Kilt Taboo Too ?

[Lachlan09]

Yesterday morning, I had to go to the insurance company here in Muscat to renew my car insurance, the same routine I used the 2 previous years. I took a day’s leave and in my tee shirt and shorts, went across Muscat to get it done. On obtaining my new insurance cover, I was given a certificate to take to the ROP (Royal Oman Police) traffic department, who would give me a new car registration card (Mulkia) which shows my car’s insured and I’m the owner etc. I went to the traffic police HQ compound, same as last year, but was told registrations were now in a different building round to the right. I went right around the compound and found nothing remotely like it and was eventually told by a cop I asked (I was now totally confused) that I had to get in my car and drive along the road then turn right. So I did. At the new venue, I went in and asked but they said it was not that building. I was told that I had to get in my car and drive along the road then turn right (again). So I did (again). Lo and behold (are biblical references allowed in an Islamic country ?) I arrived at the registration building. I queued for a “lucky number” (I got 199). The enunciator showed “120” as the latest current customer. So I sat down in the large seating area and waited – and waited – and waited. Very eventually, my spirits rose when I saw the number was now at 160 !

Then along came a policeman. He came up to me and said “I think you cannot complete your transaction now”. I was a bit taken aback but quietly asked why. He said I could not be served wearing shorts (even my long shorts) or tee shirt. I needed covered arms and legs to be served. This never happens in shops or any other location I know of. So, hoping I still had time before my name came up, I shot off home (about 30 minutes away), got changed into my office clothes and shot back again. I looked at the current number – 223 ! Curses ! So I took a fresh ticket – 348 !! Double curses !!!

When I did got served sometime that afternoon, the transaction only took less than 5 minutes.

Lesson learned – any dealings with Omani government departments, police, government-owned companies and utilities requires observance of Muslim sensitivities and culture, though outside of this, foreigners can virtually wear what they want. So – no shorts and obviously in the bare-knees department – no kilts too !!

[ForresterModern]

All I can say in sympathy is "Ouch!" That was a most painful lesson to learn the hard way.

But when in Rome....


j

[cessna152towser]

Bureaucracy running crazy, still as FM said above "When in Rome........."

[McClef]

I wonder if one has to be "properly attired" when eating Muscat grapes...

[BEEDEE]

MODERATOR HAT OFF

As someone who spent most of his working life in different cultures I can only say - you are a guest in their country. Cultural awareness and sensitivity is probably the single most important asset you can have to ensure acceptance by the local people. And that goes whether you live there or are just passing through as a tourist.

Moderator hat back on

[McClef]

But it's not always easy to work out cultural sensibilites especially when one's attire has been accepted in everyday situations and short of posting an appropriate dress code at the entrance saying otherwise one can hardly be blamed for a "contravention."

[bigdad1]

It appears that you learned a large lesson relatively painlessly.

[Paul]

Lachlan, I have a friend who lived in Oman for some time. He says life is pretty hard-going, though, is slightly less restricted that laws in some surrounding countries.
I didn't realise there were any regulations with regards to male dress. To be honest I'm fully against this sort of policy, though, I have witnessed this in several cultures relating towards females only, and feel it is fair(er) if men have some restrictions in place as well. Although again I'd like to emphasise a little bit of human rights goes a long way.

[MacBean]

I lived in Brazil for years. Upon arrival there, officials stamped my password with unintlligible legalese that apparently said I was to register with the Delegacia de Estrangeiros by such and such a date.

To cut a long story short, it took me four back and forth trips to Sao Paulo (a day each), to find that I could not register directly, but only through an intermediate who was able to bribe the Delegado. I tried to register directly, but was constantly blocked by ever new rules (the form had to be typed and authenticated, I needed to have a jacket and tie, etc.). The whole system is designed to fatten the pockets of the Delegado and the intermediaries. Kind of clever.