QATAR VISITOR: THE TRUTH ABOUT QATARI MEN

Youstra Abdelaal,  British expat who has been in Qatar for six years, dispels misconceptions many expatriates have about Qatari men in a blog posting recently.  She said that while Qatari men appear stand-offish and spoiled–with their designer sunglasses, pens, and flashy cars–they are really much like the Western expatriates that continue to move to Qatar.  They struggle financially to support themselves and take care of their families.  They enjoy TV and the internet and are very approachable, even though their traditional dress creates an invisible barrier between them and expatriates.

 Question to the Blogosphere:  Do you believe Yousra’s analysis of Qatari men, or do you think her experience with them was different because she speaks the local dialect fluently?  What are the experiences of female expatriates in Qatar–are they different from a man’s expatriate experience?  Can overseas exchanges such as the one Yousra is doing, increase common ground between cultures, focusing on our common humanity?