Okay, I need to talk about this because I absolutely have to. Being engaged to a non-Omani has its “small” challenges… I will have to get used to giving many clarifications from now on!
So yes B, I am dedicating this post to you. There are times, B, when I call you and give you a missed call, or what we call here a “Ranah“. When that happens, the response I expect is for you to call me back, and not for you to send me a msg saying “I missed your call, can you call back?”.
Sometimes I forget that there are certain aspects of my culture that can look silly to others, but nevertheless it is part of the culture and after this post.. I really hope B responds to my missed calls “appropriately” so I can continue with my normal life and take this part of the culture for granted.
Okay, so the “Ranah” culture started a while ago, early 2000, when the younger generation started having prepaid cell phones (maybe even before that, but this is when it became popular). At that time, many young people who did not earn money would give their parents or friends a missed call, which means “Call me back”. The second party would call using either their cell or home phones.
Sometime, too, the “Ranah” could mean.. “Wanna say Salam” or “I’m thinking of you”.. but I don’t have enough credit to call you.. sort of thing.
Though the practice of “Ranah” started to fade in recent years because of the cheap msging, it is still out there. There is even a song by Salman Hameed that is called “Raneet lek Ranah“.. meaning, I gave you a missed call. The song goes:
“I gave you a missed call
and you didn’t give me a missed call,
you say you love me,
No no, you don’t love me.. “
As far as I know, this song has been very popular, and it still comes up in the radio stations.
So, dear B, next time you get a missed call from me and you wonder how come you didn’t have enough time to answer.. then don’t txt me explaining… just, call me back .. cause you didn’t really miss my call..
I am sorry Mrs Ranna. I got the trick now. please miss call me so i can call you back….
Sorry, that meant to be sarcastic,,,
Anyways, find an excuse to the guy. He too might not have credit to call!
I think he has enough credit..
erg. I HATE that. You’re too cheap to talk to me on your cost, but you want me to call you on my cost?!
No. Way.
lol! yea, many people hate it too..
This would have made sense a few years ago when texting was less prevalent, why would it still be practiced now? Surely the reason can’t be as simple an nostalgia?
As a non-Omani I’d have to say that this would likely frustrate and confuse me.
B, never mind you being frustrated and confused… would you call me back anyway?
I ignore all missed calls I receive. In fact I hate calls. Text messages are better 🙂
they r.. I usually get missed calls from the younger people in the family.. they r always broke…
LOL.this is funny.. 🙂 In my opinion, I like texting better so they can see it and feel that more effecting like “annoying” or ” confusing” or “wondering” than missed calls except you give missed calls a lot and a lot …
hey
nice post.
Are you engaged by non oman?
how unluky i am
really funny, i missed your call, can u call me back,
hahaha, i cant stop laughing
And culture has got nothing to do with this. its not that if it was Omani he would call you back and non omani wouldnt.
it just varies from person to person and you never know probably Mr.B never knew that you had missed call him
he might have been thinkin that you had called him,
but honestly this is so very funny sayin I missed your call can u call me back,,,,hahah,,,,instead of sayin that i missed ur call, i will call u back shortly or whnever i get a chance
and yeah you got engaged, great congrats on that
non omani guy>>>again unconventional…
wish you a wonderful life ahead.
Reality, this over use of the word ‘culture’ in the Gulf is misleading and potentially dangerous. Culture is a set of beliefs about one’s community accumulated over a long period, combining aspects of history, religion, values, relationships etc. The practice of sending ‘missed calls’ is nothing to do with Omani culture, it is just current practice or fashion.
The reason it is dangerous to confuse the two is that foreigners here are often (too often) accused of doing or saying something which is contrary to Omani cluture, implying that they have caused offence at level where they are not permtted to argue – they just have to accept the Omani way of doing things (or… by implication leave if they don’t like it).
It really isn’t a big step from missed calls to arguing that behaving grossly selfishly in traffic, not waiting one’s turn in a shop etc are part of Omani culture. They are not, they are just pure dumb rudeness and nothing to do with culture.
So let’s be careful not to use culture as an excuse. There is a fashion in Oman for sending ‘missed calls’, for the reasons you have explained. Fine. But if B doesn’t ‘get’ it, he is not offending Omani culture in any way.
I agree with you that i may have gotten overly excited about the “ranah” and called it a cultural thing.. however, I think you misunderstood my post.
I never said or thought that B is offending the Omani culture in any way or form (he is an angel, so he is not capable of committing an offense :p)
I was just providing him with an explanation to why things are in certain ways..
Though I agree.. Many people overuse the word “culture” and use it as a way to be offended. It is like someone saying.. “yea, we beat our women, its a cultural thing, and if you dont like it then get out”. It is widely used to keep away criticism, but I hope you don’t mix between that and my post.
Ok Reality, all agreed. I
ps: like your blog
I usually use miss calls as notifications, after prior planning off course. for example:
– “I will give you a miss call once I reach your apartment”
– “I will go check the shop if it has the stuff we need, and will miss call you if there re any so that you come in”
– “I’m going to the CEO office for a boring meeting where he talks about his struggle through life. When I miss call you, you call pretending to be my mom asking me whether I’m coming for lunch or not”
and maaaaaaaaant other examples =P