CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette Egypt Susan L Wilson cs! egypt.indd 1 1/27/11 12:21:08 PM CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette Egypt Susan L Wilson CS! Egypt.indb i 3/14/11 10:48 AM This 4th edition published in 2011 by: Marshall Cavendish Corporation 99 White Plains Road Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001 www.marshallcavendish.us First published in 1998 by Times Editions; 2nd edition published in 2001; 3rd edition published in 2006 by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. Copyright © 2006, 2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: (65) 6213 9300, fax: (65) 6285 4871. E-mail: [email protected] The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifi cally disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fi tness for any particular purpose, and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profi t or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Other Marshall Cavendish Offi ces: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 (cid:132) Marshall Cavendish International. PO Box 65829, London EC1P 1NY, UK (cid:132) Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand (cid:132) Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Marshall Cavendish is a trademark of Times Publishing Limited IISBN 13: 978-0-7614-5665-0 Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalog number Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd Photo Credits: All black and white photos by the author. All colour photos from Photolibrary. (cid:132) Cover photo: Photolibrary All illustrations by TRIGG CS! Egypt.indb ii 3/14/11 10:48 AM ABOUT THE SERIES Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one’s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country. Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again. Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the fi rst impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must fi rst understand the people—where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the fi rst half of the book. Then on with the practical aspects—how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to fi nd accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that’s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things. To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are ‘tested’ on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference. CS! Egypt.indb iii 3/14/11 10:48 AM CONTENTS Introduction vi Hospitality 114 Acknowledgements vii Friendship 115 Dedication ix Visiting 116 Map of Egypt x Baksheesh and Tipping 117 Gifts 119 Chapter 1 Compliments 121 First impressions 1 Chapter 5 Chapter 2 The Logistics of A Tour of Egypt 9 Settling In 123 Geography and Formalities 124 Natural Resources 11 Documents to Bring 126 Environmental Issues 14 Pre-entry Vaccinations 127 Regions of Egypt 15 Housing 127 Major Cities 19 Laundry 132 Ancient and Recent Past 26 Medical Care 132 Government and Jurisdictions 41 Baby Supplies 137 Economy 42 Toiletries 138 Tourism 45 Special Foods 138 Crime and Violence 47 Kitchen and Terrorism 48 Household Supplies 139 Electric Current Chapter 3 and Equipment 140 The Egyptian Money and Banks 142 People 58 Communication 143 Religion 59 Pets 147 Diversity 63 Servants and Service People 149 Social Class, Power and Wealth 64 Miscellaneous Necessities 152 Family 69 Getting About 153 Honour 74 Sights, Smells Education 79 and Sounds 176 Facilities for Chapter 4 the Handicapped 182 Social Interactions 86 Animals 183 Dating and Marriage 92 Shopping 184 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 99 Chapter 6 Food and Names 100 Entertaining Death and Inheritance 101 192 Dress 102 Dining Etiquette 193 Households and Houses 108 Restaurants and Takeaway 196 Rural and Bedouin Lifestyles 110 Meals and Food 197 CS! Egypt.indb iv 3/14/11 10:48 AM Shopping for Food 202 Chapter 9 Drinking Water 206 Business 256 English/Egyptian Business Style 257 Spice Glossary 208 Business Dress 258 Chapter 7 Business Cards 258 Enjoying Egypt 211 Business Meetings 259 Business Hours 262 The Calendars Used 212 Topics to Avoid 264 Ramadan 213 Nepotism 265 Festivals 215 Bribes 266 Entertainment 215 Setting Up a Business 267 Prostitution, Homosexuality and Extra-Marital Relationships 225 Dealing with the Bureaucracy 268 Travel and Tourism 226 Chapter 10 Chapter 8 Egypt at a Glance Communicating 270 Egyptian Style 237 Famous People 276 Simplifi ed Arabic Pronunciation and Alphabet 239 Culture Quiz 279 Greetings and Do’s and Don’ts 286 Common Phrases 242 Glossary 292 The Verbal Dimension 246 Resource Guide 302 The Non-verbal Dimension 246 Further Reading 323 Egyptian Time 253 About the Author 329 Queuing 253 Index 331 Photography 254 CS! Egypt.indb v 3/14/11 10:48 AM INTRODUCTION vi This revised edition of CultureShock! Egypt brings with it what I hope is an even better understanding of what it is like living in Egypt if you are a Westerner. I have been going to Egypt since 1988 and have had the privilege of living there in fairly typical, upper-middle class Egyptian neighborhoods (Garden City and Zamalek). I purposely chose not to live where most Americans live because it felt ‘right’ to me to be where I was. A new friend recently confi rmed my impression that something ‘happens’ to some of us when we go to Egypt—we feel like we have ‘come home’. If this happens to you, please recognise that you are not alone and enjoy. Just the word ‘Egypt’ brings