I was at
Saudi Arabia during June 2011 for Umrah or minor pilgrimage to Mecca. It is
obligatory for able-bodied Muslims to perform Hajj or major pilgrimage at least
once in their life but the Umrah is just highly encouraged as a precursor to
the major pilgrimage. Nonetheless, be it minor or major, the tests for pilgrims
are still evident throughout the whole journey while performing the rituals,
mixing with people from all corners of the Earth. In fact, the tests carried on
up to my last moments in the country at the customs checkpoint.
My family arrived at the airport very early due to some
logistical issues but was hopeful to get some air-conditioning in the airport after
the long and dry car ride from Mecca to Jeddah. To our dismay, we found out
that we cannot check-in as we were too early and had to wait outside since
there is not waiting area indoors. It didn't help that all the shops were
closed as it was on a Friday and they were closed for Friday prayers and
probably for the rest of the day too since Thursday and Friday is their
weekend. The airport was functioning at its bare minimum for operations.
Once we checked-in and completed baggage screening, we were
dumbfounded to see a row of empty immigration checkpoint counters! We looked
around for assistance but couldn't find any and thought we could just go
through the counters. We were about to do just that until someone came out of
the blue to stop us. With an annoyed looked, speaking in a rough mixture of Arabic
and English gesturing at us to take a seat. We enquired on what was going on and
vaguely, we figured out form his words that the officers were out for their
afternoon break! All at the same time!
The guy we spoke to was neither apologetic nor ashamed to
reveal that, basically because, we are on their land and we live by their
rules. It is their culture to have the mid-afternoon break usually for tea. In
fact, in the Sacred Mosque Al-Haram, you will find Arabs bringing around tea in
thermos flask with plastic cups to selflessly offer it to people in the mosque.
Tea is an important part of their lives, and there is no way they are going to
allow anyone stop them from having it.
Then there is the issue of productivity. It is neither something
that they pride on, nor something that they see as important. This has partly got to
do with the problems out of Saudi Arabia’s welfare state system. Unemployment
and low productivity are the main by-products and even Britain faced the
problems. The oil boom in the mid-20th century brought huge amounts
of riches to the country and generous welfare benefits to the country.
Unfortunately, it eroded much of the grit, hard work and discipline which the
earlier generations had in bringing up the desert lands to flood in the
petrodollars.
There is no point in getting worked up over their attitude
or the poor service. Knowledge on a particular people’s background is vital
before you interact with them to prevent any miscommunication and animosity.
Now that I am aware of some of the reasons behind their behavior, I learn to
appreciate this diversity among people. Not everyone can be up to Singapore’s
infrastructural and service standards but doesn't that makes things more interesting?
