Arabic etiquette: the promise in Arabic or "bukra insha-lla"

While in the Arab world and dealing with the Arabs, be prepared for what you have to face with one feature of the Arabs - to avoid certain and unequivocal answers like "yes" or "no." Rather than promise to do something, they say insha-lla, which means "if God wishes".

That is an expression insha-lla is used to mean "most likely yes."

Bukra, which means "tomorrow" in the Egyptian dialect, is used to mean "not today".

Switzer-seamstresses, used in promises, which generally means "slowly, not today and not tomorrow, but God willing, everything will be done."

And the expression maalesh - "nothing, it will do" - is used when a person is late or unable to do anything.

So when you make an agreement about something with the Arabs, especially when it comes to the Egyptians, you always hear in response bukra insha-lla, ie, "if God wills, then tomorrow everything will be ready." And here you need a very clear idea that perhaps tomorrow there will be nothing done, or because "God does not wish, or interfere with something else. An attempt to "put pressure" on the Arab partner, and to squeeze out of it time-bound agreement is unlikely to lead to something. Most likely, he just mess about you opinion, and he did not understand why you're so nervous, because it is already doing everything possible.

Once in Egypt, leader of the delegation of Russian students lived in a dorm room, which is not lockable. She was told that the key to the room where something is, but he lost, and promised to find him soon. Resentment and fear of the ladies are well understood, and so, after four days, promises to find the key to her room, or move it to another room and numerous bukra insha-lla her patience is exhausted. Talking to the administration of the hostel at a very high tones, she sent for the same, a key. He was found within half an hour! However, the rest of the month of her stay in the country, almost every day to her approaching administrator dormitories and explained to her in English and in Arabic the same thing: "we tried, we searched for the key, we did everything we could and we did not understand why it was so nervous. We still gave you the key! " Needless to say, that this situation does not contribute to good and partnership relations between Russian and Egyptian counterparts.

The same applies to the meetings. If you make an agreement with an Arab meet, say, two hours of the day, asking if he would be in two, then the answer you'll hear the same insha-lla. This means that it may well be arrived late for 15 minutes at best. Apologies if this do not wait, because the fact that he arrived late, was not his fault that it happened by the will of God, and your upset his expectation of the form does not arouse any sympathy for Arabs. If you begin to hint at the fact that being late is not good, count on a complete misunderstanding on the part of your Arab partners.

Therefore, communicating with your Arab colleagues, rely on the possible delay on, that promise can not always run at the appointed time, the fact that many in the Arab world depends on the case or, in other words, the will of God. Relax and try to learn from your colleagues, the Arab ability to feel life in every passing minute.

At the same time, in the Arab world there are exceptions, it is primarily about Syria. As practice shows, the Syrians are extremely punctual. Syrian hardly arrived late to a meeting, he may even come a little ahead of time. The same can be said about the inhabitants of Jordan.

Cosmetics and perfumes of Yemen' women. Part 2

In Yemen, the distinction between married and unmarried women is very important. The general rule is that the unmarried do not use cosmetics, in special cases may only be a coloring. But married women should not use cosmetics if the spouse is away or died, as well as in large families where the woman, although it may appear to Devereux with an open face, but he should not see her makeup. The paint and fragrances can be used only in the presence of her husband and immediate family members, as well as in the presence of other women.

After the wedding titivation using cosmetics, perfumes, appropriate clothing and jewelry are not only permitted but is even considered necessary, if a woman wants to remain desirable for a husband. That is, on the one hand, part of the marital debt, an expression of love and respect for her husband and their self-worth, and with another - symbolized the status of married women. Fawn Brook tells how once in the ladies' society, she showed her friend the Yemeni woman, newly married. The woman studied at Oxford and dressed simply, according to European fashion. Yemen friend commented briefly on the situation: "My husband would soon divorce her."

