better!

=^..^=

Love your blog!

Madcap said...

Oh brother! Have all the hungry and dispossessed of the world been taken care of that we can worry about such silly things?

Good call, RH. It's so easy to confuse culture with spirituality.

I must say, though, that the lady in the photo looks confused. A toque with a sleeveless shirt? Is she cold or isn't she??