What is living like in Egypt for those coming from abroad? Are you moving to Egypt or simply in for a good read? Find out more about the 13 signs that tell you are an international living in Egypt.

1. You think it’s ok to go for a night stroll at 4 am and still find everything open
Large cities in Egypt like Cairo or Alexandria never truly sleep. General energy level is still high and running well into the night, when it is quite customary to still find shops and restaurants open, children still playing on the streets and people taking casual walks.

2. You have become accustomed that Egyptian breakfast contains beans and deserts are filled with rice (and it’s delicious!)
Be it traditional bread filled with mashed beans (“ful”), or hummus (also called “tahina”), or one of the most signature Egyptian dishes “koshary”, cuisine in Egypt is very vegetarian-friendly and contains different types of beans and chickpeas as one of the main ingredient. For a sweet-tooth, there are always options of various kinds of rice deserts and baklava.

3. You accept that traffic rules are more of “guidelines”
If not completely disregarded, traffic rules in Egypt are rarely followed precisely to the letter, yet there’s no complete chaos on the roads. Instead, drivers use a very intricate system of hand gestures to communicate with each other while in traffic, especially in large cities like Cairo or Alexandria.

4. You now think that water can only be found in bottles
It might seem strange at first to see a person in Egypt carrying a 5 litres water bottle home, but it is a necessity. Unfortunately, water pollution remains a serious issue in Egypt. Drinking tap water or using it for cooking is ill-advised, which is why all of the supermarkets and even small grocery stores have plenty of bottled water that is safe for drinking.

5. You became an expert negotiator
Be it arguing with a taxi driver over the fare, negotiating the price for a tourist knick-knack or just debating any price in general, bargaining is hardwired into Egyptian culture. In fact, as an expat you quickly learn that it is impolite towards the salesperson to accept the first price he has given you: negotiation is considered an art form and should be treated with respect.

6. You don’t need to leave your house unless you absolutely have to
24/7 delivery service is something that you get quite used to when living in Egypt. Anything, ranging from midnight snacks, groceries from the nearby store or even your dry-cleaning can be ordered at any time, without ever needing to go outside. Sure makes it harder to stay fit with such a comfortable arrangement.

7. You stopped going to the doctor to get medicine when sick
There’s virtually no need to go see a doctor in Egypt (except for really serious cases), as most of the prescription drugs can be purchased at a local pharmacy. You can just explain to the apothecary what your symptoms are or what kind of medicine you used before for treatment. In case you really don’t feel well to visit the pharmacy yourself, there is usually a handy delivery service that can bring the medicine to your house, even in the middle of the night.

8. You no longer get stressed out if something doesn’t go according to plan
Business culture in Egypt is different from Western; things don’t always happen as fast as you want them to. A common phrase you will hear a lot during business meetings is “Bukra (tomorrow), Insha’Allah”, literally meaning something will be done tomorrow. However, it generally means just a date in a near future (hopefully). So there’s no point in fretting over some things happening late, it’s a part of the culture, so it’s better to role with it.

9. You think it is perfectly normal to be invited for a home-cooked meal by a person you’ve known for 10 minutes
Hospitality is a very important aspect of Egyptian culture. As an expat, you quickly learn that it is very rude not to accept an offer to come for dinner or even have a cup of coffee with a person you just met. People in Egypt are incredibly friendly, warm and open to strangers, and showing hospitality is just one way of showing these wonderful traits.

10. You can expect to be helped out by a stranger on the street without even asking
Did your car break down in the middle of the street; groceries fell out of the shopping bag or you are lost in a new neighbourhood and don’t know which way to go? In Egypt you sometimes don’t even need to ask for help or directions, people are kind enough to offer a hand just by seeing that you obviously need assistance.

11. You actually start thinking winters can be cold
Despite having very pleasant and sometimes extremely hot temperatures in Egypt most of the year (hopping from one place with air conditioning to another is just one way of getting around in the summer), winters can be very cold too, especially if you live close to the desert.

12. You forgot that red is not the only colour of tea
“Karkade” tea is a very popular beverage (both warm and cold) in Egypt. It is a blend of herbal tea, made out of hibiscus blossoms, giving it a deep crimson colour and delicious taste. It can be served throughout the day and is a very popular choice for cooling down during summer.

13. You think it very casual to pass the Pyramids on your way to work
Living in Egypt for a long time, you become accustomed to the fact that you are surrounded by artefacts from the ancient times. Especially living in Cairo, you have probably visited the Pyramids of Giza more times that you’d care to admit.

Eleonora Drokina – ELM team

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