The Arab Way (2)
Here is when the Arab way doesn’t work. . .well, it does work, but not in your favor. I was taking my car in for some repairs a couple weeks ago; they told me “just bring it in, we will take care of it” and fool! I believed them!
So I get there, seek desperately for a parking space, and go inside. I take a number. Not too bad. Only five people in front of me.
Five people. But here comes Bashir, and he sits himself down right at the counter, no number. The clerk finishes with number 34 – and Bashir shakes hands with him, greets him, makes small talk with him – and takes care of him.
Meanwhile Ali and his four brothers walk in. They have a number. They want to sit down, but I am on the far end of the couch so only Ali sits down. He tells his brothers they can sit, but with a big wolfy grin – like a dare. Let’s see which one of you will sit next to a WOMAN. And not one of them will. The manager walks over to Ali, greets him and they chat and then Ali and his brothers are all taken to another area, where they get specialized service.
Old Abdul shuffles in next, and I know I am screwed. OK, OK, I tell myself, you have a choice, you can laugh or you can stew. If you stew, you just ruin your own day – it’s not going to change anything. So I just laugh.
Eventually, I get seen, and the dealership makes the problem go away, and I think to myself that in the US this would have cost a lot more, I would have waited a lot longer, and I wouldn’t have all this material for a blog entry.
The Arab ways works – but it works best if you are an Arab, if you are a Moslem, and if you have connections. I am betting it also helps to be male, but I have seen women who knew how “to be preferred”, too. 😉
8 Comments »
Leave a comment
Recent Comments
Catherine on Donna Leon Crossing Cultu… intlxpatr on Ignoring the Law thani on Ignoring the Law Anon. on British Soldier Kidnapped, Esc… Reeva Mills on Cahors to Bordeaux, Preparing… Wikipedia Donate Button
Amazina
Early Voting in Florida
Here There and Everywhere 
Well, it’s not really the “Arab” way, but more like the “Kuwaiti” way, I think. Also, Kuwaitis are mostly Muslim with a few Atheists sprinkled in. I assure you, they get the same treatment.
While I really hate it when it works against me and 25 guys walk ahead of me, it’s quite nice when you know someone and he sneaks you in instead of waiting 50 minutes. I know it’s tough to pass up the opportunity, as wrong as it may be.
Now, is it right? I don’t really think so. I’d certainly sneak you in if had the chance, but my line of work isn’t like that. If I did though, I’d do it ’cause you’re a fellow blogger!
And yea, forgive us 🙂 Pretty tough to sit next to a woman around here, as much as we’d looove to. They’d never let you live it down.
First time it ever happened to me, I caused quite a ruckus. I actually called the manager a “little [censored][censored][censored][censored][censored]”
and you know the rest. lol
Ah, BoJacob, that is interesting. Even if you are a Kuwaiti athiest, you still get the brotherhood treatment? That is new information to me, but it makes sense, like who else really would know how religious you are or are not?
It wasn’t so bad; it wasn’t 25 people, and at some point shame combined with manners kicks in and they take care of me. Like I said, I got some great material.
LLOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKK about the sitting by a woman part. I understand, but sometimes you feel like you have leprosy or cooties or something. 🙂
R! YOU created a ruckus?? I don’t believe it! You are such a gentleman! So . . . did your car get serviced? I dont’ know the rest. I never have the courage to make a ruckus. What happens?
I made a huge fuss the first time .. afterwards, I call in advance and tell them the exact time I am coming. I just drive in, drop off the keys and leave.
I was always noticed first and served first too! So For me that Arab way worked well! 😛 Not any more though! I just got my first speeding ticket ever in my life! And the shorts didn’t help!!! 😦 Well I think it won’t work for ever! 😛
Yeh, K, but YOU are “K the KUWAITI”!!! Don’t you get the special service automatically every time? And your way of handling it makes SOOOOO much sense . . . jut drop it off and don’t worry about it.
Oh, Noracassandra, truly, I feel your pain. I remember my first ticket and the shock of not being able to “pretty” my way out of it. What humiliation! The ticket on top of the realization I wan’t hot anymore! Oh, the pain!