View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Monday, September 22, 2008

First Impressions of Emiratis and the Emirates

First Impressions
It has been said that the first 15 minutes upon entering a country are extremely important as it is fascinating to note our first impressions.

A Romanian guy has just written his impressions upon landing in the UAE. He is on a 3 month hitchhiking journey to Nepal by land, passing through Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India.

First Impressions of the Emirates
In his blog entitled Pathzero he records his first impressions upon landing in the UAE—the cumbersome new visa process (these were supposed to be granted in 10-15 minutes), the heat and humidity outside air conditioned zones, the huge number of Toyota vehicles, the high buildings of Dubai and Sharjah, the beauty of the mosques, the large number of expats and the imbalance with the native population…

First Impressions of Emiratis
This hitchhiking blogger is a straight talker so he says of Emiratis:

“[It] is the people that impress me less. The Arabs in the Emirates are so different from all Arabs I’ve met till now. They are cold, distant and very suspicious. I have the longest and most interesting conversations with Pakistanis and Indians. In the floor I live in there are forty Indians. They are very passionate and interested in everything is new and different. They receive my presentation on Romania with obvious joy.”

Remembering Your First Impressions
First impressions are usually very personal and can be right and wrong.

What were your first impressions of the Emirates? Do you still feel the same way or have your impressions changed?

What were your first impressions of Emiratis? Are you in agreement with our hitchhiking blogger? Why do you think this is so or not so?

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Pathzero Home page.