to mind visions of pyramids, grand temples, gigantic monuments, mummies and king- gods, all relics of one of the oldest civilisations in the world. To many, it will forever be the ‘land of the Pharaohs’, a place where agriculture and advanced mathematics developed. But the long reign of the Pharaohs and grand monuments passed away nearly 2,000 years ago. Life in Egypt has changed, and changed a lot, since the time when grand temples and statues were built to worship its king-gods. Today, Egypt is a developing North African country of over 60 million people facing new challenges as it moves through the 21st century. Egypt is a land of proud, honourable families, each trying to do the same things families do everywhere in the world within the confi nes of their government, religion, culture and values. Like people everywhere, they concern themselves with love, work, family, doing the ‘right’ things and having their children grow up to be ‘good’ people. As humans, each of us faces the world within the confi nes of our culture (that complex mixture of beliefs, behaviours and societal rules which tell us what is right and wrong, good and bad). Hopefully, this book will bring greater understanding of the Egyptian culture: of ‘who’ modern Egyptians are, how they view life from their cultural perspective, and how they go about facing challenges in a rapidly changing world. In the words of modern Egyptians: Ahlan wa sahlan! (AH-lan wa-SAH- lan)—Welcome! You are welcomed to Egypt! CS! Egypt.indb vi 3/14/11 10:48 AM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii Above all, I thank the people of Egypt who are patient with my questions, share their lives with me, are kind and generous, and who always make me feel welcome. Much of the data gathered for this book results from directing two fi eld schools in Egypt sponsored by the University of North Texas, Institute of Anthropology and the Study Abroad Program. Special thanks to Dr David Keitges for helping make these fi eld schools happen. Thanks to all my students who went to Egypt with me. Their remarkable incidences of culture shock showed me that culture shock is not just a long-term response, but one likely to clobber even those aware of the phenomenon and who are there for short periods. Their questions and observations reminded me of what Egypt looks like when you are ‘new’ to its environs, no matter how ‘cool’ you think you are. A special thanks to Violet Sparks and Michelle Robicheaux for their assistance and support throughout the fi eld schools and subsequently. Also, a special thanks to Cynthia Talbot for suggesting that I write this book, and for her help. I would also like to thank my Egyptian and Chinese students in Egypt at ESLSCA’s (Ecole Supérieure Libre Des Sciences Commerciales et Appliqués), Advanced Management Institute in Mohandasin. It is entirely possible that I learned more from them about cross-cultural communication than they learned from me. Over the nearly 20 years of my Egyptian experiences, two people have been there with moral support, understanding, humour and kindness: Ambassador Hussein El Kamel (International Co-operation Senior Advisor, Prime Minister’s Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre) and Mr Medhat A-Monem (Egypt’s greatest tour guide. Call Medhat on his mobile phone at tel: 012-367-6574). They helped me in more ways than I can think to mention and I am forever in their debt. Thanks to Her Excellency Dr Amal Osman and her staff whose hospitality made possible visits to special schools and NGOs in Egypt. I especially thank my friends and colleagues Mr Mohamed Dahawi; Mrs Riri el-Aasser; Dr Khalid Dahawy; Mrs Amany Khalil; Mr Amr Dahawy; Mr Mortada Mohamed; Dr Nabil Mansour, Dr Mahmoud M. Amr and Dr Ali ElMaligui. CS! Egypt.indb vii 3/14/11 10:48 AM viii Finally, in addition to my friend Medhat, three individuals especially helped me ‘see’ Egypt from the perspective of those who face their own cultural challenges dealing with the various culture shocks Westerners exhibit while in Egypt. Thank you Ayman, Arabi and Ibrahim. They can be reached as follows: (cid:132) Mr Ayman A Mohamed in Maadi Desert Fox Club Tel: 012-354-6491 (mobile phone); fax: (02) 525-0886 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.dfcegypt.com (cid:132) Mr Mohamed Arabi in Aswan, the ‘Bird Man’ of Aswan, tel: 012-324-0132 (mobile phone) (cid:132) Mr Ibrahim Amin in Alexandria and Cairo Tel: 012-347-6343 (mobile phone) Email: [email protected] In the US, I would like to thank Jimmy Dunn at InterOz, Inc, in Lubbock, Texas. West Texas may seem a strange place from which to design the most informative website about Egypt on the Internet (http://www.touregypt.net), but Jimmy has done it and maintained it over the years. He is always ready to help with information and a contact when I need one (he seems to know just about everyone or know how to fi nd them in Egypt). Thanks to all the folks at Marshall Cavendish whom I have worked with on this book. Special thanks to Patricia Ng for her help with the third edition and to Shova Loh, Jonathan Griffi ths, Cheong Yaun Marn and Oh Hwee Yen for their help with earlier editions of the book. My loving family deserves special recognition and the most thanks. Throughout it all, they have been there for me and it helps. CS! Egypt.indb viii 3/14/11 10:48 AM DEDICATION ix For my sons, Edward and Darrell Spragins and for my friend and ‘brother’ in Egypt, Medhat A-Monem CS! Egypt.indb ix 3/14/11 10:48 AM