Some things you get used to some you don't. For instance the Sunday through Thursday workweek with Friday as the Holy day (like our Sunday) is still a bit strange. On thing i'll probably never get used to is the traffic making turns in any direction from any lane. As my taxi makes a left turn from the right lane across six lanes of traffic I hold my breath and close my ears to the unceasing honking of horns.
Listening to the locals gives you a perspective on how a particular worldview colors your perspective. We all wonder what really happened to cause the EgyptAir flight to crash leaving New York. On the street here it is "common knowledge" (i.e. considered "fact") that it was shot down by the US military because there was an Egyptian military officer on board.
The Internet usage here is growing rapidly but still very small. In public debates you hear the perspective that the explosive growth of technology favors the West over the East (translated as the Haves over the Have-Nots). The western perspective is that the east needs to get on board and get with the program. The east feels that the west should slow down or at least fund the east to catch up (without changing how they do things).
The more I work in these countries the more I understand why we have such problems working together toward a (even relatively agreed upon) common good, and the more I puzzle over what could make it possible. Some days travel stretches the mind other days it boggles it.
Return to Tales from a Road Warrior Contents
© 2001-2010 Telchar Systems, Inc. • all rights reserved