"Barkin" ticket.

I was having a very hectic week. The only thing that helped me laugh out loud and forget about the things I'm supposed to finish was this parking ticket.
I laughed at the ignorance of the people, yet I was sad that such thing could ever exist.

A true Egyptian lady

Today I was travelling using one of the popular methods of transportation, the famous " Taxi Aqaleem ", if you know it. These cars are the old, big Mercedes Benz, the cars has lots of space from the inside but , tab3an , lacks any luxoury or cleanliness.

That's not my point, today during my journey I was lucky enough to meet a true Egyptian person ( it's been long since I last met any ). During that long journey, around 7 hours, we stopped at one of the side cafetrias where the driver takes a rest to have lunch. While we were there, I decided to stay in the car as it was pretty cold outside and I was somehow sleepy.

The lady sitting in the seat ahead of me didn't draw any of my attention at first. This was the case till her husband started acting strangely and saying strange words. I figured out that her husband has some mental problems. The woman started to talk about the history of her husband's illness to one of the passengers. She said that they have been married for more than 37 years, he was a clerk at some office for more than 40 years and that his illness started 18 years ago.

She then started complaining about the problems she faced and is facing through thier life. First, she said that her husband was innocently accused of stealing a large amount; that story was confirmed by one of the passengers who identified her husband and said that he was a very decent man. Secondly, she said that she has been paying Cairo monthly visits the past few years to help her husband continue his treatment. Thirdly, ( as usual in Egypt ) she was talking about how not enough her husband's allowance is in comparison to the medication expediture.

After that discussion between the lady and the other passenger, I remebered the wedding oath ( if it's so called ): for better & for worse, for happiness & sorrow, for sickness & health.

What really brought tears into my eyes ( and I'm not joking) was the lady's generosity. During our stop, she had sent her grandson to fetch them some sandwiches for lunch. On the kid's arrival, the lady insisted that each one of us ( passenegers ) share with them their lunch. All of us apologised politely to her generous offer. ( it wasn't 3ozoomet marakbeyya ). Although she was complaining about money shortage, this didn't affect her decision in sharing her humble dinner with complete strangers.

Another thing that amazed me about her, is the look of satisfaction in her eyes. Although she was suffering bad times, she was thankful to God about the good times they had lived earlier in their life.


Chapeau to that Lady.

A trip into a harasser's mind

This mass sexual harrassment issue got me very confused, I was unable to find a reason for such actions . I tried to take a trip into a harrasser's mind, just trying to be in their shoes. What is it that makes such people perform such act.

Any male ( man ) can have sexual thoughts as regrads any woman ( female ) he is dealing with, ( beleive me, who denies this has a problem somewhere ). Such thoughts are either changed or prevented from converting into an action by a sequence of STOP buttons, whether that button was religion, morals , law.......etc.

I beleive that such people perform such actions due to the absence of their STOP buttons.
Here's a list, I think most normal people have. (I think they work in a way like back-up sytems, if no. 1 is down 2. will work and so on)

1) Religious teachings.
2) Morals and social traditions
3) Law
4) The victim will kick your ass
5) The vitim will avenge herself later

On thinking of attacking a female, you should normally be stopped by your religious teachings, if you are an atheist the society and the surrounding traditions will stop you, if don't give a dam about the community you'll fear being sued over such act but if you are sure that the law won't reach you, you'll fear the victim's revenge.

The harasser lacks the above formula.

I beleive that's the true problem, the surrounding atmosphere failed to create any intimidation or threat to the harasser. He is sure he'll get through unpunished or stopped in any way.

Besides the lack of a braking system. Such people have a group of misconceptions that either pushes them in that direction or justifies their act:

1) I'm a male = I'm a superior creature. ( look how our community forgives men for having affairs, while condemns women for such act )
2) She deserves ( wants ) that, look at what she's wearing
3) If I can't marry, why not have anonymous fun for free
4) What's the worst that could happen ( the stop buttons )


I don't know, these are just my ideas and beleifs. I may have been influenced by some stuff I read lately, but that's my own conclusion.

This doesn't explain the mass sexual harrassements, but I think on combinig the above with the herd mentality.......... we can get something.

A reason for smiling.

If your life doesn't give you a reason to smile, that's a stronger reason for you to smile.

Just to tease it !!!

Now, it's not about the Niqab or Hijab.

A few weeks ago, a great fight took place between muslim scholars throughout Egypt and the entire arab world, just because Dr. Souad Saleh stated that she's against the Niqab.
A couple of days ago, the Mufti of Australia called the women who are not wearing the Hijab are meat on display.
Now, forget about the above 2 points and the misuse of words by both people.

What the hell happened to the Egyptians ?
Sexual harrassment party in the main streets of Cairo. I haven't seen, heared or read about that accidents till today. Women and girls of all ages were harassed and at some incidents stripped out of their clothes by hundreds of guys celebrating eid their own way.
Don't tell me it's about Hijab or Niqab. Ladies wearing Hijab, Niqab or not were harassed during that party. Don't tell me they were meat on display, NOOO. These guys were wolves looking for a prey.

