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Secret personality of Qataris?
I went to Al Wakrah today and spent some time with some Qataris and came away with a totally different perception of them as a people than I had prior to this day.
When we met it was at some small gas station on the way to Wakrah right outside of Doha, after getting gas and exchanging pleasantries we got to rolling out like some high security detail driving the president out of a danger zone. By the way we coordinated our driving at break neck speeds through traffic circles and high ways you would think we had been practicing this for years. Along the way we passed two huge structures spewing out flame and black smoke which gave the surrounding area a eerie yellow glow that lit up the area for miles.
Upon arrival we met other Qataris who were already at a group of tents set up in a L shape at the base of a massive sand dune. It had a volley ball Net set up and a few quad bikes sat around waiting for some ignorant fool to come along and think he was superman.
After a while of being that fool on such a pernicious monster that roared like some unleashed carnivorous animal in a petting zoo I joined my host and his other Qatari guests in a game of volley ball. On the “pitch” is where I got to see a totally different people than the ones I have come to know in my short time here in Qatar. They were so relaxed ALL of them were smiling slapping high fives with me and “bucking chests” like we grew up together and were on some nice vacation at the beach in some exotic land.
These people were sincerely happy and being the most welcoming bunch of people I have come across in the country to date. They were simply.. people today and really nice ones at that. I tried to imagine them in a thoube and ghoutra with a smug look on their face in some office and found it impossible to envision. To picture them as people who are mean to low level workers or maids or doing those things that we all hear about from word of mouth or persona experience something of a problem. Today that perception has died in my mind, I have met a different bunch than the ones I hear the horror stories about. Today I met people who met me for the first time, didn’t ask me where I was from or where I worked, or look at me as some person who should be grateful for being in their presence. Nah they were just regular people today, people who were relaxed and just enjoying life and being happy to be alive. Maybe they have the personality we stereotype them for because they are constantly being yanked back into the life they live as opposed to the one they know and would rather be in. Who knows, but for sure today I have seen them in a different setting and they are a wonderful people who know how to have fun and enjoy life even if its just for an afternoon and evening.
Yeah - It was a beautiful day today..
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jassKat said
Qataris are people ...Qataris are people too..why are you so surprised??
tra la la
AbuAmerican said
sigh.. did you read what I ...sigh.. did you read what I wrote? If you did then you would understand that what made my day beautiful was I had a prejudice (look up its definition) and I broke that mental shackle today I know myself and when I break a habit or illogical belief.. Its a great day for me
You have learned nothing from my post young padawan.. Now go away..
nadt said
exactly just people, you ...exactly just people, you will get the good and bad ones in every culture...but as humans we only seem to focus on the bad...nice post Abu...
jassKat said
it's the prejudice that ...it's the prejudice that gets to me!
tra la la
Alexa said
You find all sorts in ...You find all sorts in all sort of places......
'Course there are really nice Qataris......
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom : the music is nothing, if the audience is deaf.
Walter Lippmann
jassKat said
abu is there anyone you ...abu is there anyone you are not prejudiced towards? It seems in most of your posts do dont like anyone...
tra la la
AbuAmerican said
EVERYONE has a prejudice to ...EVERYONE has a prejudice to claim otherwise is to not know yourself or even worse.. lie to yourself
AbuAmerican said
Um hijack someone elses ...Um hijack someone elses thread please.. Who don't I like? So if I disagree with you I dislike you? Strange logic you have applied to my persona.
nadt said
I met a qatari lady at my ...I met a qatari lady at my sons nursery and for that moment we were just two mothers gas bagging about our three year olds and their similarites and toilet training. We were just two women with the same issues in life wantnig the best for our kids...
princess habibah said
It reminds me of my ...It reminds me of my husbands story when he went to his interview. In his group he noticed that all the other expatriates just kept to themselves and didn't even bother to say hello to the Qataris. Even in the transit from the Hotel to interview he chatted with the Qatari driving as if they were old lost friends. And he felt so welcomed to their country and loved their personalities.
even when he was walking down the street he had Qataris coming up to him and asking him questions about Islam! Only realizing that he was not Arab upon opening his mouth and spouting out a reply in broken Arabic.
In the night before he left he spoke with a white expat who could only complain about Qatar and brag about all the money he was earning. He did not feel comfortable with that person at all..
Qataris are one of the reasons we are moving there in August! And your story reminds me of the wonderful time my husband had during his stay! It sounds as if Qataris are beautiful and wonderful people so far. And it is too bad more expatriates don't have more chances to know them.
Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi
AbuAmerican said
before I log ...before I log off
Prejudice
1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
Which is not to be confused with
Racism
1.a belief or
doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races
determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the
idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
www.dictionary.com
I put this on here for the less... Mentally able who will take my prejudice comment out of context and you will spot the prejudice in my above message and how it left me today. MANY, MANY, MANY here on QL have the same prejudice towards Qataris that I escaped from today. Many wont get that from this so I am spelling it out.. Read this post out loud slowly and in a loud voice..
princess habibah said
...Hear the ROAR of our QL LION!
Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi
Greeker said
Abu... ...Abu, great read. It takes a strong man, or woman, to admit that they were wrong in the first place. You admitted to it and said that you came out of the shackles that you placed in your mind. That is the big thing.
I think the post was well written and a good read. More than that, it conveyed what you had to say loud and clear.
I feel its a clear front page contender. QL MODS, where are you?
dweller said
Abu ...Congratulations on stepping outside the expat "fold".
You will probably now find that life is much more tolerable.
