Cheers, Genesis. Always happy to write an insightful post :-)
jjj75--my experience (outside of drive, of course) has been that locals tend to be very courteous, both in public and private. There are of course, plenty of exceptions. I am also a well-educated, white, male with a the "right" accent when i speak English, and my business dealings with locals tend to be as relative equals. I am sure for some it is different, and my maid has strong opinions on the subject. There is some pushiness and entitlement at the malls and in lines, but then that happens in various forms in other places. My wife also points out that Qatari men are less likely to stare than other nationalities.
My primary objection is the vulgarity uttered in Arabic under the breath of Abaya-wearing (presumably the majority of whom are local) at Western women--usually it calling them sluts and Jews. I'm not fluent in Arabic, but I understand enough to know what they are muttering. I hear this at least once a week--more if I am in the grocery. Interestingly the women who say such things are either alone, with maids, or children (which is terrible); almost never have I seen their husbands, brothers, or fathers with them, so presumably they would not approve.
Cheers, Genesis. Always happy to write an insightful post :-)
jjj75--my experience (outside of drive, of course) has been that locals tend to be very courteous, both in public and private. There are of course, plenty of exceptions. I am also a well-educated, white, male with a the "right" accent when i speak English, and my business dealings with locals tend to be as relative equals. I am sure for some it is different, and my maid has strong opinions on the subject. There is some pushiness and entitlement at the malls and in lines, but then that happens in various forms in other places. My wife also points out that Qatari men are less likely to stare than other nationalities.
My primary objection is the vulgarity uttered in Arabic under the breath of Abaya-wearing (presumably the majority of whom are local) at Western women--usually it calling them sluts and Jews. I'm not fluent in Arabic, but I understand enough to know what they are muttering. I hear this at least once a week--more if I am in the grocery. Interestingly the women who say such things are either alone, with maids, or children (which is terrible); almost never have I seen their husbands, brothers, or fathers with them, so presumably they would not approve.