Doha - western expats and asian expats
My employers HSBC have been offering me a transfer to the investment banking branch in Doha and I am really keen to accept and move...seeing as Qatar has quite a healthy western expat community it's all the more appealing - but (and it's a big but!) I am unsure about how/if the western expats have to mix with the south asian expats.
I am not too keen on that idea, simply because having lived in London since I was born I am very accustomed to british culture and more importantly, the british values, manners and social etiquette.
The growing south asian community in London is already a problem, and this is in the west..so I'm terrified to think about the scene in Qatar. To be more specific, it's not the arabs it's the indians and pakistanis...nothing against them, but I'd rather not voluntarily be around them. I am muslim so adapting to Qatar's islamic culture isn't much of a problem, but as I've never stayed in Qatar I'd like to know just how much westerners have to come across south asians and if there have been common problems arising?
Hahaha.... Commonnnnnn... Guyzzzzzzz... Give him a break.. Poor fellow... He was unaware of the Lions here...
DO NOT COME......
If you are afraid or have any reservation to mix and mingle with ANY ethnicity or nationality, then you may as well stay at home, built a steel wall around it and watch the world move forward.
Muslim ? And what happen to '...God created humankind in various races so that they know each other' ?
Thanks for the good laugh....
Cheers mate
SK
It's Like An Episode from Goodness Gracious Me !!!
r u sure u r a muslim? i believe as my friends told me in islam it's only faith that discriminates people, not their nationalities.
i think you should review your teachings and come back with a decent apology to this silly question of yours.
You repeatedly keep saying south Asia..Which South Asian country are you talkin about?? Feel like you are ashamed to specifically reveal your ancestoral background.
Pity on you.............. I think you are ending up in a wrong place.... shame on u .... stupid attitude
PSULTAN - could you please read again what you have mentioned to elaborate your question? "DISCRIMINATION" that is clearly the thought of your question. We all know that it is ACTUALLY hapenning in LONDON. Almost all of you but not all thought that you are above compare to other nationalities. You are looking for the color, shame on you, Iam not Indian or Pakistani, I have notice some bad attitude of them, but that only proves that we are all human. Universally, we, human has the capability to adjust our selves according the environment. When you are in LONDON, may be you are the boss but may be you are afraid that you will not enjoy that previledge here in qatar.
If I were you with that kind of POOR mentality JUST DONT come to QATar, JUST ENJOY in your native land, pay taxes as you work, pay more for your daily needs.. YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE..unless you change the way you think about others..
painther! I agree, the principles of mathematics could never have been created the foundations that they follow have always existed it's just been a matter of when they're discovered. However, the actual mathematical language/numerical system that was used to follow these mathematical principles were invented, first by the egyptions to implament their taxation system..and ofcourse it was reinvented by the indians and developed greatly, and even after that time although the developed contributions were followed on the mathematical language had been reinvented in many forms before it got to the stage it is as we use it today.
I'm a physicist so I'm somewhat passionate about the roots of mathematics and could go all day, and I'm presuming you know your fair share of mathematics aswell or it's history - I agree with you, maths as a principle has never been 'created'.
Sultan, On Mathematics!
Let me correct, Mathematics was not invented but was discovered (intellectual still debate on it)rather progressed by time.
Noone can claim having found/invented/discovered it alone, it belong to all old civilizations-Indus/Chinese/Nile/Greek/Arabs etc.
Major Indian contribution was number system & Decimal(dashmalav in Indic/Vedic) and that is regarded as fundamental chnage in mathematics. Arabs discovered Al-jebra. Even today you can find arab numerals are owed by Indian/Vedic numeral system and so on.
Now dont fight with me Plz. When you come here, visit any museum and you'll find it.
Hello,
first of all your questions it self got racism,color and community issue and more over you have soo much attitude..middle east especially gulf is filled with south Asians and you cant ignore the truth that today is gulf as its current wealth and infrastructure because of billion south Asians handwork and sacrifice...its an open truth..
PITY ON YOU.
you ARE A BIG SHAME FOR ALL BRITISH HERE.
@jameskgm
HSBC - World's Local Bank...
