Improving international relations

The UAE, Abu Dhabi and even our work are very cosmopolitan places. 80% of the population of the UAE and Abu Dhabi are expats. At work there are just over 30 of us and we come from over 10 different countries. A varied mix of people. As you would expect, we teach each other customs, words and phrases from our respective countries, most of the stuff is useful and interesting, but sometimes we do what everyone does and teach each other a bit of slang. It's a good bit of banter and a bit of fun as well. Every day you hear different accents, speaking in a language that you wouldn't expect, a Brummie like me trying the odd Arabic word, a Lebanese guy speaking Greek.

The funniest thing I heard was earlier on today. We have a local Emirati who works with us, like everyone he's a nice guy, very friendly, and he likes to get involved as well. There he was earlier this afternoon chatting away to me in the office dressed in the full kandura, the national outfit, and, when I told him I was Greek, he looked me straight in the face and said in true Only Fools and Horses fashion, "So Chris, you are a bubble!" I never thought a guy in a dishdasha would ever call me that!