I have to admit that I have a tremendous amount of respect for any foreign resident that is residing in the Sultanate of Oman - but to a point.
How I define this point is this way.
If your are entering a foreign country whether for business, leisure or any other goal the first thing you should be able to do, is to draw up a simple basic conclusion of what kind of freedom you are allowed to in that there said country.
Like, for instance, you wouldn't be aiming to go to Saudi Arabia for tourism, because of the strict laws they have against the female gender. Same thing applies to other countries. Basically, what I am trying to say that in order for you to enjoy your stay, you would want to play it safe.
Oman, on the other hand, is a country that allows many cultures to come in of almost any nationality without predjuce to the race, ethnicity, or even gender. But it has it also has a set of laws that it expects other people to understand and go by so that there would be no clash between the native people and the country's visitors.
So, obviously, you cannot use the excuse 'well in my country this is not normal'. Simply because you're no longer in your country, you're in the Sultanate of Oman. Something of which you agreed upon to follow the rules set by the state and it's leader (i.e.: Sultan Qaboos bin Said) and if you should push against such rules and regulations that regulate the traditions and culture of Oman then you're better off you're in own your country.
Why I bring this up, is because of the sudden rise of people that I see around me that have no respect to our culture and tradition wearing very revealing clothes or things that astound you to the point that you just cannot stand.
Don't get me wrong, I am an open minded person, but I also consider the factor that I am in my own country that has a set of traditions and cultural aspects that need to be followed so that all of this may set sails smoothly.
And correct me if I am wrong, you would expect the same from others who come over to visit your country of origin, right?
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
when in Rome..
Posted by Sleepless In Muscat at 13:29
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4 comments:
Dead on SIM. I too am sometimes shocked by the beahvior and refusal to assimilate that is increasingly present around muscat. I don't know if it's mostly tourists, or some sort of trickle down Dubai Effect?
Anyway, given all the freedoms everyone enjoys here (pork, freedom of religion, bars, mixed beaches) it's not too much to ask that everybody dress and behave in a culturally appropriate manner.
And the same goes for other places. If you live in Europe you should act European. If you live in America, you should try and be American.
The issue of permanent immigration doesn't apply much in Oman as so few guest workers will ever be granted citizenship. but for those who do, or those who are raising thier children here it's imperative that the kids be raised with an omani cultural identity.
So yeah, i've been a bit long winded here... But when in Rome, do as the Romans to the best of your ability.
I mainly think that it is very much related to less strict implementation of parenthood by the parents themselves and that is why children, teenagers and young adults do what they do with very much disregard to the society, the culture and it's traditions.
Permanent residency is given to anyone who invests in a tourism project in the Sultanate of Oman, by the way.
couldnt agree more, myself i hate it when i see foreigners misbehaving in my country, i wish if i had that authority to keep the bad out, mayesteweee? =)
secure:
la mayastewee :P
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