Yemen: Prosperous Entertaining
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Entertaining for business success
To be invited to lunch anywhere in the Yemen is to be promised a feast. The food is so varied and distinctive that Yemeni is the only truly Arabian cuisine. This is true of both north and south but southern cuisine is substantially the spicier.
Generally, however, entertaining in the Yemen means qat. Every afternoon, there will be numerous qat parties in every city, town and village. All one has to do is keep an ear to the ground to find out where these parties are because no invitation is required. Each person brings his own qat, tobacco and even coals for the sheesha, so that the host merely provides the venue and all are welcome.
Seating is on cushions along at least three walls [a Yemeni reception room has only one door]. The corners are the honoured seats, so don't take one unless it is offered. Apart from that, sit anywhere not already occupied. The qat is normally kept in one's lap or on the floor space immediately in front. The centre of the room is occupied by several sheeshas, each with a long flex [qassaba], allowing it to be shared by three or four people.
There is no ceremony. Chewing begins on arrival, as does smoking and conversation. Most etiquette relates to passing the qassaba. It is rude to keep it for too long at a time. As with everything else, it should be offered and taken only by the right hand. Also, the person passing it should point the mouthpiece toward himself [much like handing over a knife].
Conversation should be communal. Do not have a long private chat with an individual as the conduct of more than one conversation in the room is deemed to spoil the atmosphere. One should therefore not attempt to discuss business at a qat party unless it has been specifically arranged for that purpose.
Most qat parties last about six hours, but it is not impolite to leave early. Sana'a has a thriving black market in illegal whisky, so it is customary for the more devout to leave first, after which the host can offer whisky to counteract some of qat's side effects.
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