A Typcial Conversation with an Egyptian

This is Sahid. "Sahid" means "happy" in Arabic. Sahid and I had difficulty in communicating. Sahid was always true to his name and wore an often inappropriate grin on his face. I could not always say the same for me.

Me: Did we get the results back from the lab?
Sahid: Yes.
Me: Where are they?
Sahid: Yes.
Me: No, I�m sorry, I meant where are the results.
Sahid: The lab has not run them yet.
Me: Why not?
Sahid: Yes.
Me: No, no, (said very slowly) why � hasn�t � the � lab � run � the � tests?
Sahid: I don�t know. I will call. (Sits down without even looking at the phone).
Me: (Waiting for a minute or two to give the benefit of the doubt. When there is no indication of a call to the lab, I continue.) When will you call the lab?
Sahid: Yes.
Me: No, when � when (said a little louder and slower) ? You understand?
Sahid: Yes. I understand.
(Silence as I wait for him to answer the when question.)
Me: Ok, When � will � you � call � the � lab?
Sahid: Ahhhh, yes. I will call now.
(There is a 20 minute phone conversation involving yelling) Sahid: The lab says they will have the results here in 5 minutes.
Me: Ok. Shokran (Thank you).
Three hours later, the results are still nowhere to be found.