10 Things Only NRIs Raised In The Gulf Can Relate To

If you’re an Indian who has been raised in the gulf, then there are definitely some things that you can relate to that are exclusive to where you live. You probably come back to India every now and then and are questioned by your family, friends, and relatives about your experiences living there. Since there is such a diverse population of Indian diaspora in gulf countries, the experiences of you and your other friends often differ. Still, there are some things that are common across all the gulf countries. Here are ten things you can relate to if you have been raised in or spent most of your time in the gulf:

1. You’re Tired Of Explaining That The Gulf Is Not Just Dubai

GCC is not just the United Arab Emirates. It actually consists of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and UAE. So when you say that you live in the gulf, many people will assume that you are only referring to UAE since it is one of the most well-known and popular of the gulf countries. However, if you’ve been raised in any other GCCs, you know that this is not the case.

2. No, We Don’t Ride To School On Camels

Just as people make jokes about Indians going to school on bullock carts, your friends back in India probably crack jokes about you riding to school on camelbacks. Well, you can play that in your favor and lead them to believe that you live the life of a wealthy sheik. After all, what they don’t know can’t harm them (wink wink).

3. East Or West, Our Shawarma Is The Best

You are probably one of those people who refuse to eat shawarma in India because it will never taste as good as the real thing. There is no denying that shawarmas in the gulf are absolutely delicious. Plus, you have a much wider variety of meat over there since mutton and chicken are the most popular shawarma fillings in India.

4. Your Laptop Definitely Has Arabic Text On It

When you open your laptop in front of your Indian family back home, they probably quiz you about your keyboard. But considering that most Middle Eastern people speak Arabic as their first language, it’s totally understandable why the laptop keyboards they make have Arabic alphabets and English alphabets on them.

5. The One Place You Could Meet Your Secret Crush Was At The Mall

If you grew up in a conservative home, you knew that the only place you could hang out with your crush was at the mall food court or the movie theatre. Of course, you probably had to keep an eye out for any nosy aunties or uncles who would report back the news to your parents.

6. Coming Back To India Means Relatives Harassing You For Nuts And Dates

“Hey, what dried fruits did you get for me this time?” You’re probably badgered by your relatives for chocolates and dried fruits whenever you return back to India. Well, it does give you a sense of power over your cousins because you can selectively give them things based on who you like more (jk jk).

7. Thursday Nights Are Your Friday Nights

Thursday nights are when you get to have crazy fun since Fridays are a holiday and the week starts from Sunday. You’re probably so used to this that you never quite understood why your Indian friends from back home got so excited about Friday nights.

8. You’re Very Used To Extreme Weather

Extreme weather is probably something you can relate to as well. The few times that you are not in an air-conditioned area, you probably feel like you’re on fire. Or if you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself in the desert at night with no jacket, you probably feel like you’re going to freeze to death. Well, it’s always a good idea to keep the weather app updated.

9. Air Conditioners/Air Coolers Are A Lifesaver

Every indoor place you visit, from the mall to the busses and the airport, has air conditioning or some form of cooling. After all, how would you manage in weather conditions this extreme if it weren’t for them? If you’re someone who also grew up in a cold region and then shifted to the gulf, you probably had a hard time adjusting to this weather and rely heavily on air-conditioning.

10. Driving On Sand Dunes Is a True Adventure Sport

There’s nothing more exhilarating than driving a rented car on sand dunes. It feels almost the same as surfing on waves. Of course, you probably had to do it behind your mom’s back, so she didn’t catch you and yell at you about trying out adventure sports. If you grew up in the middle east, then you’ve definitely gone and tried out some adventure sports in your spare time.

Growing up away from your home country is no easy task. There’s probably a lot of experiences you’ve missed out on that your cousins and family friends got to experience. But there are also many unique and fun things that you probably got to experience that they didn’t get to. So do tell us in the comments about some of the things you could relate to while growing up in the gulf!

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Niharika NayakBA (Media & Communication)

 

Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, and hanging out with stray animals.

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