There are two sides to every story, every action, every mannerism. Nothing proves this better then when you are a stranger and visit other cultures and customs.
Today this happened to me:
I was waiting on the 14th floor of the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Center) building, one of the coolest looking buildings off of Sheikh Zayed Road. I had to meet with the head of Communications as I wanted to secure a meeting with Dr. Omar bin Sulaiman, the Director General of the Center. The Dubai Stock Market and International Investment Guidelines are controlled by this man; and I want to meet him. But first I had to go through Ms. Asma Al Qassimi. Out came her partner ahead of her, a man named Mr. Aziz dressed fully in his
bisht and I shook his hand firmly. Behind him came Ms. Asma, dressed in her beautiful
abaya and being a Westerner, saying hello means you immediately put out your hand to shake theirs as a sign of respect. But not here.
Here in the Arab world, women are often looked as inferior, and as times are a-changing, many still conform to their local traditions. A male simply does not shake the hands of a female;
unless she puts her hand out first. She didn't. So I didn't.
Mr. Aziz left after 10 seconds and I was left to meet and talk with Ms. Asma. Now here is where we may be both Lost in Translation. She saw me shake hands with the man. But I didn't put my hand out to her. Even though I know that she may not feel right to shake my hand, I still had that gutting feeling that I 'disrespected' her in someway or another. I want to show her respect, and in our culture we shake hands with everyone - it's a simple sign of acknowledgement. Even though she won’t take it this way, I still feel like I didn't acknowledge her presence like I did with Mr Aziz. Will this affect my getting a meeting with Dr. Omar? Did she even notice, did she even care? If I did this to a Western girl she would probably think I was a pompous idiot. I talked with her for about 5 minutes and then we both went on our separate ways.
This event has left a mark in my mind and I was left feeling confused, saddened, and proud. Confused as to wondering what she though of the whole situation, if anything. Saddened by the fact that many Arab women feel inferior to men. But strangely proud that I had recognized the situation before I made a fool of myself and offering an empty hand shake to which she would have just stared at leaving me hanging, and her motioning to the couch.
This happens all over the world everyday.
Indians with their head wobble. Yes, No, Of course - they are all represented by the head wobble. No up and down for yes; no side-to-side with no - just a simple head wobble. I remember thinking that there must be one univsersal sign for 'Yes', but no there isn't.
"Is this the right bus to Delhi?", i asked the driver.
Head wobble was his answer.
It took a few frustrated minutes to figure out that he was really saying yes. Over 2 Billion across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh know this. I do now too.
Thai's accepting and handing back money/change with both hands. It's sacred and important to them, so they hold and hand it over to you like it's precious. Imagine what they think when we grab it without any such care or attention and stuff it back in our pocket. Little actions like this effect the way people think and feel about Westerns. It's jst lost in translation.
An Australian telling you 'that's just not cricket' tells not only of a famous history lesson within Cricket's (the game) culture, but is implying that things just aren't right or gentlemanly.
Sitting on the floor (there are no seats here) of a Buddhist Temple in Laos, you must point you feet away from the Buddha at all times. Your feet are the lowest, therefor dirtiest part of your body. How dare you point them at their God. Cross-legged is the only acceptable way to go.
Waving one hand up, palm towards you, all fingers and thumb touching mean a Fuck Off back home in North America. Here in the UAE when it happens, and it happens a lot mean 'patience'.
And then one of my favorites, I still haven't figured out what it means, but I find it hilariously weird: The Vietnamese and the mole hairs. Picture a decent sized mole on the face of a Vietnamese male - a mole that elevates of the skin, ya know. Now imagine one hair and one hair alone (inch and a half long), left untouched by scissors/razors/ and other plucking devices for years, sprouting out right in the center of the mole. Now I'm not sure if it's a status symbol or what, but many of these dudes rock this look like it's coolest thing to come along since chop sticks.
I'm not too sure, but what I hope is that somewhere down the line, it is all just a simple lost in translation.
