Over countless cups of sweet black tea—which people often jokingly refer to as Bedouin whiskey for its malt brown colour and indulgent sugar content—we heard about the norms of social life in this remote outpost. Guests can show up without prior notice, even in the middle of the night, but must cough outside the tent before being invited in so as not to invade the hosts’ privacy; anyone is welcome to stay with a Bedouin host family for three days without being asked the intention of their visit.
