Lawrence of Arabia Syndrome

[homais]

Someone here in Cairo taught me a really useful term: "Lawrence of Arabia Syndrome". Usually, it refers to Westerners who think that they can swoop in with romantic ideas and solve the Arabs' problems for them, but around here I've heard people using the term differently. It describes those guys - and they're usually guys - who come to an Arab

Comments

[researcher]

I think this is a universal...I remember a first-year Chinese student trying to correct my grammar after two weeks of class. (Granted, I was just a second year and it was at Oberlin, but...)

I also find it bizarre and frustrating the number of people who expect me to be an oracle on all things Chinese, that just because I've studied there and speak the language (badly) I know what it's *really like* there and I can translate across the giant gulf. (A mutual acquaintance of ours does this on a regular basis with me.)

[dubaiwalla]

I already have more stories than I wish I did
But fewer than your audience would like you to narrate.

[zero_the_fool]

That sea castle is pretty amazing stuff.

Spence & other things.

[changshakat]

I am reading a book now by Spence called "To Change China." I like it because it is kind of about a bunch of failed Lawrences of Arabia--Westerners who came in and failed to change China. It makes me really happy. I basically chose to spend a year here because I have this theory that China is in fact correct in thinking that it is the center of the universe, and we are all just another wave of barbarians that will be absorbed. ;) I will try and disprove it, like a good scientist

[nativeinformant]

"lawrence of arabia" syndrome was rampant in Dubai, except without giving a shit about the Arabia part ;)

Great term, but isn't this just what we nerdy folks call Orientalism?