A word about Arabic Time
Sometimes referred to as "Middle Eastern time," which is more accurate, because although they're getting better, Israelis still do it sometimes. I read something somewhere where the author was making a joke about Arabic time, saying that an Arabic speaker's response to the question, "Will ____ be here today?" is "God willing." If you then ask "What about tomorrow?," the answer will be "Maybe."
"Arabic time" was kind of a joke among the American students here at first, at least among those of us who hadn't been here before, but it's all true. Somebody on the West Wing called it a "pliable relationship with time," and even though they were referring to the French, it's a perfect description for Arabic time. Egypt just confirmed what I already knew from Jack and his friends by giving me many more examples.
Sometimes it's kind of cool, like when our cab driver to the pyramids didn't particularly care if we spent more time at Giza then we were supposed to, or when restaurant owners in Dahab let you sit around talking or enjoying the view of the sea long after you've stopped ordering more food, or when the Alaska Camp didn't really care when we paid them. Sometimes it's weird, like when Rami couldn't quite comprehend why we would be in any hurry to get back to Jerusalem before classes started, or when Jack says half an hour when he really means two or three hours. Or when the dorms didn't really care when my old Israeli roommate Hila moved out of our room, so long as she did so, you know, soon.
That one really struck me, since the dorms in US universities would be breathing down your neck if you stayed one day after your contract expired. UCSD could do with a little Arabic time. :)
"Arabic time" was kind of a joke among the American students here at first, at least among those of us who hadn't been here before, but it's all true. Somebody on the West Wing called it a "pliable relationship with time," and even though they were referring to the French, it's a perfect description for Arabic time. Egypt just confirmed what I already knew from Jack and his friends by giving me many more examples.
Sometimes it's kind of cool, like when our cab driver to the pyramids didn't particularly care if we spent more time at Giza then we were supposed to, or when restaurant owners in Dahab let you sit around talking or enjoying the view of the sea long after you've stopped ordering more food, or when the Alaska Camp didn't really care when we paid them. Sometimes it's weird, like when Rami couldn't quite comprehend why we would be in any hurry to get back to Jerusalem before classes started, or when Jack says half an hour when he really means two or three hours. Or when the dorms didn't really care when my old Israeli roommate Hila moved out of our room, so long as she did so, you know, soon.
That one really struck me, since the dorms in US universities would be breathing down your neck if you stayed one day after your contract expired. UCSD could do with a little Arabic time. :)
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