I live in Jordan (Arabic and Muslim country) and I'm traveling to USA. There's one issue to me that people there expects eye contact during conversation, which is something I don't do - as part of lowering my gaze Fatwah - with non-Maharim females, ehlhamduLillah.
Most of the females I worked with them find it - unfortunately - weird and offending to do so, especially at the first time. However this is not an issue to me since they are Muslim and they're aware of Allah's orders and their benefits to our current and Akhrah life.
I'm going to a business conference, and the team I'm going to meet is a mixed. Since I'm totally new to purely non-Muslim cultures I'm not sure how to handle this situation. Should I just continue what I do (by not looking at them at all)? Do I have to inform them by email, so they at least know why I'm doing this?
I know at least two things 1) Allah said that non-Muslims won't be pleased about Islam:
Chapter Name:Al-Baqra Verse No:120
وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ
2:120 Khan:
Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) till you follow their religion. Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'an), then you would have against Allah neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper.
And 2) Islam is getting stranger and stranger:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange. so good tidings for the stranger.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ مَرْوَانَ الْفَزَارِيِّ، قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّادٍ حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ كَيْسَانَ - عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَدَأَ الإِسْلاَمُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ "
I would like to hear from your real life experience and may Allah bless you :),
I'm adding some context to my case: I'm 24 years old and I'm married.