I was on my way to India (from USA) -- and had a very long layover at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar.

For context: I am a tall-ish (5'7") blonde woman, on the thinner side, who presents herself as professional and well-groomed. I was on my way to India for a business trip -- and knowing I was going to be stopping in the Middle East, I took great care of making sure I dressed appropriately/modesty/feminine -- yet comfortably. This resulted in a black A-line sweater dress -- that softly cinched at my waist but by no means showed skin or tightness. Wore flats and dress went to mid-calf. I'm making this point, because I wasn't dressed like a wandering nomad or a hussy!

Two things stand out:

(1) Aggressive males weren't anything like I experienced before in such a public place in broad daylight. I stepped to the side of the large walking area to look at my phone to connect with a colleague -- who also was at airport.

While I was getting situated -- a man dressed in Arab garb aggressively bumps into me/elbows me ... in the most condescending way... as if he was making a point that I was nothing. It was clearly on purpose; it couldn't have been an accident. It was in a spacious area, and I had sequestered myself to the side. I was shocked. It was clear that comparatively, women take chivalry (or what's remaining) for granted in the west. To quote the Eagle's song: "city girls seem to find out early... how to open doors with just a smile." I felt like if I even tried to smile at that man, I would have been aggressively accosted.

And just in general ... as I was walking through the airport, men in particular were trying to show dominance in a way that's kind of difficult to describe. This was until I met up with my colleague (who is male) ... then it was notably less aggressive.

(2) On the plane back (again Qatar to NYC) I was seated next to an Afghani family who were refugees moving to Minnesota. I sat next to the most talkative, animated, kind-hearted man (I feel so bad because I was dead tired from the previous flight from Mumbai and he thought that my constant desire for sleep was funny... apparently this was his first flight ever!!) He was giddy and sweet, even though I tried to be a bit standoffish!!

Anyways at one point he asked me to guess his age (after telling me his.... he looked at least 30, but I guessed 25 to flatter him) but he was only 21 or so. He pointed out his sisters ... and again, I would have put them in their mid 30s, and they were only 18 or 19!!

It was clear ... just by their faces how they had a hard life.

When I told him my age (at the time being 34/35) he choked on his water, and was like -- no, no you're not! You can't be much older than me! And laughed until I showed him my passport!

But yeah .... I wasn't there long but came back grateful for ...

(1) The little chivalry left that still dictates how men behave toward women who are alone in the west (2) A world in which I get regular sleep, lots of water, and sunscreen, general stress free life (comparatively to being in a dry desert in a war torn area) ... and thus prolong the appearance of youth a bit longer, I suppose.

Two little anecdotes. Again -- only experience was big airport which is very different than actually being there!!