Extreme family ties maybe

Family can be an important part of a person’s life, and for some nationalities being close to your family is more important than it is to others. For example, families in Southern Europe are generally quite close, although in the past they spent even more time together. This is also true of families in the Middle East. But it is the Bedouin people who have the closest ties of all. Traditional Bedouin families live in large tents about half the size of a basketball court. The tents are divided into two sections: the first is for receiving guests in true Bedouin style – they have the reputation of being the world’s most generous hosts. Visitors are always served a big meal as soon as they arrive. The second part of the tent is the family’s shared kitchen, living room, dining room, and bedroom. They don’t have tables and chairs, as the whole family sits on the floor to eat. And instead of beds, everybody sleeps on mattresses, which are piled into a corner of the room during the day. Several generations usually share the tent. The head of the family is the mother, and she is the one who gives the orders. Her husband and her children live with her, even when the children are married and have their own children. The sons and sons-in-law look after the animals, while the daughters and daughters-in-law clean the tent, cook the meals, and look after the younger grandchildren. The older ones are left to run around outside. There may often be as many as 30 people under the same roof. The few young people who have left the family to live in the city visit their mothers nearly every day. It can be quite a surprise to see a shiny new Mercedes pull up outside one of the tents and watch a smart young man get out to greet his relatives. +Bedouin people do not like to be separated from their families and there is a very good reason why. If they are poor, sick, old, or unemployed, it is the family that supports them. Elderly people are never left alone, and problems are always shared. Children who work in the city are often responsible for their families financially. In this way, Bedouin families aren’t just close; they are a lifeline.