Hasan is my best friend.. As for our previous arrangements, we aught
to be together now spending a nice vacation together, with another best
friend "Mohamed" .. But now, I'm stuck in Sharm El Sheikh!
I came here to Sharm El Sheikh with the fairy boat along with
everyone from my department (Linda, Corrina, Carla & Steffany) to
do our work in our hotels in here, we were supposed to end this mission
in three days and return back (on 27th of August) .. And Hasan, made
his arrangements to be here on 27 at night.. And on that day, I packed
my stuff getting ready to go back and then I know that the fairy is not
going! due to the bad weather in the sea!!
Ok, let me just mention that I helped this Steffany in the morning
we left to Sharm with her luggages and so on.. And she's CRAZY enough
that she worked some magic on me and in the end I find out that I
dropped my phone and couldn't feel it because, I was taking care of her
luggages and non-stop stories she tells!
Thanks god I could save my phone from being stolen! I called the
driver and asked him to deliver it to someone I know.. And he did..
Back to Sharm.. Ok.. Now, lets just hope that the fairy boat will go -maximum- by tomorrow!!
Alas! the other day comes with even worse news! the fairy boat's engine is broken and it will take 3 days to be fixed!
"Mr. company! how about flights now?" "Well, let me check..." ......... "Aaa.. Aaa!! no flights until Monday"
"Ok, fine.. Now what I am supposed to tell Hasan!?"
I don't dare talking to him now.. Not before we meet face to face so he can punch me well.. :(
.....
Actually, I should be happy with my stay here!! I mean, I'm staying
in a 5 stars resort.. On All Inclusive basis.. And special treatment
;-) but.. I'm only feeling like.. In prison here..
Thinking of pushing the heavy weights away of my chest.. Thought of
trying the beach.. I was there 2 hours before sunset, opened my book
-war or the worlds- and read for 1 hour almost then thought of getting
wet.... And oh my god! its only coral reefs and rocks in the bottom..
Ok! there must be sand somewhere, so I walked carefully looking for
some sand to walk on.. And then I felt it in my left foot, ouch! I
didn't care as I didn't figure its a wound.. Continued walking until I
reached the other side of the beach.. And then, I find out that I'm
wounded and bleeding a lot..! I bandaged my foot and walked out,
absolutely not surprised or.. Having any new feeling.. I already have
enough.. Its a big big wound in my feet..!
In the evening, I shared some of these deppression with my Corrina..
We were sitting in the bar, she was having her white wine, and I'm
having non-alcoholic cocktails.. Then, we went to attend some evening
comedy show.. Then, back to the bar.. I had 6 glasses of beer -I still
don't know why I did- anyway, I was Ok..
First
of all, this might not sound funny for some 'foreigners' as these
situations are rooted in the hilarious culture of a typical Egyptian
life :)
The following three situations happened in 'Micro-bus' which is the common way of transportation.. Which normally, is a small bus, with a very special kind of Egyptian driver (either ignorant, pot-head, impolite, or just a funny man), and his 'Tabbaa''
which is like.. A cashier who inserts his two legs into yours if you
had to sit in the first seat on the right side, collecting the fare
from the passengers, helping the driver to keep the bus full for all
the time with passengers, and sometimes to support the driver in fights
with other drivers or with passengers!
Situation
one: This is frequently repeating, that while you watch the driver
working his eyes with every possible kind of female walking in streets,
well.. Most of the Egyptians who come to Hurghada, they stay under the
influence of been sent to an open world and all of sudden! seeing all
those blond beautiful girls, or brunettes, showing their beautiful
straight bellies, with a belly button mostly or tattoo, hot shorts, or
a transparent white pants that shows good details like colors or
batterns, etc.. So, they spend at least two months before they get used
to it.. But now, you find those drivers (actually.. Most of Egyptians
here) following the girls of their own same nationality with an animal
curiosity!!!!! I had a feeling that this must be leading to big
troubles! till it really happened! lOl this driver was running down the
road which ends with this traffic light.. So he was slowing down as he
was getting closer to the red light.. Meanwhile, he started looking at
this booty, pinky top, long boots wearing, tight jeans that almost
blocks her moves Egyptian girl! He looked, and started turning his
head, degree after degree, till he twisted his neck back ward like an
owl looking at her.. And ACCIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENT!!
