For the foreigner visiting the Middle East for the first time much can be learned about the Arab culture from the way people behave while travelling. For example, Arabs are always well stocked up when it comes to food and drink on any journey whether by road, air or rail - demonstrating our love of home, hospitality and of course food.

Travelling by air in particular has a way of revealing many of our ethnic and cultural characteristics. An undying optimism is one. This irrepressible force is what motivates us to pack our entire houses into a suitcase yet still be surprised when airport staff accuse us of carrying excess luggage. Astonished we even demand that the bag is weighed again - at which point we say that the scale must be broken. We will also ask for an exit-row seat even though we have arrived to check in five minutes before take off.

This optimism however cannot explain away the stubborn denial of world events by some who coyly ask if you will be willing to check in their tenth piece of luggage for them - what part of ?did you pack this bag yourself? do you not get?

And airport security personnel in the Middle East are obsessed with belts. Before you have had time to put your mobile phone through the x-ray machine the guard has demanded whatever is holding up your trousers. Yet you can walk through the metal detector with bulging wallets, coins, heavy watches, swords and guns and just get a quick pat down and be on your way.

However, pre-plane behaviour is no match for onboard antics. There is an immediate return of the blind optimism. Despite the number of people on the plane seeming to outnumber seats, passengers will still get up and wander around in the economy cabin - the second the fasten your seat belts sign has been turned off - convinced that a couple of spare seats to lounge in will be found. It will become an obsession, a life fulfilling quest. The journey will be made several times to have a look just in case someone has fallen out of the plane.

At mealtimes if the cabin crew member serving you is an Arab woman and you aren't hungry she will turn into your mother and insist you eat something before getting insulted that you don't like her cooking. And the plane's toilet must be an exciting and intriguing place - why else would anyone spend 45 minutes in there and flush the toilet six times?

Awareness of time is only ever fully realised by us when we are on a plane - usually when it makes its descent to land. If there is any contact between the rubber of the plane's wheels with the tarmac of the runway, we will immediately jump up to get our bags and prepare to leave the aircraft. We will jostle and argue to get one more place in front. However, once we are off the plane, time again has no meaning and we will be late for dinners, weddings, meetings and our own funerals.

13 Responses for 'We Arabs show some strange behaviour when we travel by air'
arabianbarbie Says:
2005-06-17 15:35:08
With respect to this idea.I travelled on business class ,I notice no difference in ethnic or nationality.I think to err is human to forgive is devine.Its human nature.Just be yourself and mind your own business.thats the best.

bzowayed Says:
2005-06-17 10:19:53
Dear Mr.Writer, please go back to school and learn how to write, oh one more thing go change your brine & nationality too.

sheik_of_canada Says:
2005-06-08 10:20:36
How do you arrive late for your own funeral? One of those attempted funny pieces...not bad, but not publishing worthy... I bet the editor is kicking himself.

aaus Says:
2005-06-06 19:36:39
Well Ispin Mor, if it were so, then whoeverthe author is, took it a little too far and well, if it were a light hearted piece then I'm sorry to say that its more of bordering on racism; that's at least how I see it and clearly many others do agree with me on that.

Ispin Mor Says:
2005-06-06 08:52:58
Most of the repliers to this article seem to be extremely sensitive.....it was a 'light' piece...some people just lack a sense of humor. To be able to laugh at yourself is a great quality of Arab people. Arabs have great sense of humor...it helped them survive great challenges and problems in their life. Lighten up a little guys!

ady001 Says:
2005-06-04 02:04:22
this is offensive for arabs. comeon 7days wat are u doing. stop such meaningless and false stuff. u cannot generalize arabs this way.

aaus Says:
2005-06-03 06:42:20
My immediate response to this article was that whoever wrote it is pretty layed back and with all due respect ignorant, clearly he/she would've made a pretty good stand up comedian. I personally find this atricle very demeaning and as an Arab I'm not saying that we are the best of people but for one thing we aren't as bad as you portray us to be and if this article was meant for a comic purpose then I think that 7days should've established a new section since they have such a talented comic!!

Nancy Says:
2005-05-30 10:59:31
Holy smokes! I think these whiney responses let everyone see why a lotta people think that 'Arabs' are kind of lacking in the sense-of-humor department. Lighten up folks!

slc2235616 Says:
2005-05-30 08:49:36
I am a foreigner in this country and I do not see any difference in the way Arabs act with respect to the rest of the world while travelling. It depends on the person not their race or culture(maybe a little by their culture). I guess you have not seen my grandmother travel. We used to have enough food to last 10 people 5 days (yes, even on the plane). She went to Hong kong to visit her brother and she brought with her five huge mangoes from her tree in the garden, 20 huge dumplings (at least 600gm each), jars of homemade preserves, breads, cookies (just in case she is stranded), clothes for a month and presents for everybody. I on the other hand travel with a small knapsack with my travelling documents, my trusty cellphone and charger, two changes of clothes, sunblock, toothbrush and tooth paste (and that is supposed to last me more than 2 weeks). By the way, I am female.

