Me Malaysian in Mesir: Chapter 1

Ahlan Wasahlan.

Er...do I spelled that right?

Anyhow, welcome to Egypt! After two days of travelling in flight from KLIA to Bahrain to Cairo, and a grueling if not tiresome four hour trip from the city to Mansoura, I finally reached here.

I was surprise, as we arrived quite late in the evening, to see that the house needs cleaning. Nevertheless, not wanting to sleep with dust and debris all over the place, we cleaned up the house.

Toda is Wednesday, and it's 7 o'clock in the morning in Mansoura. In Malaysia? 12.59pm, almost afternoon already.

A lot of things needed to be buy, having left them at home for the sake of avoiding excessive fees from excessive luggage (which in the end, was unavoidable but at least there's damage control).

Housemates thus far had been cool. They ain't the likes of those with skullcap on their head and with an attitude of an Imam or anything greater than that. They just normal Malaysians, and that's just fine by me.

Already, I see myself in trouble from yesterday. My jitters when it comes to women and my lack in Arabic language (which I had no basic on) seem to tag along and join fray to torment me.

Here's a thing to be said about Egyptian: I would be lying if I said Arabic ain't pretty.

Thus the yesterday event.

I was asked to help few guys downstairs (my home was on the 3rd floor), who had wonderfully locked themselves up. In order to do so, I need to inform the house-lord, on the 1st floor. I had no idea how I was to converse in Arabic, but I went down anyways.

Knocking the door up, I expected some elderly man to be out, perhaps annoyed by the disturbance at night and further annoyed by the fact that I knew not of Arabic save for "Assalamualaikum" and "Waalaikumusalam" and few others which may not be practical at the current moment.

Instead, my knock was answered by a young maiden.

With that, my whole system came to halt. I know, I can't converse Arabic, but why on earth was I was struggling with my English!?

Fortunately, I manage to shout out few words that was understood by the lady.

Thus the duke in distress was save.

As for me, I was still in shock mode.

Wonder what will happen today? (smile)