The small things
There's something that's been bothering me slightly about the taxi drivers - sometimes I'll flag them down and ask them if they will take me somewhere.This will be a typical scenario -
Me: Can you take me to (insert area here)
Taxi Driver: [nods...and drives away]
I ignored it the first few times and took it as a national joke against me (it wouldn't be the first country to perpetrate such a move), but after a while it became somewhat concerning. Later I was having a converstaion with my friend who was telling me a story of what happened when he went to a shop in Damascus
Friend: Have you got any cereal
Shop Keeper: [nods - remains silent]
Friend: Where is it?
Shop Keeper: [nods...]
Friend: Have you got any cereal?
Shop Keeper: (angrily) NOOOOO
and so my friend realised that in Syria, the nod of the head in a straight and strictly upwards movement means "no"
It's those little things that you can't get from Arabic lessons at home.
Especially when you oversleep and miss them anyway.
posted by iMad at 7:52 PM
11 Comments:
hey maddy, sounds like a tricky situation, i nod my head in sympathy ;-)
hugs, arthur
First of all I'd like to welcome you to Syria.
Yeah, it can be a tricky thing when it comes to gestures and their meanings. You're right these things aren't really taught in classes. Well at least you're learning.
You know what? I'm a Syrian always lived outside of Syria and sometimes, I feel a culture shock when I'm in Syria. I should be moving to Syria in the next couple of weeks. So I'm pretty excited about that.
Hope you'll enjoy your stay in Syria.
am really surprised with all these blogs of forigners staying in syria
..anyway hope u enjoy it
looooooool man just read the post... u reminded me of one of the english teacher that these gestures used to drive her crazy when they happened to come out from her students...
she might ask someone (did u do ur homerwork) he would node..she would ask again ...did u do ur homerwork...and again he would nodes..she then would shout DID U DO UR HOMEWORK!!!
LOOOL
Historians believe that the name 'Dimashq' dates back to 'Mashq' the Aramean word which means the prosperous land. Some researchers say that 'Aram Zat Al-Imad', which is mentioned in the Holy Quran is itself Dimashq (Damascus).
Thank you. By the way, bros where is the deserved accreditation for assisting you with your settlement in Syria?? - Sweet Peace. BB.
well even syrian guys dont even get the right message... so join the club buddy ;)
Speaking of youth hostels, anyone know what happened to Backpack Earth? I was getting ready to book my entire trip and the site is half down it looks way different. Anyone?
Ha ha..Well good thing you know know it means no. It can't be easy to be a foreginer sometimes ;)
Hope you have a nice time in Syria.
ahh, one of the first lessons I learnt in syria... the nod followed by a simultaneous "tsk" sound from the mouth... But you couldn't be in any better place than syria...enjoy it while it lasts.
Syrian Canaries
well it's a feature of arab dude to nod for answers and point with their heads :(
sorry for inconvience
but this what makes steryotyping valid :P
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