Chan'ad Bahraini

Like before, Kuwaiti resident David Olivier has another great post on his blog. This time he details the way in which business is conducted in our part of the world. Here is a short excerpt:

More than this however I've enjoyed experiencing the process of negotiation which has involved many delayed or canceled meetings on both ends and Mafioso-like arbitration through suggestion and ambiguous implication.
"Nothing personal. It's just business"

I drank my tea and in a voice that was somewhere between a whisper and a mumble I said, "I can write course syllabus on my own time. This is no problem. I enjoy it."
Translation: I'll plagiarize similar course descriptions from various web sites and I won't charge you for my time.

He said, "Inshallah you will have them by Monday and I can begin promoting the class."
Translation:
"Please have them ready within the next two weeks and I will start making the rounds at the diwaniyas using my wasta to get other people to use their wasta to get contracts with ministries and businesses."

Hilarious stuff, yet so true. Read the rest of the post here.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 03, 2004 at 7/03/2004 03:01:00 pm. Permalink