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A Saudi, an Indian and an Iranian walk into a Qatari bar ... | Maz Jobrani | TED
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A Saudi, an Indian and an Iranian walk into a Qatari bar ... | Maz Jobrani | TED

Introduction and Arrival in Doha

The speaker expresses their love for coming to Doha and describes the international atmosphere of the city.

Arriving at the Airport

  • Upon arrival at the airport, the speaker is welcomed by an Indian lady who directs them to Al Maha Services.
  • At Al Maha Services, they are handed off to a Filipino lady, then a South African lady, followed by a Korean and finally a Pakistani with the luggage.
  • The speaker humorously remarks about not meeting any Qataris initially due to the hot weather.

Funny Encounter with a Cab Driver

  • The speaker shares an amusing incident with an Indian cab driver who didn't know how to get to the Sheraton hotel.
  • Despite being a cab driver, he had just arrived in Doha and suggested that both of them embark on an adventure since neither of them knew where they were going.

Middle East Adventures and Greetings

The speaker talks about the Middle East's recent events and highlights cultural differences in greetings across different countries.

Middle East Adventures

  • The speaker mentions that the Middle East has been going through significant changes due to events like the Arab Spring.
  • They humorously point out that Lebanon, despite its reputation for instability, is currently one of the most peaceful places in the region.

Cultural Differences in Greetings

  • The speaker discusses how different countries have varying customs when it comes to greetings.
  • They mention that Lebanon typically involves three kisses while Egypt only involves two.
  • An anecdote is shared about mistakenly attempting three kisses with an Egyptian person who was not accustomed to it.
  • In Saudi Arabia, greetings involve multiple kisses on one side without switching sides. This leads to a humorous observation about Saudis appearing slightly tilted after prolonged greetings.
  • Qataris are known for the nose-to-nose greeting, which the speaker humorously attributes to the hot weather and a desire to conserve energy.
  • Iranians also have variations in greetings, with two kisses before the 1979 revolution and three kisses afterward.

Laughter and Cultural Exchange

The speaker emphasizes the importance of laughter and cultural exchange in breaking stereotypes and fostering understanding between different cultures.

Middle Eastern Laughter

  • The speaker highlights that people from the Middle East enjoy laughter and celebrating life, contrary to common stereotypes portrayed in American media.
  • They share an anecdote about discovering online comments expressing surprise that people from the Middle East laugh after their comedy tour was aired on Comedy Central.

Encouraging Travel and Understanding

  • The speaker encourages Americans to travel to the Middle East to experience its rich culture firsthand.
  • They emphasize that cultural exchange helps dispel misunderstandings and stereotypes.
  • An incident is mentioned where a Muslim family was mistakenly removed from a plane due to misconstrued conversation about seating arrangements. This incident underscores the need for better understanding between cultures.

Advice for Brown Friends on Airplanes

The speaker gives advice to individuals who may be perceived as Middle Eastern or Muslim when traveling on airplanes in the United States.

Speaking Mother Tongue on Airplanes

  • The speaker advises individuals who appear brown or Middle Eastern to speak their mother tongue while on airplanes in the US.
  • This humorous suggestion implies that speaking a language other than English may help alleviate potential misunderstandings or negative assumptions.

Timestamps are approximate.

New Section Using Random Words to Put People at Ease

In this section, the speaker discusses the use of random words to put people at ease while walking down the aisle.

Using Random Words

  • The speaker suggests throwing in random words to make people feel more comfortable.
  • This technique can be used while walking down the aisle.
  • An example is given where the speaker imitates Arabic and says "Strawberry" as a random word.
  • This approach can help create a lighthearted atmosphere and bring a sense of ease.

Timestamps are not available for this section.

Channel: TED
Video description

Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani takes to the TEDxSummit stage in Doha, Qatar to take on serious issues in the Middle East -- like how many kisses to give when saying "Hi," and what not to say on an American airplane. The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. Follow TED on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TEDTalks Like TED on Facebook: http://facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://youtube.com/TED TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com