Participant Observation of an Arab Cafe Essay Example

me to view the Arabic culture from an outsider's perspective, while my exposure to the collectivistic culture gave me a deeper understanding of their actions. Ultimately, being exposed to both cultures helped me analyze the Arabs. I could observe their attire as someone detached from Arabic culture and also interpret it based on my knowledge of Islam and its significance in growing a beard.

Upon entering the cafe, I immediately sensed a Middle Eastern atmosphere. The cafe had been meticulously designed to replicate an authentic Arabic experience. Arabic music filled the background as an Arabic channel played on the TV. The walls were adorned with bookcases, each shelf housing a variety of topics ranging from Arabic relations to Arabic democracy and even Arabic kitchen & cookware. The cafe boasted a diverse customer base, consisting of both Americans and individuals of Arabic descent.

The waitress delivered the menu to me after 15 minutes of sitting down. On the first page of the menu, instead of appetizers, there was a concise description of Zenobia, the queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Roman Syria. The menu had Arabic patterns on it and did not offer any alcoholic drinks. I decided to order an apple hookah and began jotting down notes.

An interesting cultural observation I made was the way customers interacted with each other. Despite being unfamiliar, they engaged in constant conversation. At one point, seven people from three different tables were involved in a cohesive discussion. If I hadn't known that these individuals came to the cafe separately, I would have assumed they were close acquaintances. This experience made me realize how the concept

of a "stranger" differs across cultures. In individualistic societies, strangers are seen as separate and unfamiliar, while collectivist cultures encourage and accept interactions with strangers.

Engaged in a cultural exchange, the girl seated beside me initiated conversation by asking, "What are you doing?" upon establishing eye contact. This led me to conduct an impromptu interview in order to comprehend the cultural significance of this particular setting for an Arabic individual. Although I had not prepared any specific questions, I steered the discussion towards my curiosity about the value of these settings and interactions.

Azra, a girl I met, stated that she hailed from Libya despite being born in Arlington, VA. She happened to be a student at George Washington University. After exchanging some pleasantries, our conversation shifted to topics like Turkish coffee and the menu's food options. Feeling it was appropriate, I asked Azra about her personal connection to this cafe. Aware that I couldn't record or jot down our discussion due to its spontaneous nature, I focused intensely on committing her forthcoming words to memory.

Instead of inquiring about the significance of this place to her, I questioned whether she knew of any other reputable hookah spots close to Georgetown. She suggested a few other hookah places in Adams Morgan and Arlington but promptly added, "None compare to this one." According to her, she loved this establishment because it offered outstanding quality. Being a practitioner of Islam, she had reservations about other hookah establishments that served alcohol. She found comfort in knowing that this place met her expectations and gave her a feeling of belonging.

Azra’s use of the term

"home" made me ponder on how the service industry functions in collective cultures. From my perspective, I could clearly observe the dynamics between customers and businesses within such cultural contexts. As I started paying closer attention to waitresses and customers, I noticed that they engaged in lengthy and personal conversations prior to placing their orders. To my surprise, it became apparent that many of these customers and waitresses were already acquainted with each other. Some patrons not only received handshakes but also warm hugs as a greeting. One customer even received a friendly welcome from a waitress but ultimately did not order the hookah that was brought over. Around 11 pm, I even witnessed a waitress sitting next to a customer, engaging in conversation for approximately ten minutes. In different situations where there were multiple waiting customers, this behavior might be perceived as laziness or unprofessionalism.

To summarize, my observations have led me to conclude that people from collectivist cultures prioritize service delivery more than the service itself. They value intimacy over formality. Despite the restaurant's expensive prices, it did not meet certain expectations that would be important in an individualistic culture, like promptly taking my order and providing utensils with my meal. However, individuals from collectivist cultures were not seeking exceptional service at the cafe; rather, they desired a feeling of closeness and connection.

In addition to observing interactions between people, I noticed that many customers at this place incorporated both oriental and modern elements into their outfits. For example, there was a girl wearing a Tony Burch flat, but with dark Arabic style eye makeup and thick Arabic eyebrows. Another woman

wore headscarves, but paired them with high heel shoes. I also saw a boy who had grown a beard, which holds religious significance in Islam, and he was wearing a hipster hat along with a t-shirt featuring Arabic text.

In order to comprehend the importance of incorporating elements from various cultures, I gathered more demographic information. During a visit to the restroom, I discreetly observed people's accents and noticed individuals of Arabic descent. Among them were those who spoke English fluently and others who used it as a second language. Additionally, some conversed in Arabic with each other. It became clear that many of these individuals had connections to both the United States and the Middle East, potentially holding multiple citizenships like Azra.

I perceive that wearing a combination of different elements in their outfits is a means of expressing their involvement in both cultures. These individuals have embraced two cultures and aim to signify their connection with each. They have no desire to relinquish their Arabic culture, but rather to embrace the culture here in tandem.

Prior to conducting this participant-observation research, my objective was to acquire a more profound comprehension of the Arabic culture. Nevertheless, rather than uncovering insights about Arabs' Islamic practices, I unexpectedly gained knowledge about the dynamics of the service sector and identity concerns. If I had solely visited this cafe for a hookah, I would have disregarded these observations. As I became more attuned to my surroundings, my dormant senses awakened. In summary, experiencing the world as a researcher was an exceptional journey because what I witnessed greatly deviated from my initial expectations.