Wise words

" جراحات السنان لها التئام ........ و لا يلتام ما جرح اللسان "

This is an old arabic verse that translates as follows :

" wounds caused by blades heal, while wounds caused by tongues never heal "

" الغنى في الإستغناء "

" Richness ( or we can say power ) is found in your ability of not needing "

Egyptian Gad3ana

This incident took place around a year ago, but it's engraved within my mind making it unforgettable. It represents to me that there's still some good people living in this country.

It was mid-summer, a group of friends and I were dining at a restaurant in Mohandeseen. One of my friends was in the process of applying for a Canadian university. He had almost all his paper work done except for one document he needs to send it by fax to the University.
This missing paper wasn't ready with him, till that outing day, which was ( unfortunately ) the deadline for submitting the applications. He got his paper from a place nearby the restaurant, then we started a search for a place to send the fax.

At first we thought it was an easy task, we are in Mohandeseen for God's sake. We started to walk in the streets searching for a call center or some other place that has an installed fax. It was as if we are searching for something that doesn't exist. We walked for around an hour, we reached nothing. The more people we ask, the more lost we get.

It was getting close the closing time, ( Canada's time ) and my friend started to get nervous. I told him let's try one last time asking someone, if he told us the same bullshit as the others did, we'll jump into our cars and head to a place where we are certain that there'll be a fax even if that's gonna be in Alex.
So basically we asked the first person we happened to see, she was a lady working at a furniture store.
On asking her about a place where they could have a fax, here was her answer " You seem to be in a hurry, come in and use our fax ". ....
We were thrilled by the answer , we couldn't find enough words to thank the people working in that place.

I want to thank them for giving me hope

An old scribble

I was checking my book of scribbles and started to write something. I didn't like what I was writing so I tore the page and was going to throw it when I glanced writing on it's back. On checking it I saw this piece.

So here goes:

How long does it take you to have an impact on this world ? Or what does it take to change A life ?
I don't think it takes much time or effort to do any of the above two. It can take you just a second to have your impact in this world, all you need is one good excutable idea.

Think it over, all people who have changed this world believed in something. Most importantly , they believed in their ability to do it.

As for changing people's lives, all that's required is absolute honesty and sicerety. You can't imagine how a small sincere chat can affect one's life ( my life was directed by a single word at a certain point ). A pound you donate with total acceptance and satisfaction can mean the world to the reciever.

Looking back at our lives ( at least my own ), I can see that I've wasted most of it without having a goal to work for and lots of chances wasted to change people's lives.

From now on, I'll believe in one thing:
" If you can't change the world, you'd better die trying "

p.s: Don't waste your lives aimlessly. Make it worth mentioning when you're gone .

Belya, 11/1/07

What number are you ?

You Are 1: The Reformer

You're a responsible person - with a clear sense of right and wrong. High standards are important to you, and you do everything to meet them. You are your own worst critic, feeling ashamed if you're not perfect. You have uncompromising integrity, and people expect you to be fair. At Your Best: You are hopeful, honest, and inspiring. You bring out the best in humanity. At Your Worst: You are intolerant, judgmental, and picky. Your Fixation: Resentment Your Primary Fear: Being corrupt. Your Primary Desire: To be good. Other Number 1's: Al Gore, Martha Stewart, Gandhi, Celene Dion, and Spock from Star Trek.

What Number Are You?

If you like the idea, consider yourself tagged.

Call and cancel. What's so difficult about that ?!!!!

Yesterday I had to come face to face with one of lousiest Egyptian habits : Tanfeed. To those who are not Egyptian, it's a term we use in a manner which indicates that you don't give a damn about a given promise or some regulations ........etc. i.e: words that have been said are considered bull-shit & didn't exist in the first place.

I had a business appointment with some person that I have called and schedueled a day ahead. I re-called and confirmed an hour ahead of the planned time. During the last phone call, that person told me he'd call back and choose the place where we can meet. He never did................ I didn't call either, he needs me as much as I need him.

The second was when my friend suggested that we go and play an hour or so of squash. I wasn't in the mood, but I agreed as it's one form of a change. So we suggest that it would be in the afternoon and the exact timing shall be determined via phone calls. I was unable to reach him throughout the whole morning. When it was the estimated time for our game, I finally got to reach him. Here's the phone call.

Me: " Have you forgotten about our plans ?"
Friend: " No I haven't , I'm just stuck at work "
Me: " You said you were free tonight !!! "
Friend: " I was, till the early morning. This was an un-planned task "
Me: " So are we canceled for tonight ?"
Friend: " Nooo, as soon as I'm done I'll give you call. "
Me: " How long will that take ? "
Friend: " 30 min. or a maximum of an hour "
Me: " O.K "

This was around 8:00 pm. As I expected, the phone didn't ring.
Later by 1:00 a.m I receive a message on the Facebook thing, apologizing that he finished late and that he was exhausted......................

I'm starting to hate this attitude. People do it everywhere, these were just examples.

I'm hating that I'm starting to pick it up too :( I don't do it much, but it takes place every now and then.

Juka: I'm sorry about the other day, but it didn't go this way.

The cycle of betrayal, unconfidence & immorality.

I had this conversation with a guy, a lower class 26 years old. He was having a conversation with someone he called his beloved and so on.

Me: So, you are gonna get engaged soon ?
Him: No. I was betrayed once. A few years ago, my fiance just vanished taking everything & leaving without a trace.
Me: Aren't you planning to get engaged to that girl you were talking to ?
Him: No, she's already engaged to someone.
Me: What !!!!!!!!! then why are you having that phone romance ?
Him: We are interested in each other.
Me: Then why doesn't she call her current relation off, and you two get engaged ?
Him: Cause I won't go into a relation with someone like her.
Me: Why is that ?
Him: What if I get engaged to her , and she betrays me with some other guy like she does now...
Me: Then why don't you just leave her ?
Him: If I did, someone else would take my place ( hatemshy ma3a 7ad tany )
Me: How decent are you !!!! ( me being sarcastic )
Him: Don't judge me wrong, I'm veeeeeeery decent & moral. I haven't touched her although I had many chances to do so.


At this point I had to put an end to that conversation as I was reaching no where.

You are an Egyptian if ( 1 )

1 - You know if someone is cooking molokheyya as soon as you enter your house.
2- It takes you around 10 minutes to go through greetings to start a conversation by phone. It takes you another 10 to close the same conversation.
3- Believe in conspiracy theory, one way or another.
4- You say ( ya3ny ) to complete any blank space in your sentences.
5- You rush to your terrace as soon as you hear people shouting in the street.
6- You hold your cell phone over your right ear with your left hand, while driving.

Azhar Rocks

Last Wednesday , the Saqya culture wheel was holding the first live English stand-up comedy in Egypt. They were hosting Azhar Usman, an Indian comedian who is part of the Muslim comedy tour ( ALLAH made me funny ).
The show was hilarious, we couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole show.
Here's a video of him presenting one of his most popular jokes.