Why planning is impossible in Egypt

The question could probably be something like "why planning is impossible in certain cultures?", which would be an incorrect way of asking, or like "are there differences between the concept of planning in different cultures?". The last one is at least possible to answer, and the answer is a clear: yes. Want to learn more about trying to do something as planned in Egypt, and hear some funny stories as well? Read on!

Nothing is as you've planned it in Egypt. There you go – my new motto for the time being. Those of you who know me a little have said that I'm pedantic. Those who know me well say that it's more like it seems like I am, but in reality I'm not. And for those of you who don't know me at all: I'm not pedantic, I just like having my stuff figured out in advance. 

And that is what I was trying to do with this day: have it figured out in advance. The plan was simple: go to bed early (not 3am which I'm used to down here), get up in time for breakfast (funny word, you know it's derived from "break the feast", i.e. the feast after having been sleeping – poor fellow Muslims, no breakfast for them till sunset this month!). After eating I wanted to devote the whole day for some writings I have to do. So that's the plan. Here's reality...

At 8pm last evening, a bunch of workers decide to start doing some work on the roof . Yeah I understand they do it after eating... I would prefer to rest during the day as well if I were them. Sooo hot outside, and they don't eat or drink. Damn. So they work during nights. Well, they stopped at 11pm so I could go to sleep. But by then I got too interested in studying renaissance art and the works of the Great Trinity of Renaissance: Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Some quite amazing works over there. Anyway, you know Wikipedia: one post takes you to another which takes you to a third and you end up at something that seems to have completely nothing to do with where you started (but it has, since you got there someway by just clicking the links!). So there goes my "go and sleep early tonight"...

One part of my plan succeeded: I got up at 6.30. Though I wanted to sleep, but couldn't. They started the work on the roof again. I guess they ate just before sunrise and with the stomachs full it was easier to get back to work. Plus that the sun isn't that hot in the morning either. I'm sure they planned it all – too bad it wasn't in line with my planning. So there you go, the longer explanation to the problem of planning in Egypt: it's not that they don't plan here at all. The planning is just different from mine for at least one big big reason: cultural differences. So when you go on holiday somewhere, don't blame the locals for spoiling your day. You might as well be spoiling their'. 

3pm, and I just got up from bed for the second time today. No more planning today, just start work! 

Ehm.. after I've eaten something first. And oh. I still gotta do the laundry. Oops.