SpikenButchsMom said but the key is communication, and education...no written policies or rules. Furthermore, for those of us who have many, many years of Western living to overcome, it is neither an easy nor an automatic task, but one that takes time, learning and practice."

- Speaking generally and to no one in particular - Yes, but the no written policies and rules is yet another cultural thing - notices are kinda "in your face" and that's not the way Asians behave. This is MEA, still Asia. We are not that direct but we do communicate. We hint, give stronger hints, etc. But come on, you can't expect us to keep bending over backwards to accommodate everyone to the extent of losing our cultural identity. Just because you have been getting away with it, doesn't mean you can take it for granted.

Qatar is generally open, progressive and heading in the right direction but they are also concerned about ending up like Dubai and the trouble that they have to deal with - because of careless expats who took their liberties to overly great lengths, riding roughshod over the conservatives. Every action has a reaction - because of those careless expats, the rest have to suffer - far reaching consequences - so who's to blame?

The host country which has allowed you in as guests and wants to treat you as guests but you throw their hospitality back in their faces (unconsciously by ignorance) and insist that they accept your values (or lack thereof - for some, not all) - like freedom to have major PDA on the beach like that stewpide couple in Dubai. Actually, not even a couple, they were just acquaintances, right? So...

"There is a difference between those who ignore culture and custom and those who make honest mistakes due to incomplete or incorrect information."

- There is such a thing as observing one's surroundings first before bulldozing and riding roughshod over anyone who thinks differently. It's called a superiority complex and all it does is create defensiveness. When people are defensive, do you think they are listening to anything you are saying? The purpose of communication is to ensure your message reaches the recipients.

"My comment is not that we of the West should not give our all to adjust to the customs. My point is only that, like many of my Qatari neighbors, who have been so kind in pardoning me when I make a mistake, perhaps more folks here might be helpful in our faux pas instead of hurtful, and then everyone wins."

- There is also a limit, despite the fact that we're supposed to turn the other cheek, etc.but we are "work in progress" and struggle daily with our human nature.

Anyway, if you observe properly, Qatar does not want to end up like Dubai. Smart people learn not only from their own mistakes, they learn from other people's mistakes and therefore, suffer less.

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Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama