contact with the locals
I was at work today. While visiting a company I was speaking to some people who work there. They made a comment. Some of them said they worked in most Arab countries. In most of the countries they got to know the locals and interacted with them. They tell me some of them have been here for four years and still are not able to approach and really get to know the Qataris. Now this comment came from several individuals from different nationalities. American, European, Asian, and African. Do you have the same experience?
I still remember my first Interaction with qatari and It was a very friendly one as opposed to what I thought
Well put, Gadarene. Like I said, much friendlier outside their country, and understandably so.
let's look @ this from a neutral point of view shall we?...each one of you reading this imagine a scenario in your home country where the outsider/expat/non-citizen population is hovering around 70-80% region, i.e 20-30% local population,now be honest & answer to yourself how YOU would REALLY feel(as opposed to what you would show because @ 70-80% you don't really have much of a choice NOT to interact with them now do you???) towards those outsiders?...let's set aside political correctness for the moment shall we?...this is HUMAN nature,IRRESPECTIVE of nationality of geography,being 'territorial' is hardwired into our genetic makeup,no point denying it...
As far as locals here/in the GCC go,they PUT UP with the outsiders because their countries would come to an absolute standstill without them,they have the money but they don't have the numbers in terms of human resource & there is no substitute for that,the locals know that but that doesn't mean they're happy with your prescence here & this holds all the more true for a tribal culture which again,like ANY tribal culture on the planet is WARY of outsiders...
yes,we can get into the nitty-gritty & say "oh locals here are better than Kuwaitis & Emiratis" & so on & so forth & i don't dispute that but that is a relative definition...
As frenchieman correctly pointed out,the "under siege mentality" & as for being more approachable & open when they're outside,it's the result of a suppressive local culture for which 'freedom' of any sort is a BIG no-no & when they're outside,they're free of those cultural shackles & want to experience that freedom to it's fullest & that includes interaction with people that are different from them,because they're curious & back home they don't get to explore those different cultures due to their fear of how their own community would react to such exploration/interaction...again,this is human nature,natural behaviour for anyone faced with a similar life situation...
I've found that Qataris tend to be far more approachable and open when outside their own country. I think there is an under siege mentality for many of them when here.
If you know Arabic, defently they will interact with you more friendly..
most of the local here that i meet are friendly... it depends on how you deal this people...
qatari's behaviour is far better than that of emirati's or kuwaits, they behave arrogantly & proudly, i have been to dubai too! what they feel proud they are human being's on earth only!@!
I have worked in UAE in a multinational environment. My immediate boss was an emarati lady. I got to know about the emarati culture through her as after work I would be at her place most of the time. It depends upon the opportunity. Otherwise as everywhere, people prefer to mind their own business.
I don't know.. i was in Kuwait couple of weeks, i got to know 2 kuwaitis.. I was in Dubai one day (without my hub), I got to know 2 emiratis.. in qatar I know some qataris, both ladies and men.. I used to work with mostly qataris in my previous company, and now we have couple of qataris employed with our company..all of them are very pleasant and friendly.. Especially I liked one lady from my previous Job. She was so much friendly and positive! Her unique laughter could relieve any stress in 2 seconds..
I think it also depends on your own attitude..
There are very few locals to make contact with and most tend to segregate themselves geographically and socially. Having said that, Qataris I have gotten to know via a working relationship--both here and in Europe--have been exceedingly pleasant and welcoming.
I feel these remarks do not do justice to locals. I have lived in Kuwait for ten years and going by my own experience there , these people are exactly the opposite. There may be exceptions but in general Qataris are really good and friendly.
As some guidebooks state, "making contact with the natives is best avoided."...