FAIL!
Situation
Two: With a Micro-bus you officially have 'Stations' where you can get
off a bus at.. So, I was in this Micro-bus, and had on my way three
stations to cross, one is called 'Stop-Shop' then 'Super-Jet' and '6th
of October' so, this Tabbaa was like asking the passengers if any one will go for the following station.. So he asks, "Anybody will go for the Super Get station?" I started correcting his spelling! I only replied "Super JJJJJJet" then I hear him saying "Yes Driver! One is going for the Super Get" ... It was late already to clarify the idea! I had to go for this station, and continue to my station on feet!
FAIL!
Situation
Three: In a micro-bus every passenger is fetching his amusement in
either looking out of a window, a kind of look that absolutely has no
meaning! specially to people in private cars! or can chat in their
phones, or observing people chatting in their calls listening carefully
to them, maybe they will give their opinion or comments also, or to
sleep, or to show up (if there is a girl sitting near by)!! So, once
the man sitting next to me, he called his wife, and started the sweet
tone and honey words to her, Habibty, Amar, Gameel, Rouhy, Hayaty, Ya
Alby.. As he finished the call, he took the phone away off his ear and
his thump is finding its way to the (hang up button) which was right
down of the (Loud speaker button) and.. His thump betrayed him, he
pushed the loud speaker button, for us to hear the last words "Oh
honey, please get me Always sanitary towels!"
FAIL!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Things I hate about Egyptians..
My
people.. I'm so sorry to talk this about you.. Before I mention the
stuff I hate about you, I have to say that I love you for much more
reasons.. I'm only writing this, hoping that it will reach every
Egyptian living across the whole country from Sinai to Matrouh and from
Alexandria to Aswan.. And hopefully, it gonna be effective that we
really would 'change'..
I'm going to talk about one essential problem.. Since I was brought
up in a small city, and my father was well known, thanks God for his
good and clean reputation before his important position.. When I was a
kid I only had this feeling that I want to avoid using the name of my
father to get a special treatment, or skip some kinds of hard
situations.. Couldn't distinguish yet why I'm so.. But only didn't like
it, and almost never did.. And also watched other people of my age or
older using their relatives names to get some supremacy or priority
above others.. I didn't like that, because I only felt that it either
decreases my chance to get something or have it in a shorter time..
As I grew up, and this kind of treatment you can give to a small kid
has changed, normally, to the treatment you give to an adult.. And
still I'm stuck to my same old principle.. But also as I grown up, I
knew how to distinguish this feeling.. I found out and knew stuff about
my self.. Like being a very patient one, and that I like directness and
frankness very much, and humble..
And now, I'm working, and almost everyday I'm going through a
situation that puts in my mind some thoughts that links these
situations with this old feeling.. Now I got a good job, and its a
respected one.. But now I'm wondering, why we Egyptians won't take
"respect" as a common and general behavior before we find the reason to
respect in someone's position, or connections ?! While doing my job,
I have to move in places where those people are working as well.. In
any kind of normal first contact happens between us, he or she would
approach me starting yelling or talking in that funky or 'cool' way,
like he means "yea, I'm the best, what the hell you think your self
are?" because, I'm obviously looking like 'humble' but in their eyes I
look like a weak gazelle or something?! ... They start their attack..
And then I relay on my own name.. Not to skip the situation this time,
its just the reply to their inquiry.. Then suddenly the gloomy or
sarcastic face starts to relax on a wide smile, or I might even get a
small bow, and lots of sorrow terms and praising words.
Many Egyptians are, unfortunately, not building their common way
contacing each other on "respect" they only respect someone who has a
higher authority over them.. Sadly I'm confessing this now.. Its
painful to move and live with your people when you know this about
them, I'm always asking my self how can I trust them this way? How can
I accept their smile and belive its not fake?!