Function colors and flavors is primarily to stimulate sexual activity of her husband. Most often, sexual activity increases the aromatic substances of animal origin. A cosmetic cream and means for fumigation are used mainly on Thursdays and before the holidays, ie before the holidays, when the couple go to bed together, or when her husband returns from his trip.

Cosmetics in any case not intended to draw attention to themselves strangers in the street. If a woman is going to walk in the afternoon meeting, it should not use perfume. When her hands wearing makeup, she wears gloves. In addition to the family circle, afternoon meeting, women are more able - or even a public duty - to use and to demonstrate "means of beauty." Here, firstly, should include daily visits to relatives, girlfriends and neighbors, which occur mainly in the afternoon to evening prayer. Even more important in our context are visits during religious or family celebrations, such as birth, circumcision, marriage, the return of the pilgrimage. Those and other visits are often made without warning, especially if there is no phone.

In this case, and the hostess, and visitor has a role. Along with the use of spirits, fumigation is, above all, a part of the greeting ritual. "Odors are an essential part of hospitality: it is believed that they contribute to creating a very relaxed atmosphere" (Meneley A. Tournaments of Value. Sociability and Hierarchy in Yemeni Town. Toronto, 1996). Compliance with all customs hostess has the honor to their guests.

Similarly, the visitor, using cosmetics, shows his respect for the hostess. The coloring of ink from the bile is an expression of close relations between the parties. Each new incoming visitor carefully scanning the present and evaluated. Evaluated as the observance of common rules, and originality of women, the use of her own recipes and, of course, its material capabilities, which are also demonstrated in this case. The coloring of the body, the use of spirits and funds for fumigation reflect the social status of women. They pay attention to no less than on clothing and jewelry, discuss them and asks: "Who made your coloring?", "Where to buy the means for fumigation?", "How much does it cost?" etc.

Cosmetics and perfumes of Yemen' women

The book of a German researcher - Arabist Hannah Schoening "Cosmetics and perfumes of Yemen women "Substances Lexicon, supplies and equipment," released in 2002 was dedicated to the topic which is very important for specialists in South Arabia. Many travelers mentioned peculiarities of the local cosmetics (yellow faces, green eyebrows, painted with henna palm), wrote about the fragrant smoke of incense and the bitterness of myrrh. Hannah Schoening presents detailed monographic study, the first of its kind.

Hannah Schoening

In Arabic literature, feminine beauty and standards of beauty was devoted to a particular literary genre, the pre-Islamic poetry, the theme of beauty beloved was the main. In the intonation of Arabic poem description "of beauty" Arab (this refers to clothing, jewelry and cosmetics) has a significant place.

The coloring of the body with various substances occurs worldwide and has been known since antiquity. As before, this combination medicine, magic and pure aesthetics, although the emphasis today is carried on the aesthetic aspect. Sometimes difficult to determine what is the subject - or ornament amulet, and to differentiate its dual function, as difficult to understand, I used just a cosmetic for beauty, as medicine and, above all, protection from evil eye.

Asked about the appointment of cosmetics are usually responsible: for beauty, bearing in mind the visual and olfactory side. This explanation surprised even European travelers in the second half of 19 - 20 in the first half., Watching ugly, in their opinion, coloring bodies of local residents, which once again demonstrates the subjectivity and relativity of the concept of "beauty".

"I've never seen anything more disgusting than the women with painted faces. When they lifted the veil, it is difficult to imagine that they are people. I saw his eyes, decorated with blue and red fish, which goes into their heads nose. The upper part of his face was yellow, bottom - green, with small black spots, and under the nostrils, similar to the two red cherries, stretched the green band on top of paint gleamed. forehead was, painted with three red lines, whiskers painted in red, yellow, green cheeks, crossed the lane "(Ben T., Mr. and Mrs. Southern Arabia. Reading. London, 1994).

