sha3bee

Egyptians have a problem with pronouncing "p's" because it doesn't exist in the alphabet. So it's called "Bing-bong." Aywa, uhib bing bong. So far I have met a bunch of Egyptian dudes in different groups, either through David, or through people at school, who from there invite you to hang out with their group of friends. For the most part, they are incredibly generous, like not letting me pay for a thing, giving me a bed to crash, or driving me home so I don't have to take a cab. It is part of their culture to be hospitable, and they are enthralled to have a western friend, or one from America. These days they all want to know about Obama, and are happy that he has Muslim blood in him and are optimistic about the renewal of America's image. Probably the biggest difference in how we hang out is the complete lack of females and alcohol in where we are. To be fair, these guys are not part of the crust of the rich baller Egyptians who are going to nightclubs or parties on Nile boats, but part of the "shah'bee" culture - which means folk,  or popular - where the norm is to play ping-pong, and go to cafe's to smoke shisha and play backgammon and dominoes day in day out.