You're lounging at home all day in your PJ's listening to music, doing anything that comes to mind, anytime you want to and you're always free to pick up the phone for a long chat with a friend.
The above is a tiny sample of the various misconceptions that surround freelancing in the Arab world.
Even though freelancing is becoming more popular in the region, it still is a term that causes a lot of confusion. So, if you're thinking of freelancing around here, get yourself ready to answer a few lovely questions.
Keef ye3ni? Is it a ‘real’ job?
What? You don’t spend all day at an office? You don’t work 9-5? You don’t have a designated lunch break? You enjoy a practical, efficient schedule? This can’t be a ‘real’ job.
It is :)
Do you make money?
Yes/no? Maybe?
We do :)
Kam/Adesh? 500 dollars? Aktar??
Since your answer to the question above is most probably (hopefully) a yes, know that this little guessing game is about to begin.
Never play along.
If you’re home all day can you please help me out at work?
La2.
When are you going to get a real job?
Honestly, the toughest question of them all, because freelancing IS work that sometimes takes even more dedication and effort than a ‘standard’ 9-5 job.
So the answer to this one is: never, don't even need one.
Kudos to every Arab freelancer out there who challenges every misconception on a daily basis.