Its just that our employees dont' think so.. :P
Hi jameskgm, in answer to your question, HSBC employ the well educated and more importantly, those who make them money. They don't interview us about our views and perspectives on other nationalities, it would be irrelevant anyway because there are many british-asians that are no different to the white british. It's important to remember this is not about race, religion or nationality but simply about culture. I am getting a lot of stick for my views, but I am sure there are millions of south asians both in the GCC and in south asia itself that wouldn't be too keen on having to mix with the westerners either, even if they are muslim westerners - and it's totally understandable because it's conflicting cultures. I think people over there find it okay to not like westerners but if it's the otherway around all of a sudden it's racism or anti-islamic. :)
gadarene: Asian mouthful you say? that doesn't exactly give the best of impressions of asians now does it? I suggest you stop embaressing yourself. Also, do not let your delusional perspectives blind you into favouring your own nationality, Math was not created by the Indians - although it has had valuable contributions from the Indus civilisation at the time, Mathematics was actually created in Egypt during the 11th dynasty. How's that for a history lesson? Don't worry though, you're forgiven for your otherwise inexcusable mistake as I understand you may not have been educated all too well.
I am wondering that how a reputed bank like HSBC employing people like you. It is better for you to stay in london with your british 'culture'. Qatar is a place for cultured people - doesn't matter which nationality.
Oh and FYI, I'm not muslim convert, both my parents and I were born in London but my ancestral background can be traced to south asia. That is beside the point, like I said it's nothing against them, and although London is one of the most cosmopolitan multicultural city in the world where we embrace different cultures, races and nationalities the difference here is everybody has no choice but to follow the conservative social etiquete.
Now I'm all for moving to Qatar, and ofcourse when I go to Qatar I expect for the Qataris to set the social protocols...not for the south asians to bring out their own social ruling and principles, if I wanted that I can go to India/Pakistan. Also this is not about muslims, being western doesn't mean you're anti-muslim, for those who imply this really need to open a book and should take a look at their 'all so muslim selves'. West, east, south or north it is irrelevant, I don't recall the Qur'an stating you must be from the east to follow it?
so I take it from the answers that the problem is rife?
DO NOT COME
mixing with other cultures/nationalities is the GOOD part of being in Doha and occurs on a daily basis. If it makes you miserable then you do not belong here, nor do we want you here.
WOW! People still live in caves?!
We sure do appreciate your comfort zone, but you have to be more acceptable towards things beyond your control like the people living in the society!!
Dear friend, your profile shows your are about 18-25, I'm guessing a recent graduate? or the likes..anyways, there is much to learn from all the nationalities...
Every community teaches us something...we learn the good, and brush away the rest...
Peace...
if i meet you on the street here,rest assured i will give you an Asian mouthful to ponder on...racist scum that you are & would you elaborate on your ethnicity while we're on the topic...i don't know much about "British culture & etiquette"...but i do know for a fact that there are no white,English muslims named psultan unless they've converted to Islam...as for not interacting with South Asian expats,we make up close to 80% of the expat population...do the math,or did they did not teach you that in your British school,might want to ask an Indian for help,they invented the subject...you need a good South Asian beating is what you need,THAT'S what you missed out on growing up with "British culture & etiquette"...& it shows in your ignorant post...
Even being a Muslim you are promoting colour prejudice. You are so narrow minded as well. Islam is teaching to respect all your brothers and sisters irrespective of their creed, colour, religion and Nationality. I am an Asian working in a Company and dealing American products. I am dealing with the Americans, British and many other Eurpean Nationalities on a day to day basis and that American Company has got their Offices in Dubai and almost 50% of their staff are Asians. You are living in the 21st century? Shame on you.
If you are a real Muslim you will not think about western culture and values. I feel pity to you to not that you are a Muslim and is not willing to live with the Asians especially Indians and Pakistanis as you are so keen to keep your western (European) culture and values.
this issue is not really THAT serious !
You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're joking!
Don't come here, we are everywhere :)
Thanks for making me laugh with that question though :)
Qatar's Islamic Culture is based on the pillars built by the South Asian Community especially the Indians and Pakistanis, if it may interest you further, you can even add the entire Indian Subcontinent along with Filipinos.
As mentioned by you, the south asian community is not aware of british culture , the british values, manners and social etiquette. If only you could have elaborated on these mentioned qualities, i would have given you a detailed analysis of the south asian culture in doha, compared the british ones.
And to finally sum up everything, you must know any second person you meet in doha is from the said community. And you would definitely encounter them on a day to day basis at work as well your social life.