Whoops ...
So, I live in an area called Midan Libnan, in Giza ... in the afternoon, to get home, I get on a microbus going to October City, which is about 30km outside of Cairo, because the bus drives directly through the midan (square). Anyhow, my boss lives in October City, so if we're leaving at the same time, he offers to give me a ride home - may as well, since he also drives right through here.
So yesterday, he was driving home a few of us, and announced that today was his birthday. He asked what he should to do celebrate, and Osman (who was translating) informed me that he doesn't celebrate his birthday, so he can't give advice - but what do I do for mine? I somewhat sheepishly (but amusedly) said, "Well, my experience probably won't help either, because my birthday celebrations generally involve alcohol." The boss laughed, although Osman was quite shocked (this might have killed the Osman issue, though - I don't think he could possibly be interested in someone as immoral as I am), and we moved on.
Anyhow, today I again got a ride home, and the boss who asked what my plans were tonight (I really need to learn to catch this warning sign). I said "I don't know," and he said, "I would like to invite you out for a drink tonight."
Hmm. Now, this is the guy who told me that he's Muslim, and so doesn't drink, but when he does drink, he gets hammered. My theory is that he just wanted someone to drink with, and clearly can't ask any of his friends, as they're all Muslim. Odds are, nothing else was going on. And yet ... definitely inappropriate. I asked him, "Well, will your family be there? Your wife?" and he explained, "No, she and my son and daughters are at the club with my brother."
And then didn't bring it up again. El Hamdullaleh! (THANK GOD). My problem was, I could think of a billion explanations - including the totally honest "I just don't think it's appropriate to socialize with the boss unless everyone's there, so there's no worry about favoritism" - but he speaks such poor English, he wouldn't understand anything that complicated! So I resolved to just say, "I can't," and follow it up with, "Besides, it's your birthday - you should be with family." Fortunately, I didn't have to whip the excuse out ... but how weird!!!! Maybe I should have accepted - drinking with a Muslim would be an interesting experience - but it felt like a bad idea on about seven different levels.
Freaking Egyptians!!!!
So yesterday, he was driving home a few of us, and announced that today was his birthday. He asked what he should to do celebrate, and Osman (who was translating) informed me that he doesn't celebrate his birthday, so he can't give advice - but what do I do for mine? I somewhat sheepishly (but amusedly) said, "Well, my experience probably won't help either, because my birthday celebrations generally involve alcohol." The boss laughed, although Osman was quite shocked (this might have killed the Osman issue, though - I don't think he could possibly be interested in someone as immoral as I am), and we moved on.
Anyhow, today I again got a ride home, and the boss who asked what my plans were tonight (I really need to learn to catch this warning sign). I said "I don't know," and he said, "I would like to invite you out for a drink tonight."
Hmm. Now, this is the guy who told me that he's Muslim, and so doesn't drink, but when he does drink, he gets hammered. My theory is that he just wanted someone to drink with, and clearly can't ask any of his friends, as they're all Muslim. Odds are, nothing else was going on. And yet ... definitely inappropriate. I asked him, "Well, will your family be there? Your wife?" and he explained, "No, she and my son and daughters are at the club with my brother."
And then didn't bring it up again. El Hamdullaleh! (THANK GOD). My problem was, I could think of a billion explanations - including the totally honest "I just don't think it's appropriate to socialize with the boss unless everyone's there, so there's no worry about favoritism" - but he speaks such poor English, he wouldn't understand anything that complicated! So I resolved to just say, "I can't," and follow it up with, "Besides, it's your birthday - you should be with family." Fortunately, I didn't have to whip the excuse out ... but how weird!!!! Maybe I should have accepted - drinking with a Muslim would be an interesting experience - but it felt like a bad idea on about seven different levels.
Freaking Egyptians!!!!
posted by Teale at 7:53 PM
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