Freedom!
Maybe not. Dubai, though an open city, is still a Muslim emirate of UAE. Public displays of affection like holding hands are not encouraged but couples still do it anyways and they’re not apprehended…until someone tells CID (the local police).
Dubai opened itself to foreign and Western ways by relaxing its laws. There are a lot of societal and cultural differences but they are so subtle that one will know of it only through experience. Most will be heard in the news…or grapevine, if you happen to be standing near a credible one.
Experience has always been my best teacher. There are things I’ve adjusted to, things I will always treasure, and things I’ve accepted and learned while living in another country. Five major things I've adjusted to in Dubai: (1) the constant sauna-hot weather; (2) work starts on Sundays and no work on Fridays; (3) getting the change from taxi drivers...yes, fils are still valuable; (4) the value of dirhams against the peso, and; (5) the 5x a day reminder of the Muslims’ prayer time. With a mosque in every block, it's easy to guess what time it is without looking at the clock. Everything else was easy and familiar.
Five things I miss and treasure back home: (1) Mom-cooked meals; (2) family and friends; (3) going to mass every week; (4) conscientious observance of work and business ethics, and; (5) common sense in people.
Five things I’ve learned in Dubai: (1) be tough so Arabs will take me seriously; (2) show my fangs so people will respect me; (3) wit, charm and smiles are strategic tools used in negotiations; (4) honest, hard work may also mean non-Western superiors can abuse my talents, and; (5) there is no such thing as a single Arab.
They say, when in Rome do as the Romans do. I'd add to that the advice of Academy Award winner Tim Robbins: "Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." I'm miles away from home and my independence comes with a cost.
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1 comment:
Another good blog! Interesting comment that you miss the business ethics of the Philippines, I didn't know there were any. However, having said that I do like the people in the Philippines better than most countries I have lived and worked in. The smiles seem genuine and the offer of assistance appears to be sincere. All in all my 25 years in the Philippines produced many long lasting friendships.
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