8 decisions your Arab parents told you to make ... but you're glad you didn't

Yes, you miss your mom's tabikh and the unexpected Sunday morning sobhiyyat, but there's a unique sense of responsibility, independence, and a bit of adventure in finding yourself all on your own. 

It might not be pleasant for everyone, but it's definitely an experience worth challenging yourself for - even for just one semester. 

Sorry for reinforcing stereotypes, but there's no denying that many Arab parents go to extreme measures to convince their kids to marry someone within the family - be it a second cousin or a distant relative.

While such arrangements have been successful on many occasions, you can't help but think of the potential lovers you miss out on meeting when you limit yourself to members of the family, especially if it means tying the knot at an early age. Which brings us to No.3...

As soon as you hit the age of 18, your parents start daydreaming of the day you get married and produce their grandchildren. Actually, scratch that, they probably begin obsessing over that the day you are born!

Truth be told, settling down at an early age is quite risky and makes for a rather abrupt transition into adulthood. Instead, you might prefer to live your early twenties to the fullest, enjoy fulfilling experiences, travel the world, and seek adventure, in order to decide what you really want to settle for. 

When it comes to Arab weddings, there are two options; go big or go home. In the Arab parent dictionary, a wedding is pretty much a grandiose bank-breaking festival, celebrating the union of two people who do not know half of the attendees.

As a result, all hell would break loose if you dare organize a small and intimate wedding, or even worse, if you decide you don't want a wedding at all. Saving your money for your travels or for future investments might be the smarter way to go... If you're willing to be disowned!

The above GIF quite accurately depicts your parents' reaction when you tell them you don't want to be a doctor nor an engineer.

Going for a profession that is not traditionally associated with fat paychecks can be something like a minefield. But, the truth is, the job market has changed so much in the last decade and some promising new job opportunities have been introduced. 

While it's common for kids in the West to get part-time jobs at high school age, Arab parents are not always fond of the idea, especially if you're a girl. 

Many Arab parents disapprove of their kids working at restaurants or in retail, and might consider it as a failure to provide for their family.

In reality, the advantages of having a job while studying go beyond the extra bucks, from teaching you to manage your time to developing your personality and boosting your resume.

Your parents might not really understand why you want to travel solo, but this should not faze you.

Whether you need to travel alone to study or work, if you are longing for a new experience, or if you simply need a break from the people around you and want some time on your own, traveling alone might not be as scary or bizarre as your parents might paint it to be.

Nothing screams youth and adventure like the thrill of driving a BMW, even if your parents might not see it. You would gladly go for the BMW any day! 

In fact, you will probably be won over by the all-new BMW X2, which is all about urban adventures. As BMW's first-ever X2 design, the car was made to especially cater for the young and extroverted.