Meh To Mah To Eh

Meh To Mah To Eh

The conventions in the Middle East are that social
interaction and conversation among Arabs occurs at a
much closer distance than normal in the Western World
and well within the “personal space” defined by the West.  
¾ Long handshakes, grasped elbows, even walking hand
in hand by two males is common place in the Arab
world.  
¾ A considerable number of Arabs touch more between
the same sex.   They hold hands, hug each other.  
¾ As Arab society condones the outward display of
affection between male friends, one may see Arab
men, even officials and military officers, holding hands
as they walk together or otherwise converse with one
another.  
¾ If an individual Arab does not touch you, he does not
like you--or he may be trying to restrain himself
because you are not used to being touched.  
¾ A full body embrace, accompanied with hugging,
should not be initiated until you are sure that the Arab
is a close friend. If the Arab initiates it, participate and
consider yourself honored and/or accepted.  
¾ Contact between the opposite sex in public is
considered close to obscene.   Eye contact during
discussions--often long and direct--is important. Staring
is not necessarily rude (except gazing at women). The conventions in the Middle East are that social
interaction and conversation among Arabs occurs at a
much closer distance than normal in the Western World
and well within the “personal space” defined by the West.  
¾ Long handshakes, grasped elbows, even walking hand
in hand by two males is common place in the Arab
world.  
¾ A considerable number of Arabs touch more between
the same sex.   They hold hands, hug each other.  
¾ As Arab society condones the outward display of
affection between male friends, one may see Arab
men, even officials and military officers, holding hands
as they walk together or otherwise converse with one
another.  
¾ If an individual Arab does not touch you,...