Do and don't in Egypt
Are you living in Egypt? We need you to share your experience of the local customs

Is it difficult to adjust to the local customs in Egypt?
Could you please share with us a list of the do's and don't's in Egypt?
Thanks!
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Can you tell me a bit about some of the liberties she may have to give up in Egypt? I know it's a "western" country too, but I also know it may not be too easy for her given the different culture.
We are not strict Christians, but have christian beliefs.
women in Egypt are quite free, it depends on聽 what you mean for freedom.
the aspect that i found more difficult was that i couldnt freely kiss and hug my bf in public....because of the muslim traditions, but i think it depends on the place you go.
i think in sharm they dont care about that.
i recommend you to learn something about islam, the most beautiful religion...and try to make friends among Egyptian people. they are so disposable, kind and simple.
if ur wife is used to wear tight and sexy,tell her聽 be prepared to be considered a cheap woman...and no Egyptian good and sensible woman will make friends with her. as much as you try to go closer to their traditions, Egyptians will be very happy with you.
something bad of Egypt is that its soooooo polluted and the air sometimes unbreathable but i think it depends on where you live. also the hygienical condition are discussable....
but Egyptians are very nice people.
oh another thing about the people....they dont have the habit to give you a date by 15.15; they will tell you " see u this afternoon" and maybe you see them coming by 6...
hehehe
but they are soooooooooooo nice people. make friends with them, you wont regret
massalama!
Salima
giuly
anyway, i am a muslim and you will never hear me saying anything bad about my brothers and sisters.
Egyptians have faults and prises as every people in this world, evitating them will not make you feel better. try instead to integrate with them and you will discover something very great. but, you of course think that you have the truth in your hands....you are free. do you feel happy?
ehm....about offences....re-read the message you replied to my post, and imagine you were reading it instead of me. would you feel offended?
think more
pray more
less shopping
massalama
Salima
I love living here in Egypt. I have had to make some adjustments, but I knew that before I moved here, and I wouldn't have moved here if I wasn't willing to make those adjustments. Back home, I wore sleeveless shirts all summer, and my jeans were relatively tight. Here, my sleeves are always at least 3/4-length, even in the middle of summer, and my jeans are loose. (I've found that loose pants are more comfortable anyway, so I'll stick with that even when I go back home!) I've found that if I show respect for Egyptian culture and the Muslim religion, even if I mess up from time to time, Egyptians are very friendly. They'll overlook my faux pas because it's clear that they occur from ignorance, not from arrogance. If you come here determined to dress like you did back home and act like you did back home, you will be miserable here. If you come here viewing it as an adventure and willing to adjust to local norms and learn a little bit of the language, you'll adapt just fine.
I do spend most of my time in Maadi, which certainly colors my experiences here. I don't have the opportunity to interact with many Egyptians who aren't accustomed to seeing expats on a daily basis. But even when I have been away from Maadi, I've had no problems. I ride the metro to get downtown, and I've never been harassed on it, even when I didn't ride in the women's car. I take taxis (I'd recommend that you only take taxis to well-known tourist locations until you learn where you're going and enough Arabic to tell the driver "turn left," "turn right," "go straight," etc.), and I've never had a problem with them, either. I walk all over Maadi. I've had a few comments--including one marriage proposal--from strangers on the street, but it's nothing I can't ignore. I've never been touched by an Egyptian man, other than shaking hands when I initiated it.
I like it here. If you and your wife have open minds, you should do fine.
I am an Egyptian physicist who works as a research assistant in Korea and I am so close to get my M.S. degree. Really I appreciate your beautiful words about Egypt and Egyptians. This is my blog and I will be happy to share my ideas with all of you.
I have experience for my self i would like to share it with you, by nature am not talkative man so most of people think that I am proud of my self or supercilious while I am not after time when they treat me they told ohh you are a good man we were think some thing different
so all of us have to let enough time to understand how things running in this community and culture
thanks
Lets not talk about religion because by virtue of birth we come as Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc..
Well I have been Egypt for the last 5 months and have experienced so many things.
To start with, its a relatively safe place to stay in. I live in Heliopolis and work is Nasr City, unlike Maadi and Zamalek where many expats live.
Both Heliopolis and Nasr City are safe places. Being a foreigner (Indian) I do get to listen to comments in Arabic which are meant to be ignored as I dont understand Arabic and makes my life easy. Heliopolis has City Stars the biggest Mall in the country, takes care of your Groceries and shopping. Movie theaters, starbucks etc...everything聽 聽
You can wear what you want to wear except for ultra revealing cloths like shorts and deep necks. Though I have seen local Egyptian girls wearing Sleeveless tops and even for that matter tight fighting clothes. Local Egyptian girls wear tight inners which are ultra tight actually which stick to the body, there can be nothing tighter than that. You can wear tight jeans, capris, skirts and even sleeveless tops.
Walking on the streets is not a problem...Since I am an Indian I heard a lot of Egyptians asking me about Indian movies and film stars especially Amitabh Bacchan. few Egyptians have even greeted me in Hindi, while the others have said "Hindi welcome to Egypt"
language is a problem but still you can communicate though there is a need to learn Arabic.
When traveling its good to take cabs. there are cabs which run on meter reading and the once who run without meters (black and white cabs). Both are safe. One might need to bargain with the black and white cabbie for correct amount.
It is advisable not taking the public means of transport "bus".
People drive like crazy here so if you plan to drive, not a problem just drive an automatic.
As any country Egypt gives you various experiences and broadens your scope. Just live it!!!

