My Oman(real)ization
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am now in Oman. My position here is to do continuing research and logistical setup for a pending AIESEC expansion. The main reason I took this opportunity is because it gives us the chance to go over all of our past mistakes and what we have learned and to do it better this time.
While I have been to Oman before and had quite the cultural experience, I am learning a lot more about the country this time around.
With the promise of much cultural understanding to come, I will leave you with a quick generalization and question to ponder.
Generalization: Omanis are of the nicest people in the Gulf, quite possibly in the world.
Question: If the above is true, why is it that in Muscat the drivers are so rude? It is of note that I have driven in both the UAE and Bahrain and wasn't shocked by the same thing there).
Yalla.
While I have been to Oman before and had quite the cultural experience, I am learning a lot more about the country this time around.
With the promise of much cultural understanding to come, I will leave you with a quick generalization and question to ponder.
Generalization: Omanis are of the nicest people in the Gulf, quite possibly in the world.
Question: If the above is true, why is it that in Muscat the drivers are so rude? It is of note that I have driven in both the UAE and Bahrain and wasn't shocked by the same thing there).
Yalla.

11 Comments:
At 7/11/06 11:14, sabaza said…
HENSEL!!! You're kidding!
When did you get to Oman? When are we going to see you in Dubai then?
Sherif
At 7/11/06 11:23, Eric W Hensel said…
Just got here a few days ago. I will be in Dubai next weekend inshallah.
I believe this means I am back, and probably for damn near good!
E
At 8/11/06 08:43, S!lent.Sp!r!t said…
true it is known that the Omanis are THE nicest in the Gulf followed by the Bahrainis, but as I have heard, the reason behind such rudeness is the new crazy generation which usually drive the pickup or that sort of car, while the more reasonable ppl ride nice cars;)
At 9/11/06 10:34, Tini said…
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
At 9/11/06 10:36, Tini said…
Welcome back Mr. Hensel!!!
Good things come to those who wait...
At 10/11/06 15:50, Anonymous said…
HEY Hensel, welcome to tge region again! when are we going to meet you? :-)
Aqeel
At 11/11/06 21:55, Ming said…
Your entries just made me scroll up and down many times to see the dates between your two entries. One week you are job searching in MI, and the next you are in Oman! That is so unbelievably cool. I can hardly believe you are the same Eric whom I met two years ago!
Miss ya.
At 12/11/06 16:31, DoTs... said…
we always hear that Omanis are the sweetest!! don't generalize from a driving experience.. people tend to forget who they are when they are behind the wheeels.. they go CRAZY !!! :p
have fun in dubai..
At 13/11/06 15:23, Eric W Hensel said…
I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say, "I am so sorry, I was drunk, I didn't mean to behave like that, I would never say the things I did drunk if I were sober."
To me it is the same thing, when people are drunk they aren't hiding who they really are anymore. No matter how terrible they may act, that is probably how they are deep down inside no matter how hard they hide it in their day to day life.
When people are behind their car, tinted windows, in a big city, they can act however they want and let loose.
So this case is one part the Omani Agression built up that they would never show you face to face, and one part frustration at the growing traffic and modernization of their traditional culture.
And yes, it would be more prominent in a certain group than others, probably the younger more bored generation than the older relaxed and fulfilled one.
In Dubai I expect drivers to be crazy and rude, it was just a little shock for me in Oman since it is so contrary to the rest of their culture of kindness.
At 13/11/06 22:27, William said…
Hey Ass Man,
I will be in OMan next week, see ya there, send me your cell.
At 22/11/06 15:08, Anonymous said…
Eric im gonna kill u if u dont come to bahrain!!! You have to come i can't believe ur in oman and i dont know about it!!
Please please u have to come to Bahrain we all miss u soooo much
Ala
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