Yemen

The chapter on Yemen in Baghdad without a map was very interesting to me. I tried to think as if an American were to notice that an outsider was in America and try to do things they wouldnt normally do to an American like charge too much, take advantage of them, give them false information etc. When reading this chapter it became apparent that the people in Yemen were either disrespectful or taking advantage of Tony. The following quote is fron Tony asking a taxi driver in Yemen for a ride to the city. "The man named a price roughly equal to the per capita income I'd seen listed in the tourist literature. I laughed and offered one tenth as much. He rested his hand on the hilt of his dagger and gazed off into the mountains." These cab drivers carry daggers that in this case they were using to scare Tony into paying th amount that they had asked for. After Tony talked to the first of three drivers they all said the same price. Tony knew this price was too high but knew that they were not willing to bargain. He was also told that there are no Jews allowed in Yemen. This was very interesting to me. I did not understand that some countries even now dont allow someone inside of their country if they practice a certain religion. Tony also felt as though he was being overpriced for a dress that a man on the streets was selling him. The man even offered him the tobbacco Qat to make Tony forget he had paid too much for the dress. It was almost like everyone knew that they could get something out of Tony which caught me off guard. I believe that if an outsider were to be in America that they would not be disrespected like this.

RJB