Language Lesson

I am learning Arabic slower than I learned Portuguese. I have tried to arrange some lessons with some of our staff but nothing has materialized yet. The Arabic words used to explain this procrastination I have learned. This phrase is probably the most used phrase here in Sudan. It is the first thing I learned to say - before thank you, before hello, before anything else, this phrase has become a part of my daily activities. What kind of phrase could be so important and so representative of a culture you ask? It's rather simple and I wanted to take the time to share it. Not only will you feel like you have learned a little bit of Arabic but it may revolutionize your out look on life.

This phrase is .... insha'llah - the translation of this is 'if it's God's will'

You can also put it together with bukrah, which means tomorrow.

There are many different scenarios that this can be response for. Here are some examples that I have heard used here in Sudan.

- Work starts at 8:30 tomorrow so please come to the office and we will start the day.
- Response - insha'llah
- I need you to organize five guys to get this truck loaded and sent out by 11:00.
- Response - insha'llah
- Will you go and purchase this list of items at the market for the office?
- Response - insha'llah

To have it used with 'bukrah' is may sound like this:

- Can you get this report done ASAP so we can send it off?
- Response - insha'llah bukrah
- We need to get these supplies inventoried.
- Response - insha'llah bukrah
- Angie when are you going to learn Arabic?
- Response - insha'llah bukrah

So basically this is the best excuse for being unable to accomplish what you have been asked to do because if it doesn't happen, it was not God's will for it to happen. Or if it is something that you don't want to do and are trying to put it off as long as possible you can continue to blame it on God - maybe tomorrow it will be in God's will for it to happen.

So even though as a manager it is a dreaded phrase because really how can you argue with that - but personally it sure is a good excuse to relax a little and see what happens.