I called into a pub today to check it out. I had been told that it was a watering hole for expatriate workers and I was eager to see what the joint was like.
Well it was a typical expatriate hangout, clean, well furnished, pretty barmaids and the obligatory pool tables and dart boards.
The notice board just inside the entrance was full of photographs of the various patrons making fools of themselves at whatever the last party was. All pretty normal.
The bar was well stocked with everything one could wish for. I might add here that by my homeland standards it was extremely well stocked. You have to consider we have many nationalities working here and some of them drink some really weird stuff. Whoever would drink Noilly Pratt for Christ’s sake?
I ordered my normal bottle of Star and it was joined by a frosted glass straight from the freezer. In order to get a better look at the place I just wondered around looking at the various bits of memorabilia that was dotted around the place.
It’s funny, but expatriates tend to love their bars; so one finds them stacked with all sorts of bits and bobs that various guys have bought back from home vacations.
I have always found it quite amusing what some guys are prepared to pay to adorn their favourite pub. Not like the sterile atmosphere one sees back home in the city center pubs around where I live.
Anyway, back to the title of this post. Whilst wondering around one could not help but pick up conversations that were happening around the place. It was a completely different to what one is used to in a British Pub. In Britain we have become ‘conditioned’ by the Loony Liberal Politically Correct brigade that we should not voice our thoughts on account of it being racist in one way or another.
Of course this ‘racist’ talk is also very selective. It seems acceptable in Britain to refer to Americans as ‘Yanks’ or Australians as ‘Aussies’ but woe betide that you should refer to a Pakistani chap as a ‘Paki’. Why?
So what I found was that the conversations were open and forthright; people didn’t find it necessary to look over their shoulder when stating they didn’t like this, that or the other. No need to say “I’m not racist’ but I think the Indians/Pakistanis/Muslims/Jews or whatever are wankers. People just state their views. And all this is going on in an environment full of people of different colours, races and religions. And do you know what, everyone gets on well with each other and are tolerant of their customs and habits. There is no segregation along religious grounds for instance. There will be tables of Muslim guys drinking non alcoholic drinks enjoying the music along side all the alcohol soaked western chaps. There will be banter amongst the tables regarding cricket, football, rugby or whatever and the language used would be horrifying to our Politically Correct brigade back home.
Well all I can say is that I much prefer to enjoy my spare time in this kind of free society. Not only that, I can choose if I want to go into a smoking room or a non smoking room. I am not forced to adhere to practices that some ‘do gooder’ has decided is best for me.
I am just glad that the former Colonial Masters are no longer here and keep their brand of political correctness to themselves.