Just check here, if you do:
The harassment that they mention there took place 3 years ago, but I doubt very much that much has changed.
Best regards,
Nicole
men who disturb women with hijab or niqab are not men...they are just male. and they should shame about themselves.
regards,聽 Salima
Here, like you say, when you don't look ate the men, they usually go on and look for the next girl.
In Kuwait there were more really rude people and I was many times going for verbal confrontation and asked them if they would like it, if a man would say these things to their own women. Not that it helped much.
Here, I just ignore them.
I don't cover up, but usually wear nothing short or tight when out alone.
In a way it helps that this is a tourist hub, in others it don't (men think all women are easy prey).
Then again, you find lots of morons in any country

muhalima wrote:I LOVE EGYPT BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY GAVE ME THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD...............
I love Egypt, too!
And by the way!聽 All husbands are THE BEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD, till they start to be BAD !
聽 聽 you are very nice my friend...are you living in Egypt?聽 you know you look a little bit like Angela Lansbury? 
muhalima wrote:hehhehehe
聽 聽 you are very nice my friend...are you living in Egypt?聽 you know you look a little bit like Angela Lansbury?
Yes, I am living in Egypt now!
And people says that I look like Marlyn Monroe, but sure I look like Vali Bilic.
And that with husbands I am right!聽 I have changed 2 till now, and maybe could be more, I don t give up so easy, all are the best in the beginning and succeed to be bad, final!
But who knows?
nothing to worry . i am here for the past 3 years . no major cultural change . people are honest but lazy . climate just like in delhi . food habbits are slightly different but we can manage . a safe place like india to live with some touristic attraction
regds
But what to do around 80 millions people in an area where all is sand? I appreciate them for how much they fight to survive!聽 most of them I mean.
And If I remember well, India has a wet climate,with mild wet winds, and a lot of rain, here it is dry and no rain!
So, Egypt is Egypt, cannot be compare with any other place!
going back to your initial questions. Egypt is one of the most liberal islamic countries (I, myself have 8 years of experience in EG,- my wife 1 so far). Women can move alone (in crowded areas however not recommendable) around for shopping etc. Big communities of foreigners exist, in which women & kids can meet, chat and do activities (german, british, swiss clubs...and much more). Sport-clubs are not an issue and afordable for playing all kinds of sports (golf, tenis, squash, horseback-riding etc). There are german, british, american & french schools. In other words: it is family friendly.
Some comments of previous posters however are right. Women can easily get molested. Unfortunately "some" men think foreign women are easy women (I think they have seen too many bad movies). Anyways. If you have the patience to support traffic & pollution. If you bear in mind, that working in EG is very, but very different from working in Europe or South Africa, I think you will enjoy yourselves in EG.
Cheers, H
many thanks for your suggestions, I'm searching for any kind of usefull information, moving to Cairo in a very short time.
Cheers
Giuseppe
campingguy wrote:they're smart enough to see that there's no sense in beating a dead horse.
Nice expression 
michellegib wrote:I am a single parent about to apply for a teaching job in a private school in al rehab, does anyone have an advice for me or know of anyone in a similar situation - will I face prejudice - am I even likely to find a job?
My own advice that you must have home @ Elrehab , because it is a big compound on the high way,
but at this compound you will find ALL of your needs, life needs, even if you will decide to have a visit our from Elrehab ; they (elrehab city management) they offer busses from many points in Cairo to Elrehab & Viceversa, wishing you all success, good luck,
Let the people dicide for them self what they want to be.
Just be yourself
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