10 Things Only People from Mansoura Will Understand

Mansoura, Delta’s bride. It holds many memories from my teenage years; from car cruising in Al-Mashaya to skipping school and going for PlayStation. Although I have only spent six years in there, it will forever have a special place in my heart!

 

Mansoura is not a governorate

 

 

There’s a common misconception of Mansoura being a governorate on its own. I mean, it does deserves its own gomhoria like Menofiya. However, until that happens make sure you get your geography right!

 

 

Mansoura is not a village! 

 

 

If I collected “rob3 geneh” for each person who thought that Mansoura is a village with donkeys pulling carts and farmers harvesting crops, I would save Greece from its economic crisis. Yes, Mansoura is not as cosmopolitan as Cairo. Yet it has cars, fast-food shops and its own stadium!

 

 

“3er2 faransawy”

 

People might have forgotten everything they learned in history class back in school, but somehow they manage to memorize the seventh French crusade that took place 767 years ago. Therefore, the minute you say “Mansoura” they immediately jump the conclusion that your grand-grandparents were French!

 

 

Mansoura Stadium is a part-time mosque

 

 

Giving the size of Mansoura, everyone knows everyone! They retain the family values that gets somehow lost in the big cities. When Eid comes, Mansoura Stadium transforms into the ultimate Eid prayer spot where you will find your school friends, coworkers or maybe your long lost twin brother.

 

 

El Kotob is every Mansourian’s favorite chill-out spot

 

 

The night comes; your friend passes by with his car that is equipped with stereo speakers so strong they can knock down the leaning tower of Pisa. The cruising begins through the lower Mashaya to reach El Kotob. Where you will have a cup of tea, a sandwich from one of the fast food shops or a smoke.

 

 

 

Summertime Dilemma: Gamasa or Ras El-Bar?

 

 

If you are on a budget, the closest beaches would be either Gamasa (an hour drive away and is located inside Dakahlia) or Ras El-Bar (an hour and a half drive away and is located in Damietta). Either ways, you get great beach time, extremely delicious feteer and rental bikes. Ibiza has nothing on us!

 

 

Once can lie about where they are from, but their words cannot!

 

That “Once” up there was written wrong on purpose, OKAY?!?! The most common dialect in Egypt would be the Cairene, which is used in TV and movies. However, the dialect used in Mansoura would be a mix of Alexandrian Damiettian. So “maba2etsh” to you is “ma3ottesh” to Mansourians. And often, you will find someone saying “fatart” instead of “fetert.”

 

 

You swear by Al Baghl’s foul and ta3meya

 

 

Well, Six Degrees might be seasonally busy, but Al Baghl restaurant is busy all year long! During the night, everyone goes there to satisfy their foul and ta3meya cravings. Therefore, you might end up spending more time getting a sandwich than actually eating it.

 

 

If you don’t have a Nady Gezert El Ward membership, you are not cool

 

Nady Gezert El Ward, a social club that sponsors family time fun, concerts and star-crossed lovers meeting secretly behind their parents. You would want to be friends with someone who is a member there. Or else, you will miss out big time!

 

 

Getting a cab is nearly impossible 

 

 

If a taxi driver says “yes” from the first attempt, your mama must have prayed for you! Because simply, you can spend more time hailing a cab than the time needed to get to your destination. Moreover, it is perfectly normal to have the driver stopping for other people on the way. Three is not a crowd in this case.

 

 

 

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss out on 10 Things That Are Too Real for People Who Grew up in Damietta.