mayed81 Says:
2005-05-30 06:59:07
I didnt bother myself reading the rest of the article because it looked like it doesnt make sense at all . In the first the writer said "For the foreigner visiting the Middle East for the first time much can be learned about the Arab culture from the way people behave while travelling " ...This indicates that the writer doesnt know what he's talking about ... who is he to talk about arabs in general?? a writer should have ethics and patriotism to his origins before starting to write ... this also indicates that his view to foreigners who travel to the middle-east is so narrow that he thinks a normal person can build up an idea of a nation's culture by simply seeing travellers of this nation? If that was the case then lets burn all history books that desrcibes what our ancestors have done and gone through to build up our cultures and traditions...please Mr.Writer people are open minded now , you cant judge a book by its cover...i suggest you read a couple of books and articles are REAL writers.. Assuming that the writer calls himself an Arab , he should be sued for such an article, Arabs and Islam are being insulted almost everyday now..why is he trying to act smart ? Please "7days" we expect nothing less that professionalism and perfection from you so make sure that such people of subnormal intelligence doesnt ruin your image or else you may have to face undesirable consequence. Thanks

abbasaliz Says:
2005-05-29 02:16:44
All I think the article was pretty well written and just to highlight certain traits of Arab race in a lighter way - there is nothing to be offended about it. There are many annoying habbits that a European/American/Australian/Chines e may have but that can be a subject of a different article. No one is stopping you from carrying halal food but lets keep 20kgs limit. I spent 6 months in Russia and ate vegetables cause I did not have access to halal meat but that was no excuse to carry 6 months stock of halal meat. My point is that lets not take this article negatively or defensively its just highlighting certain traits and every race/culture has its own. It was not meant to degrade or insult anyone. Abbas Ali

shaheenirani Says:
2005-05-12 04:20:34
I find your article ? We Arabs show some strange behavior when we travel by air? rather offensive to the Arab people. I know it is meant to be a light ?tongue in cheek? piece but is not funny. Comes across more like a ?weeny winey? piece written by someone who had a bad journey. To judge a whole race of people due to a few individuals is rather juvenile. How come the annoying drunk , the loud obnoxious person or the person who talks on their phone the whole time are not mentioned. They even the kid that kicks your seat the whole time is less bothersome then the traveling Arab?? I also find it rather interesting that the person who wrote it has not attached their name to it. Perhaps they too knew what a sad excuse it was for journalism and are using 7-days as a outlet for their frustration.

shariefoo Says:
2005-05-11 06:44:52
This is very insluting to all Arabs. I really dont understand how you call your self an Arab or how you are alowed to write about Arabs. Your Artical is just wrong is viewed from one point.

1) Arabs might sometimes look like over pack but you will notice that most of the time its when they are traveling a long journey. You (as a muslim i assume) must know that we can only eat Halal food and in most places in Europ that is not found. Its not that we are obssesed with food.

2) You rarely see no-a-days any Arabs arguing to weight the bags again. Among old people it is common but with the newer generation that is not true. However you are making it sound that only Arabs are like this. I remember a couple of cases in London that this happened with English people. But you, you make it sound like Arabs are savages who like to get their way all the time.

3) As for the Airport Security thing, it is normal for them to ask you to put your belt in the X-ray if your belt has some kind of metal and no they do not let Guns, Coins or any metal pass by like you mentioned. Are arabs not resposible ? Are they not to be trusted with security ? Is that what you are accusing us for ? I have travelled to most Middle east Airports (as my job requires i do) and not once did i face this issue with security. I have been asked to put my belt under the x-ray but only because it had some metal on it. My friend this is all your imagination tricking you simple mind.

4) Airlines would never, NEVER, let passengers in a plane if there are no seats. They do check in their systems (in case you are not aware of technologies) so what you mentioned is simply impossible and i should know since i have worked for Emirates Airline in the last 5 years.

5) As for people moving around, airlines actually encourage passengers to do so to refresh their legs and body and to keep the blood flowing in the body. Everyone dose it, not only Arabs.

6) The Cabin Crew (Arabs or Not Arabs) are well trained and well paid so please do not tell me that if you refuse a meal they get insulted. Some might ask if you are sure because once the meal is refused it cannot be served later. But that is all. However, saying that an Arab Cabin Crew insists that you take your food is absolotly wrong.

7) Lastly, everyone starts getting up once the plane landed. not only arabs. In fact there are alot of Arabs that stay back till the plane gets empty so they have more freedome in moving.

Mr. Mustafa Al Rawi, you should feel ashamed of your self. It is people like you that ruine the image of Arabs outside. I am even sure if i can call you an Arab.I have always regared 7 days as one of the best papers in UAE but if such articals are published god knows what else could be published.