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RE: [RC] UAE and endurance and stuff - Karen StandeferThank you for that perspective, Steph. -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp- owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steph Teeter Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 7:46 AM To: ride camp Subject: [RC] UAE and endurance and stuff I don't think we (in the USA especially) can really grasp the cultural differences - and cultural extremes - around the world, and tend to judge others based on our limited view and experience . I know this is part of being a nation, a culture - and just as we can't understand others, they can't really understand us. But one thing that has seriously impressed me in all these travels is the depth of some of these older, more geographically isolated cultures. Mostly we're not all that different, but some of the differences just don't translate well. A few years ago I read Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger - and it entirely changed my view of the Arab people. I used to view the 'giving' as some sort of 'buying, or bribing'. All the gifts and dinners and prizes and wonderful things given to the foreigners when they came to rides in the UAE - I used to think they were sort of buying our (western) approval. But I think now that I had it totally wrong. The 'giving' thing is very deeply ingrained in their culture, the bedouin would literally give the shirt off their back to another friend. The bestowing of gifts on one another, and especially guests, was very special, and sacred. not to curry favor, but to show honor and respect. There are a lot of things over here that I view differently now, with more tolerance - and try hard not to impose my western judgement on their culture. anyway, the book is a very good read, about the UAE during the 1930's and 40's - when it was still composed of rival bedouin tribes, it mentions the al maktoums, and al nahyans, the yemenis, the omanis, the vast desert of the 'empty quarter' (where the bab al shams and endurance city are)... it's very interesting. ... and it was not all that long ago really. some interesting reading while that cold nor'easter blows up the eastern seaboard... Steph =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1223 - Release Date: 1/13/2008 8:23 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1223 - Release Date: 1/13/2008 8:23 PM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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