Experiences with the Arabic Culture
I experienced the Arabic culture when I visited Tangier, Morocco in summer through a friendly invitation. During this time I seized the opportunity to study the Arabic language. Morocco portrays the vibrant and dynamic Arabic culture with Arabic being the commonly spoken language. Thanks to my little knowledge of the language, I was able to communicate with the natives though with some difficulty but a general understanding. I was able to have firsthand experience living among the Arabs. I was in Morocco for two months and this period offered me a mixture of challenges as well as enjoyments and given another opportunity, I would gladly revisit the country. I enjoyed living with the people as they were very hospitable and friendly unlike what I used to think.
I got to learn a lot regarding Arabic family values through the family that I visited. I even visited the mosque and prayed with the congregation and discovered how close and humble the people are during prayers. Such visits are very constructive as they present an opportunity for one to understand and appreciate other cultures. Barriers exist between religions when misconceptions prevail regarding them. Visiting worshiping places such as mosques, synagogues, and temples by people from other faiths fosters a better understanding while demystifying these misconceptions as one gets the chance to have firsthand experience and an opportunity to understand the people more. This interaction will enable a more peaceful coexistence among people from different religious backgrounds, especially in the US.
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Perception of the Arabic Culture Before the Visit
My perception of the Arabic culture before my visit was very different. I used to think of the culture as very strict with high adherence to the Islamic religion, allowing for very little intercultural socialization. The social conservatism such like; females cannot drive made me unease and wondered if I could relate well to the people there. I also had the perception that all Arabs are Muslims, but this was not the case as I met many Christian Arabs while out on the street. Considering that there are many cultural differences between Arab and Hispanic, I felt nervous about living with an Arabic family. I thought men were very harsh to women considering that Arab women are very submissive to men.
Perception of the Arabic Culture after the Visit and its Effect on Relations
My perception of the attitude of men towards women wholly changed. Though I still considered the Arabic culture as conservative, I looked at it in a more understanding way as it supports togetherness. I learned a lot regarding the Arabic culture during my visit. The family I visited was Muslim as I discovered this to be the case with most of the population. The family was very religious observing prayers five times a day, with men praying in the mosques and women praying from home. Religion is their way of life. During meal times, we ate using our hands, and I later discovered that the use of any form of technology was deemed to be rude. You also have to finish all food from your plate as it is rude not to. After you are through with eating, you have to remain at the table until everyone completes before you can leave. People wear formal clothes while outside the house, and while inside, they change to casual outfits and remove their shoes.
There is a greater emphasis on togetherness of the family rather than individualism. There is a lot of generosity, and the family would go to great lengths to satisfy a visitor. Additionally, Arabic culture fosters respect for the older generation and the older you are, the more respect one earns. Women are also accorded their respect and men play the protective role in the family. Arabs also use a lot of hand gestures while communicating, and are not afraid to show their emotions. Feeding and helping the poor is a usual routine in the Arab world. This experience made me gain a greater understanding of the Arab culture, and I found it easier to relate to the people.
Lessons about Myself
Experiencing life with a different culture helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses in relating to people from different cultural backgrounds. It is imperative for one to understand a different culture for greater appreciation. Once you know why people do what they do, you learn to be more appreciative and stop being judgmental. Human beings are one community and the differences in culture should not make us disagree, but bring us closer together so that we can learn and emulate what is best in our diversity. What may seem okay in one’s community may be very offensive to another. It requires a lot of patience and observation for one to know the right way to speak and behave while in a different culture, so that your actions may not influence misinterpretation.
