My friend and I were eating at a middle eastren resturant. The manager was coming over occasionally and engaging in conversation with me. My friend and I had finished our meal and was waiting on our check. According to a westreners idea of time, it had been awhile. The next time the manager came over to inquire how we were doing. My friend looks up and says " We could use our check." The manager walked away with a look of disgust. Without realising it, my friend had insulted the manager.
You see to an arab, honor is everything. And to the manager, my friend had just demeaned him by asking him to do a chore that he considered beneath him.
As dancers we interact with arabs all the time. Would it not benefit us to understand the people of the dance we represent. I found that this knowledge helped me as a dancer for example, arabs honor and respect thier family. When a employer would ask me to wait around I would tell them I was willing but my husband would be upset if I was to make him wait too long for me. This was not a lie. And I am not encouraging you to manipulate. But knowing that a owner expecially a man would not press me to do something against my husband was helpful.
Marriage and children are very important to Arabs. They will not understand if you don't want to get married. Or if you are married, that you don't want to have children. When questioned why I did not have children I would reply " God had not willed it yet." Or "These things are in God's hands." This is something they can understand.
Honor is to be protected and defended at all cost. At all cost try not to dishonor a Arab especially in front of other Arabs. One time the manager put on someone elses music for my show. Luckily I don't cheorgraph so all was well. But the owner was there and the manager seemed worried. I let him off the hook by putting the blame on me. "I am so sorry I moved my music tape and put the other one on top of the stereo." It was a small white lie, but it saved him from being embarresed in front of the owner.
Time is less ridgid to Arabs. They don't adhere to deadlines. At least not on thier part. This does not work both ways. Probally because thier honor is on the line if you show up late and a table has been asking where the dancer is. They might not phone back right away to confirm a private party is going to happen. It is not a lack of respect. Alot of times it is just that they hate to deliver bad news. So they will wait it out to the last moment hoping things will work out. This is hard for us as westerners. We want to know what to write down in our datebooks. We would rather get a no, or even a I don't know. But this is distasteful to an Arab, so they will dance around the subject. Leaving a dancer fustrated.
Arabs, much more than Westerners express emotion in a forceful and animated fashion. It can be intimidating, especially if they are speaking in arabic. To an Arab, they are not sure if you really believe in what you are saying if you don't express yourself strongly. It is not my nature to be an emotional speaker so I did not do it. I just kept in mind that the speaking loudly and being emotional does not mean that they are truly angry. They may just trying to get a point across.
It is consider rude to decline an offer of a drink. So even if you are not thirsty, accept the drink. Even if you just take a few polite sips, it is better than saying no.
Use right hand only when eating, drinking, offering or passing an object.
I hope that you will find some of these things helpful. You don't have to change who you are, but it is allways good to understand how someone else may interpert your behavior.