Monday, February 18, 2008

why do westerns say hi to each other, we dont

I am writing now from the USA. I came few days ago to celebrate the graduation and marriage of my brother in law.
I was walking early morning , trying to enjoy the good weather and noticed that everyone, young and old people, females and males.... say hi to each other, even if they dont know the other person.
It s great. i like it. and started thinking why we dont do the same... Our culture is more family and society oriented than their culture. Our religion asks us to do so... why i dont know who is my neighbour? why if i say good morning when i am in the lift, no one replies to me?

small gesture, but it means a lot...
worth give it a thought.

4 comments:

Whatever said...

That sucks! But keep it up, you'll eventually find people interacting with you ;) I know I would!

mama said...

well i am surprised.. cz where i live in UAQ in UAE, every body says assalam 3alaykom and we all reply from the doorman to the doctor next door... all my neighbours are friendly too, we saluate and invite each others... i thought it was something really special about UAE.. maybe not dubai..

Life of Arab Woman said...

yes, that is um quwain, not dubai. Dubai life is very artificial. we are robots here. we do not belong to anything ...

American Muslima Writer said...

I feel the same way when coming to Arabia from USA. I was always smiling and saying hi to everyone especially if in same area as the other like bus stops, elevators etc... I tried to keep doing this in Lebanon and poeple kept looking at me funny especailly the men. My hubby told me to stop smiling at men casue they think i'm flirting. SO I did and when i got to UAE forget it! I see NO women smiling and when i say salam to them they don't reply. How un-sunnah is that! Shame on them....