Etiket mideast

Cristina Rotaru Visiting the Middle East requires a whole lot of determination and an open mind towards all sorts of unheard of things, from food to getting alternative transportation, but most of all it means leaving your pre-requisites back home and allowing yourself to be welcomed by the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. There are all sorts of definitions as to what the Middle East actually is, and even geographically speaking it is still not quite clear what belongs where and why. A quick glimpse into any travel guide will tell you that the Middle Eastern area includes everything from Turkey down to Egypt and further to the East, towards Iran and Iraq. Why is it then that coming back from Damascus to Istanbul gives you the feeling that you’re walking the catwalk of the most exclusive Western fashion city? There must surely be some other kind of classification other than the geographical one, and seeing one place in the Middle East doesn’t mean that you have seen them all. From a sociological point of view, observing people’s perception of themselves and, more importantly, of others, is quite an exhausting task. As a European woman coming from Istanbul, you’re bound to get all sorts of reactions, none of which are universally valid. First of all, being a woman in the Middle East automatically diminishes your authority in front of a crowd of male officials. Secondly, you have your obvious European appearance and accent, which distinguish your status from that of other women that might be present. On top of that add the simple fact that you are living in Istanbul and the result will obviously be an unpredictable situation.Upon entering Syria from Turkish lands, crossing the border of Reyhanli, you are better off expecting the unexpected. Being told that acquiring […]