Waiting.....for a lesson.

View from the balcony of my room at the Sheraton on the Nile in Cairo.

Flight SV303 to Cairo was delayed by 2 hours at departure. The passengers were loaded half an hour later than scheduled. But, soon after I was seated, the engine was turned off. The humidity and heat in the cabin soon worked on my system and I nodded off - with a book in my hand of course.

Then, I was awoken up by a gentle tap on my shoulder, "Please put your seat upright sir". I thought we have landed. Afterall, I already entertained two full dreams.

But alas, the plane was about to ram-up for the take off.

A bearded Saudi gentleman seated next to me looked with a smile, mumbled something in Arabic while showing me his watch. He was telling me the flight was delayed - and by two valuable hours. He was reading his small Quran. He glanced at the book I was reading. "Where from?" He asked.

"Malaysia" I said proudly.

I did not think about the consequence of the delay much, afterall I was travelling for a meeting which were to start only the next morning. But I was wrong.....

Upon arrival, I made a quick exit and was amongst the first to arrive at the immigration counter. The Boeing 747 was fully loaded with Umrah pilgrimages, I wanted to beat the queue.

I walked out, looking for the familiar sign-board of a pick up driver arranged by my associate in Cairo. I walked up and down the arrival terminal. There was none.

At the same time, sensing that I was someone in distress, a few taxi drivers approached and later got quite aggressive in hassling me to take their taxis. I have seen and been in Cairo Taxis before, and was determined not to risk my safety again. It is quite normal to see taxis without safety belts, drivers on mobile phones and tyres wobbling.

I decided to call my associate.

"Aha Arif, the driver is supposed to be there"

"He is not here, but my flight was delayed by two hours. Maybe he has gone".
"Let me checked. Dont go anywhere. I will call him then I will call you back"
"OK. I am already outside after the immigration"
"OK".

I waited for five minutes before she called back. In the mean time, I have to wave off more than ten hagglers - all offering limousine to the hotel. All limousine I was quite sure are the same black and white taxis.

"Arif, he has gone for his dinner. But now he is on the way to the airport. Please wait there, he will be there in ten minutes".
"ok. I am in front of the duty free. I am on the chair reading a book, and wearing a striped shirt. If you can tell him to look for me".

I continued with my book, partly to keep myself busy so that I didn't have to deal with the taxi hagglers.
Time passed ever so slowly when you were waiting for someone. I looked at my watch, I have been waiting for twenty minutes, and it felt like an hour. I surveyed the crowd for any decent looking man with my name on a signboard - none.
I decided to call my associate again.

"Hai, this is me agaian. The driver is not here yet. Do you think I should take a taxi?"
"No, please wait there. He must be there. Can you walk past the immigration and wait outside".
**Ermmm, but I already told her i was already outside sitting in front of the duty free and reading a book.**
"I am already outside, in front of the duty free and reading a book. I am wearing a striped shirt" I repeated.

"OK"
"How long will he take to be here?, maybe I should take a taxi"
"No, taxi no good. Please wait. He is already at the airport parking his car"
"OK...I will stand up so that he can see me".
"Dont go anywhere".

And I stood up, holding on to my trolley bag. And I scanned the faces of people. And I saw pretty young Egyptians, overweight old Egyptians, Good looking young Egyptians, and unkept old Egyptians. I saw very rich faces and I saw very poor faces. I saw many hagglers spying me and shifting on their feet trying to make eye contact. I saw people hugging and kissing, they were relatives who came to welcome and greet their elders back from Umrah.

But, I did not see my man, who was supposed to come looking for me with my name on a sign-board.

After a good an hour of waiting, and my watch after adjusting for local time was already showing 9pm, I was still waiting. My mind was debating whether to be angry, or to remain calm. I decided to remain calm and composed. Afterall, the flight was delayed and the poor guy could have been waiting in the airport for the plane which never arrived.

"Hai, Arif is he there?"
"No, not here. Are you sure I should not take a taxi"
"He already parked his car, he is looking for you now. Could you walk out of the arrival hall, and go to somewhere less people"
**Ermmm, I already told her twice that I was already outside and was already at a place less crowded**
"I am infront the duty free shop, now standing but holding a book and wearing a striped shirt" I repeated. Maintaining my calmness, even with a smile on my face. But it was a struggle to remain calm....I had to consciously remind myself to be so. The darker side of me wanted to scream profanities. I didn't......

Waiting and miscommunicating can be so frustrating. However, I have experienced enough to know that anger or other negative feeling do not improve the situation - only had negative effect on one's own health.

I was supposed to arrive at 5.30pm. I was supposed to have dinner with my other colleagues in the hotel at 8pm. But there I was past 9pm still waiting for my driver to pick me up.
I sent an sms to my associate.
"Could you please sms me his mobile number so that I could call him directly"
One minute later, I received a reply.
I called the number.
It was ringing, but not picked up.
I called again and again. The same - ringing away.

At 9.45pm, close to two hours of waiting outside, just as I was dialling my associate's number then I saw this man with my name.
I raised my hand to attract his attention.
He came and tried to explain frantically in Arabic. I did not understand a word, but I understood he was saying it was not his fault. Which was true - in most cases - the worst of irritation was not due to anyone's fault. It was how our mind intrepret things which created the tension and stress. And waiting, in most circumstances, is a favourite spot for the devils to play trick on your mind.

I was walking to board the shuttle bus which was to take us to the car park, when I heard a familiar voice and a tap on my shoulder.
The bearded Arabic guy, all smiling and pointing to his watch said, "My driver was late".
He was smiling when he said that. He told me he was looking for me before he went praying. He also read his Quran while waiting.

I smiled back.
A lesson has been learnt for myself.

**I have to try to remain calm - the Arab with a beard was calm without even thinking otherwise. I spent time waiting anxiously and had to read to occupy my time - he spent time with God and read the Quran. I though I was good in managing to control my temper and remaining calm - he was much better!**.