Check this for details in arabic, or read this for the translated english version

I have no explanation, all I have are some questions that need to be answered. I'm left speachless

- Who or what created wild beasts out of the Egyptians ?
- Why can't these people understand Islam ? the incidents just a day after Ramadan !!!!!!!!


حسبي الله و نعم الوكيل

You know you are in Egypt when ( 2 )

1) The BIGGEST problem the people are facing is whether women should wear a Niqab or Hijab.
2) The activity enjoyed by most Egyptian guys is changing from soccer to shisha. Long live cafes.
3) Kids think that the more noise they create with (bomb), the happier they will be. Aren't there any true fire-works in this country ??
4) Everyone know everything about anything, and guess what: everyone beleives he is the only one who knows!!!!
5) People define an enemy as the person who has an opinion the contradicts with their own.
6) People offer to help you if your car breaksdown. Forget about the fact they know nothing about mechanics. It's the idea that counts.
7) You pay 120 l.e, for a 100 l.e telephone card in order to recharge the credit of your moblie phone, to receive only 90 l.e.

I love bad students.

I don't know why but today I happened to remember some of my college days. Back then ( which isn't that far, a year ago)I wasn't one of the prefered students by most of my Doctors and instructors because I had 2 terrible traits : I dared to ask and most importantly object !!!!
I won't claim I'm a hero or that I was the only one diseased with these two, but we were quiet few. I don't know what's wrong with teaching staff in our universities, I think they are well qualified to deal with robots rather than thinking creatures. Just to be honest, we were appreciated by a scanty number of the staff members.
I can recall a few incidents, one of them was during one of the clinical classes during my final year ( am a dentist by the way ). During that class, I had a difficult case in which I had my opinion as regards the diagnosis and how to deal with it. I went to ask my supervisor's opinion and all I got was a look down besides " You are wrong ". I didn't accept such treatment, so I responded " I don't think so, I believe it's .....{technical stuff}" with stating my evidence. The supervisor was shocked, it was the first time for a student to discuss a decision or an order he had given, besides : I was correct :D
Another incident happened during one of the laboratory sessions. We were there waiting for the instructor to arrive, but we were somehow noisy. Most of the noise was caused by a friend of mine, an instructor was passing by the classroom was annoyed by the noise. The instructor walked into the classroom searching for the source of the noise, she pointed out my friend. Here's how the discussion went on:
Instructor: " Name and Id number ?" that's the typical university threat.
Friend : " NO "
Instructor : " What, how dare u ?"
Friend: " You have no right to ask for that, so I won't be giving you any ", my friend had a point, that instructor has nothing to do with our classes and not even with our teaching staff.
Instructor: " We'll see about that " leaving with firy eyes.

I now beleive that we need more bad students in our system, people who can think and dare to question.

Lessons from Belya's life

1) You'll never know how strong you are unless you face a strong wind.
2) The more you stick to what you beleive, the more people will respect you even if they disagree with your opinions.
3) Select your battles.
4) When you are successful, always know when to quit.
5) Success has many roads and ways, just have the wisdom to decide one of them that best suits you.
6) Don't say ( I love you ) unless you truely mean it.
7) If people under-estimate you, work hard to prove they are wrong.

Je ne sais pas

Last week,I met a friend whom I hadn't seen for a long time. We a had a little chitchat about life and every thing else. During our talk he told me that he had found the girl of his dreams,he claims that she is his perfect match but with only one problem, here's how the conversation went on.

My friend: At last I found the girl of my dreams
Me: Maaaabroooook ( congratulations ), wish to hear the good news soon.
My friend: thanks so much, 3o2balak keda
Me: someday isA. So, tell me about her
My friend: She is good looking, smart, tender she's just perfect.
Me: Wow, RABENNA yekremko.
My friend: But there's one problem that I can't handle
Me: And that is ?
My friend: She has a bad fashion taste, and that's something I can't withstand.
Me: mmmmmmm, that's a problem.
My friend: Do you think I can change her taste of fashion? or is it one of the unchangeable facts of life? ( the second question with the expression of misery on his face )
Me: JE NE SAIS PAS.

I have absolutley no idea about that, I know that it's possible to change how a guy chooses to dress. But I don't know if this is possible with the ladies too. I've seen it happen in TV shows, but is it a one time makeover or a lifetime makeover.

Any ideas ?

You know you are in Egypt when:

1- you stand in a que for hours waiting for a paper to be signed by a government official. while you are there, you hear people complaining about disrespect and lack of organization BUT these people are the ones who refuse to stand in the que.
2- you see police cars are the first to skip the traffic lights.
3- you are invited for iftar during Ramadan, and you find an enormous amount of food that could satisfy the same number of people for more than a week.
4- you see the employees fighting and arguing about hijab or any other islamic issue during working hours instead of finishing their work
5- you find tons of garbage in the streets surrounded by many garbage collectors standing right beside it waiting to be tipped.
6- you hear "kol sana wenta tayyeb ya basha" with every traffic light.