INSHALLAH

There is a phrase in Arabic that is used very often here – Inshallah – If Allah wishes so. But the more important thing is that the ways of using this phrase is a perfect example of the culture. There are different occasions when this phrase is used:
1. The most logical one: It promised to be sunny tomorrow - Answer: Inshallah!
2. The bit annoying one: AT work: Can we have a meeting today about our project? – Inshallah!
Can you send me the information today? – Answer: Inshallah!

3. The most annoying and a bit scaring one: In the Taxi: Can you please take me from point A to point B? – Answer: Inshallah!

Well Allah is great, but there are some things in life that depend ONLY on you and not on Allah! Only you can do your work and meet the deadlines! Only you can be on time for the meetings! Only you can ensure that you know the directions to a place! But somehow in this culture time is not important. Structure is an un-known word.

In a way its kind of cool. I learn how to operate without structure. So when meeting jumps from one topic to another after every 5 minutes, at first it was hard to focus or understand anything. Now I am learning ways how to capture my thoughts and direct the conversations back to the objective. Or when meetings have no agenda or objectives, but they just happen, cause maybe something good will come out of it.
How to be more flexible with the time. Don’t stress out when people say that they will be 5 min late and actually mean 45 minutes. Its all good until I still live according to my standards but also respect the standards of this culture – Inshallah!