Everyday Life

The following are a few "tidbits" of everyday life in the Middle East.

An English business man who lived and worked in Saudi Arabia said that he liked the lack of snobbery he experienced there. He said the hospitality is incredible. The hardest thing was keeping track of prayer times-- all businesses shut down five times a day for approximately 20 minutes of prayer. Sometimes he'd be in the middle of shopping and the grocery store would close. So he'd have to wait for it to re-open.

The Koran forbids drawings that represent animals or humans, so abstract designs are common especially on jewelery, textiles and swords. It is not unusual to see an Islamic home with no wall hangings, sculptures or other such decor.

The spoken word is given the highest honor. Poetry and eloquent speech are highly revered.

Click Here to learn about dental hygene in Saudi Arabia (optional, yet unforgettable).

Despite the history of conflict and war in the Middle East, the hospitality of the region is legendary.