We have enjoyed seeing so many friends and spending so much time with family while back in the USA. We really enjoy talking about our experiences and love all of the questions we get from everyone. We get a lot of repeat questions (which we're happy to answer) but there was one question that we hadn't been asked before - and it really stood out to me.
I have been thinking about it ever since our friend Tim asked, "What do they do right?" I think it is a great question and I appreciated his openness to the idea that the USA does not do everything perfectly and can probably learn a thing or two from the rest of the world. So, what does the UAE (and in some cases, the Middle East) do right? Here are our answers (in no particular order):
I have been thinking about it ever since our friend Tim asked, "What do they do right?" I think it is a great question and I appreciated his openness to the idea that the USA does not do everything perfectly and can probably learn a thing or two from the rest of the world. So, what does the UAE (and in some cases, the Middle East) do right? Here are our answers (in no particular order):
- Much stronger emphasis on family
- Fewer ambitious, driven people
- Very little bureaucracy in government
- Zero tolerance for drinking and driving
- Inshallah [see our post from July 15]
- Better infrastructure (definitely in Dubai and Abu Dhabi - but not always in Sharjah)
- They openly acknowledge national/cultural/racial differences. What I mean is that everyone has stereotypes whether they admit it or not. In the Emirates, people are honest about having them rather than pretending that they don't exist. Maybe you're not sure you like this last one - but we always appreciate honesty.
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