(AP-Associated Press from The Daily Star: Lebanon)
For some reason, there's been a shortage of gas (called benzine in Arabic) for the last month. Cairo and Alexandria aren't suffering very much as supplies are delivered there first. (The Army Generals sure don't want millions of people taking over Tahrir Circle to riot about gas.) But the outlying cities are sometimes out of gas for days at a time. When tankers arrive, hundreds of cars get in line and wait to fill up.
As opposed to gas shortages in the US in the 70s, the lines for gas here resemble a genial get-together of friends. Egyptians will get out of their cars to chat with others nearby; they laugh and joke, taking the annoyance easily, as they take most every irritation in this country. While driving around the city, car owners will pull up next to taxis and ask where to find gas. Taxi drivers always know and will immediately direct the person to the right area or even offer to show them the way.
This is one of the things I like best about living here. Egyptians rarely get stressed-out, are very patient, and are always willing to help someone else. On the other hand, it's still an unexplained gas shortage and who knows when it'll get better?
2 comments:
At least people aren't panicking and hoarding it like they would in the rest of the world.
Hey Lexa! Wow, that is really bizarre to me seeing how close Egypt is to the wealth of oil supplies. Guess it all has to do with politics. But love the fact Egyptians don't stress about it. What an awesome trait. Americans would be calling the capital demanding explanations. lol :)
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