Living in a small Middle Eastern town presents unique challenges when it comes to communication, especially if you don’t speak the local language fluently. In this post, we’ll share some of our experiences as an American family learning to navigate daily life in a place where Arabic is the dominant language and where English is less commonly spoken.
From interacting with local shopkeepers to using mobile phones and dealing with postal services, we’ll discuss how we’ve adapted to the environment and offer insights for others who might find themselves in similar situations.
Whether it's mastering basic Arabic phrases, relying on technology for translations, or finding ways to communicate despite language barriers, there's always something new to learn when you step outside your comfort zone.
Speaking Arabic
When we lived in a larger city, more people spoke English, and it was a bit easier to communicate with the locals. Larger cities have bigger expat communities as well as plenty of tourists. This gives locals more experience to practice their English.
All the schools teach the children English from an early age. However, the people in smaller towns do not interact with foreigners nearly as often. Therefore, they can be very shy or hesitant to use their English. This brings up the need to learn some Arabic.
Many locals assume that because we are an American family, we do not speak any Arabic. We do not speak fluently; however, everyone in our family has tried with varying levels of success to learn Arabic.
We have learned to communicate in stores and basic greetings. Some of us have learned to carry on short conversations. People ask a lot of questions about our family, and we can often give them some basic answers to satisfy their curiosity.
When we talk to someone in Arabic, they get a huge smile on their face, and they’ll sometimes tell us that our Arabic is very good. We can tell that they feel honored that we are using their language.
There are practical reasons to learn Arabic as well. You will have a much easier time getting your basic needs met. If the locals think you are a tourist, some will beg for money or overcharge for services. Speaking Arabic makes these situations easier to confront.
When people realize that you either know some Arabic or that you are not a tourist, they may begin to charge you local rates. Speaking Arabic will also make you feel much more comfortable.
On the other hand, many people have a desire to improve their English. Some would rather talk to an American in English rather than in Arabic. Don’t be afraid to use a mix of Arabic and English. When both sides feel like they are struggling to use language with one another, camaraderie develops, which often results in smiles and laughter.
Mobile Phones and Internet
As foreigners, we have found that a cell phone is necessary for communicating. We have grown in our knowledge of the Arabic language, but we still do not speak it fluently enough to rely on it in every situation.
Therefore, a translation app on the phone is used quite often. The locals use it with us as well. In addition, WhatsApp is used by just about everyone for making appointments or receiving deliveries.
Three main companies offer mobile phone and internet service. In smaller towns, there may only be one or two that provide services.
Notably, mobile phone services are much cheaper than they are in the U.S. For example, a smartphone plan giving 30 GB of data, 1500 calling minutes, and 500 international minutes costs the equivalent of 20 USD per month.
Internet is offered as DSL or a portable WiFi router, usually referred to as “Internet Everywhere.” Our service provides 500 GB per month (way more than what is needed) for the equivalent of 24 USD per month. Some larger cities offer fiber-optic internet service as well, providing faster speeds at a higher cost.
In regard to the quality of service in both signing up and handling problems, we have found customer services like phone and internet not very good compared to the U.S. But this is typically true with all shopping and utility services.
Postal Services
Postal services are quite underdeveloped in the Middle East compared to Westernized countries. Most homes do not have an actual street address, and the system is not advanced enough for home mail delivery. In addition, small rural towns do not have post offices. The biggest way this affects our family is that we can’t receive packages easily or affordably.
There are a few online shopping options that will deliver. Sometimes deliveries do not run smoothly, and drivers often do not speak English. In our experience, warranties have not been honored and, in general, do not exist, especially in smaller towns. We just do the best we can with the systems available.
Adapting… Developing Character
Living in a small Middle Eastern town has definitely been an eye-opening experience for our family, especially when it comes to communication. While challenges like navigating postal services and dealing with poor customer support remain part of the experience, they’ve taught us to be more resourceful and patient in meeting our basic needs.
Whether through a simple greeting in Arabic or a shared smile, we’ve come to understand that true communication isn’t just about words; it’s about building trust, showing kindness, and extending grace to others and ourselves. This journey has truly been a lesson in living out these values daily.
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