In Hadzhreyne Doreen Ingrams watched as women without a special occasion painted their faces in "yellow paste made of wood, known as Varya, his forehead painted the green and red lines, so that when they considered themselves very attractive, steel, in my view, similar to clowns ... Their bare arms and legs were smeared with Vars and covered with a layer of gray mud, as if these women had just endured some serious illness "(Ingrams DA Time in Arabia. London, 1970).

Aesthetics and health are also closely related to each other: strong, healthy hair, for example, are at the same time, and beautiful. Strict division into categories and thus distinction between the functions of cosmetic products can not produce any drogisty and consumers. Indeed, many of the substances are several or even all the roles - such as saffron.

To Be Continued...

Arabic (Eastern) cuisine

Oriental cuisines Arab countries have many common features, for example - the use of common products, such as lamb, goat, veal, chicken, beans, rice and fresh vegetables, as well as ways of cooking.

In eastern cuisine, unlike Chinese, which is often used pork, Arabs do not eat pork. A dish of fish and milk products occupy in the Arab cuisine quite important. Another feature of Arab cuisine is the use of olive oil, as well as widespread use of various herbs and spices.

For Arab cuisine is typical of the special processing of meat without any fat, when the temperature of the pan is brought to 300 °, and meat coming into contact with its hot surface, coagulates and forms a crust that keeps the product of meat juice. With this method of meat dish is particularly tender and juicy. The other major way - first the meat is roasted on a hot, dry pan, then fried in a pan with oil. As a garnish Arabs often served fried or steamed vegetables, or steamed rice.

Most soups Arab cuisine prepared in a meat broth. The most popular among the Arabs of soups with beans and rice, peas and noodles, peas and potatoes, green beans, etc.

From Second dishes - meat stew and fried, chicken stewed in tomato sauce with vegetables, pilaf. A common meal in many Eastern nations is wheat or corn gruel. In Saudi Arabia, it is usually poured sour milk. Sometimes it is spread in the form of a pyramid and filled with fat and covered in small pieces of meat. Is popular as cereal flour, mix with olive oil and cayenne pepper.

A significant part of the diet of Arab cuisine occupy all kinds of fruits, especially figs, which are no less important than the grains. Most of them make the paste, which can store all year round.

The traditional drink of Oriental cuisine - coffee. The process of cooking and drinking is a complicated procedure, first roasted corn, stirring them to a small metal rod. Grain coffee is ground in a mortar with a special observance of a certain rhythm. Cook coffee in a copper and brass vessels of three sizes, similar to the kettles. Typically, coffee drink without sugar, but with the addition of spices - cloves and cardamom. In Egypt, for example, there are three "types" of coffee - "Garden", "Ziyad" and "masbuta" - empty, that is, no sugar, very sweet and average.

Another popular beverage in Egypt - "muses bi al-lyaban" - a milkshake with grinded bananas, which is very easy to prepare at home, especially if the mixer. As they say the Egyptians, it is easy, but at the same time very rich.

It is interesting to note that the "Alexandria" kitchen quite significantly different from the "Cairo" cuisine, fish dishes and condiments that are served in Alexandria, in fact no different from the Cypriot cuisine. For example, Egyptians, Cypriots are convinced that the "hummus" - paste condiment of yellow peas, with sesame sauce tehina and olive oil - it is their traditional dish.

In Syria and Lebanon, representatives of the traditional eastern cuisine are meat dishes such as "KUBBA" - fried or boiled balls of meat, fish, various spices, lamb roasted on a spit, vegetables stuffed with meat, yahni - hotpot. The most common of dairy products - lyaban Hamid - fermented boiled milk. From it is prepared cheese, dry cheese, soft drink huneyna.

My favorite national dish of Iraqis are pilaf with lamb and rice, which usually add raisins, figs and almonds, "yahni" - a dish with relish reminiscent of stew, wheat bread, mixed with the sour milk, sweet food: candy, candied fruit. Among drinks available black coffee, which almost always drink without sugar, but with the addition of saffron and nutmeg, tea, diluted with water, sour milk.