Unwritten Qatari Codes of Conduct
I do not intend to come off as an ultra conservative person when I address this issue, but it is something that I have been wanting to write about.
As a collective society where everybody gets in the way of what you're doing, people do exercise a level of privacy in public areas.
I went with my friend to a restaurant in The Pearl and it was kind of crowded. The waitress took us to a table where a Qatari couple were dining right across us.
My friend and I quickly agreed to request another table because we knew sitting in front of them could make them feel uncomfortable while there were other empty tables.
However, in a situation where there are no other available tables, we would not give up the table but would still be considerate enough to change our seats. We will make sure that our backs face the female partrons so she feels totally comfortable and her privacy is maintained.
It is unfortunate that there are restaurants in Doha today that do not have appropriate spaces for customer privacy. While I'm surprised that we still have unspoken codes of ethics in our culture, I like them and they remind us of respecting others privacy.
Editor's Note: As a Muslim non-local female, often if I'm dining with my family, we will see Qatari males get up and change their seats if I am seated within their vision. It's like clock-work, if I am already seated and they are entering they will always ask the waiter to seat them far away from me or ensure they sit next to each other (side by side) and I am out of view.
What would you do in similar situations like these in your culture?
I like the article. Some western country treat men and women equal. While some country feel that more privacy should be given to female. Both are right in their thinking.
Where is the conduct and ethics? What is the big issue to mingle, enjoying the setting with others...what's the dillio with your own privacy this and that...do you ask for your own private space when you visits restaurants in other countries or just do what the crowd do. Come on it's the 21st century, let's get with the program
Dear Mufti,
Agreed 100 % with you.
My cousin always needs me & my family in Europe.
But after my study about that country, I am reluctant to move so far, as I feel the education is good though, the other aspects stops me to move from here.
As you said, this is my choice. I am making the choice according to my preference.
I can not make the country to be in my preference.
//I admire the way this country respect the women. That is one of the major reason I am living here.// Every culture has its own way of treating men/women. What may seem good to you may not be the case with others.
I remember some time ago in hotels, when we take the passport to verify the entry stamp and enter data's in to the system.
We always make sure the female pp photo is covered by the fingure and we make sure the passport kept upside down if front photo page is open.
I am not sure the new comers and the new hotels are aware of these things. If they don't know. better to follow.
I admire the way this country respect the women. That is one of the major reason I am living here.
in my own country, males and females mix freely, so I probably wouldn't care where I was seated.
As an aside, I have seen many cases where local men have gone and sat near local women without caring ..
For a start , the waitress should have known better and offered to seat you somewhere else.
As an expat, I try to respect the culture and would probably have seated myself somewher else too. I always recall the example of going to Saudi and a colleague sitting with his feet facing a local - he did not tak kindly and a lesson learned.
Though it is a bit strange for me but ''When in Rome, do as the Romans do''.