Interesting, right? I thought so too. I don't think they see being polite as weakness, some cultures just have different ideas of being polite. Someone like me who's "yes please.. may I please have a.. thank you" it's just not in everyone's culture. I find that stuff fascinating.
I don't know exactly what traditions are other than a lot of hand gestures as they're having a conversation. Perhaps silence or maybe even just a one-word "hello" is the best suggestion. I guess we didn't stay there long enough for me to give you a better answer.
It was a good friend we met in England actually, he and I remain in super tight contact, he's Syrian. He's the one who told me that when I told him we'd be going there next. He was specific about it, too, "don't do your American 'please, please, thank you, thank you", back home that's seen as weakness."
Hunh. What's funny about that is, since I don't know anyone from Syria or the Middle East, the closest I get is what I've seen portrayed in movies and television, and it seems like there's always someone running around saying pardon or sorry, or thank you. I have to admit they're probably mostly comic relief, though, and they don't seem to be treated all that kindly. :)
So, basically, you're supposed to demand everything be done right now and then just walk off when they actually do it. :)
Interesting, right? I thought so too. I don't think they see being polite as weakness, some cultures just have different ideas of being polite. Someone like me who's "yes please.. may I please have a.. thank you" it's just not in everyone's culture. I find that stuff fascinating.
I don't know exactly what traditions are other than a lot of hand gestures as they're having a conversation. Perhaps silence or maybe even just a one-word "hello" is the best suggestion. I guess we didn't stay there long enough for me to give you a better answer.
It was a good friend we met in England actually, he and I remain in super tight contact, he's Syrian. He's the one who told me that when I told him we'd be going there next. He was specific about it, too, "don't do your American 'please, please, thank you, thank you", back home that's seen as weakness."
Hunh. What's funny about that is, since I don't know anyone from Syria or the Middle East, the closest I get is what I've seen portrayed in movies and television, and it seems like there's always someone running around saying pardon or sorry, or thank you. I have to admit they're probably mostly comic relief, though, and they don't seem to be treated all that kindly. :)
So, basically, you're supposed to demand everything be done right now and then just walk off when they actually do it. :)
It's not just you, I can't seem to watch anything, go anywhere, anything without thinking it's funny.