TweetyBird said
Abu - this is a great read ...Abu - this is a great read I just wish you wouldn't have brought it down a notch with your comment on prejudice versus racism. Now before you get defensive and say that Jass started it, hear me out. I'm just saying there might have been a better way to address JassKat's post is all. Afterall she is in a position to feel differently about the prejudices against Qataris.
Anyway - back to your topic. Through my work I have met several Qataris and I have always been impressed with their polite manner and hospitality. I think the women are so incredibly graceful in manner and movement and the men can be quite dashing to use an old fashioned word.
lipstick said
most of qatari ive ...most of qatari ive met were "sweetheart"&"child-like".
i have encounter one of the up-close and personal and i can say
he is genuine and quiet brainfull.
AbuAmerican said
Tweety you are most likely ...Tweety you are most likely right but I do get a bit testy sometimes. Its one of those things we (the royal we) have to work on in our character. Jesscat is cool by me she has nice posts..
dragonfly212 said
I have met many nice ...I have met many nice Qatari, when in the middle of nowhere I got flat tires they the one offered help, when I got accident they the one come to us and see if everything is okay. When I smile at them they smile at me back. They are just human like us and only few that have arrogant and superiority feeling but not all of them. The key is to open your heart and mind for any possibility and you will be fine minggle with any nationality not just Qatari.
But I like your post. Its give good name to Qatari. Recently we only talk bad about them which totally not true. I support talking more about their positive note more.
Everybody is right Everybody is wrong, it depend where we stand.
Booo said
Abu: Glad you saw what went ...Abu: Glad you saw what went beyond the streotypes, that teaches us not to judge a book by its cover and not to let a few rotten apples ruin the whole barrel (i'm on a metaphorical role here!). Glad you had a great time.
bleu said
Thanks! ...This is one of the few positive threads about Qataris on QL.
Thanks,
Just a Qatari driving a white Landcruiser.
jauntie said
Nice post Abu! ...I think I can safely say that I have never felt any animosity towards Qataris, (nor received any from them). I also prefer to make up my own mind about people.
Like Mila, I smile and speak to people when I'm out and about (just the odd comment to pass the time in the shopping queue and that sort of thing) and usually they smile back and respond.
I'm very pleased for you that you had such a good experience with your new friends. Very well described in your write up too!
normanila2000 said
Twice! ...i experienced their kindness when my very expensive vehicle (Ambulance) was trapped in sand before the sealine beach resort and guess who rushed in and helped me get out from that sand trap
. I didnt even had the time to call. In a blink, there they come willing to extend their help. Same with any nationalities. They also have their share of bad eggs among them but most of them are really very nice.
EMS- "Our job is to save lives and we are highly trained to do it"
whoami said
definately good to see that ...definately good to see that people think that my people are nice.
___________________________
Click here for LOADS of Qatar info I♥Q
Oryx said
Abu ...Lovely post Abu
jang929 said
two sides to a coin... ...i'm new in town.. (just a week old..) so not that many experiences to speak of... but I think I've already seen both sides to the coin =)
+++++
I remember on my first day... going to the QNB counter at City Centre... to try to cash my traveller's cheques... and the guy very patiently explaining to me how they can't do it (cos I haven't opened an account with them), and telling me Qtel is the only mobile line provider in Qatar.. (without giving me the "what? you didn't know" look...)
instead.. he kindly said something to reassure my ignorance is not uncommon... It might seem insignificant, but a friendly stranger is all it takes to take the edge off your weary first day in unfamiliar surroundings =)
---
unpleasant experience during my medical checkup... I think the queueing system at the hospital can be much much improved~!! somehow the X-ray queue was ridiculously long, and everytime the doors open for the next "batch" to enter the X-ray rooms, there was crazy pushing and shoving... and the coordinator was just shouting and waving her hands around angrily...
kind of a culture shock for me... but I guess this kind of disorderly behaviour could happen in other countries too..
anyway.. AbuAmerican.. glad for you to have had the chance to play volleyball with them and see this other side of them =) I think besides music, sports is also "universal language"... =)
p.s. are there any social clubs around here that play volleyball regularly? I need some exercise =)
8rmcj8 said
volleyball inquiry.. ...hi jang929,
regarding your inquiry, if you are really serious about seeking a volleyball group, please go to socializing forum with a post regarding volleyball..
there will be a meeting tonight so if you'll hurry, you might get lucky..
"God is good all the time".
mallrat said
They have kind heart, ...They have kind heart, generous and mostly humble.
Never go younger by a month, a hard bod is no substitute for wisdom.
mustangboy said
Abu American... ...I spend all my life here with these ppl...and most even consider me as one of them....but wat difference does it make who you are, wat you are, from where you are and all that, as long as we get along well its all that matters.....and we cant generalize any one nation, religion, group into a certain category....
It takes all sort to make this WORLD....
but the main reason I am commenting on this topic is coz i really found the way of expression very interesting....really, applaud to Abuamerican and from now on I will make sure i take time to read his posts....
GoncalvesKochbierg said
I agree with you sir ! ...I agree with you sir, that's a consistent cultural thing
Greetings to everybody !
"If you`re dreaming a love story let tears tell us about it" CPYRGHT: Gustavo Severino D`gaulle Kochbierg Goncalves
casanova said
I believe, what you give ...I believe, what you give you get back...
You love them, they will love you back...
You hate them, they will hate you back..
I never found a bad Qatari or Saudi, the reason is i treat them the way I love to be treated.....
Life shows us, what we want to see exactly.
POV matters, nothing else
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
Martin Luther King.
christine spanos said
NICE ABU, U HAD JUST THE ...NICE ABU, U HAD JUST THE RIGHT COMPORTMENT, SIMPLY.
I AGGRE WITH Cazanova too, I HAD SOME SAME EXPERIENCES AT UAE.