Egyptian offices are a peculiar space. There are all kinds of different people out there. You find yourself obliged to develop a trait that allows you to decently socialize with people whom you have nothing in common with. Here are 9 types of Egyptians you’re bound to meet in every office across the country:

1- The food order collector

Everyone’s favorite person at the office. We all want the food, but we’re all lazy and don’t want to be the ones ordering it. There is always this magical person in every office who collects the orders and dials the phone!

2- The ones who blame everything on the economy 

Why late? “Zahmet el balad”. Why is the report late? “3shan el balad 7alha wa2ef”. Why the bad vibes? “3shan el dollar ghely!”

3- The ones you call “Me3alem” 

Or basha, or sa7by, because you don’t know their name and it’s too late to ask.

4- The ones with the worst Arabic ringtone 

There is silence in the office and next thing you know, you’re listening to dala3 banat.

5- El raghayeen

Egyptians are a talkative bunch, but when it comes to work, we try our absolute best not to be so loud and be on our best behavior. Some people forget the memo though, and we pay the price by having our ears chewed off with gossip and pointless chitchat.

6- The ones who work “b wasta” 

It sucks when people get a job solely depending on who they know instead of what they know. But sadly, a wasta is a necessary condition for Egyptians to survive in this country!

7- The intruders 

Egyptians take the art of tatafol to a whole new level. They want to know what you did on the weekend, who you saw, where you went and why.

8- The ones who talk about their kids all the time 

Every conversation starts and ends with talks of diapers, sleepless nights, schools and nurseries.

9- El kel7een

Your car fuel is their car fuel. Your cigarettes are their cigarettes. Even if they live on the other side of the world, they still ask you to be their unregistered driver/ride buddy.

It has to be said though that no matter how weird the office gets, there’s always a homey kind of feeling to it!