Page 124 - NU Newsletter 2022

spiritual and practical terms. Because, in the Arabic cuisine, Held with Arabs

Arabic dishes are usually eaten by hand, and hands are al- A quiet place away from distractive
ways washed before eating. Face, hands and arms are also elements should be chosen. The first

washed in accordance with beliefs. meetings are for talking about gener-
al issues, the Middle Easterners re-

9- How are the Structures of Arab Houses? sist discussing on too many topics at
Arab houses can be the first meeting.

one-roomed or multi-roomed. The Middle Easterners are flexible
In one-room houses, the about the time of the meeting, a de-

sleeping area is separated lay is not perceived as a sign of dis-
from the rest of the space by respect. In the Arabic culture, greet-

curtains. The roof of a typical ing is done with men by shaking hands according to the order
Arabic house is flat, the walls are of seniority; and never attempt to shake hands with an Arab

thick and light colored. Some woman unless she reaches out for you.
houses are built in a way where In the Arabic culture, giving gifts is suitable if the meeting

some part of the house remains takes place at home, and the gifts must be packed. The pack-
under the ground for protection ages are not opened in front of the gift giver and the gifts of-

from hot weather; and people of- fered must not be rejected more than twice for the sake of
ten sleep on the ground. respect. Gifts should be given openly at the end of the meet-

ing.
10- How does the Arabic Cloth-

ing Culture Differ in Women and Men? Arabic translators
Arab men’s clothing consists of a wide range of dress- When you need Arabic Translation service if an inter-

es from western style suits to jeans, from T-shirts to tradition- preter will accompany you during the meeting, pay attention
al long dresses. Arab men’s traditional long dress provides air that the interpreter and your correspondent have the same

flow, keeping the body cool, and they protect themselves from dialect, since Arabic languages may differ. It will even be
the sun by covering their heads. The Arabic attire is shaped helpful for you to choose your interpreter among the same

by Islamic rules and, even more than that, by geographical Arabic speaking countries as the Arabs whom you will meet
and climate conditions. with. If your interpreter is a woman, you need to learn if she

will be welcomed in advance of the meeting. Make eye con-
tact with your colleague, even through an interpreter, and

don’t wear sunglasses even if your meeting takes place in
daylight.

Drinks such as tea and coffee should be available during your
meeting with your colleague. Offer your colleague at least 3

times to drink tea during the meeting and accept at least 2

When it comes to Arabic women’s clothes, devotion to tradi-

tional Arabic clothing varies from country to country. While
Saudi Arabia is more dependent on traditions, Egypt is less

dependent. Traditional Arabic women’s clothes cover the
whole body. Arabic women living in the countryside wear less

restrictive, lighter and looser clothes. In order to obtain infor-
mation about Arabic women, research should be conducted

based on the regions where they live and Arabic women’s
clothes should be evaluated accordingly.

Recommendations on Arabic Greetings and Meetings to be
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