posted
Instead of hijacking the other thread, thought I'd start a new one.
I'm not trying to play down the seriousness of some of these things in Egypt, but I feel like trying to balance out the inferences possible in this forum that bad things only happen in Egypt.
Myth 1 - sexual harrassment only occurs in Egypt -
so why was I followed down my local high street yesterday by some ancient creep who was so short his head only came up to my chest saying 'hello can we be friends' the whole way.
Why do very attractive women I know get totally hassled by men the whole time they are out - walking along the street, visiting clubs and bars, and why do male work colleagues feel obligated to invite them to lunch every day (doesn't happen to me LOL) and every friendship they ever develop with men in the misguided belief its genuine end up with the man saying 'you are so totally ****able'
Myth 2 - people expecting payment in exchange for the tiniest weeniest service only occurs in Egypt
- my sister and her husband just came back from the US and she said they were pestered non-stop by people giving the tiniest bit of help (eg - you need that direction .. or whatever) and then asking for money
Myth 3 - gigolo/sugar momma relationships only occur in Egypt
- see the 'advice needed' thread about that rather than duplicating it here.
(I've no idea how this compares to Egypt by the way).
Any other popular myths anyone can think of?
With a name like Smuckers Member # 10289
posted - my sister and her husband just came back from the US and she said they were pestered non-stop by people giving the tiniest bit of help (eg - you need that direction .. or whatever) and then asking for money
Jees, what bad part of town were they in?? I've lived in America my entire life (less the last two years) and this has never happened to me or anyone near to me.
Grumpy Oldbag Member # 9889
posted
quote:Originally posted by With a name like Smuckers: - my sister and her husband just came back from the US and she said they were pestered non-stop by people giving the tiniest bit of help (eg - you need that direction .. or whatever) and then asking for money
Jees, what bad part of town were they in?? I've lived in America my entire life (less the last two years) and this has never happened to me or anyone near to me.
Somewhere in the Southern States - not sure (wasn't south America, definately the US).
Penny Member # 1925
posted
Myth 5 - Corruption only happens in Egypt. The black market economy and rampant tax evasion is alive and mushrooming in the UK. We are regulated to the hilt but this just makes people more and more creative at finding ways around the regulations. The wealthiest people pay the least taxes and the mimimum wage is flouted by using cheap imigrant labour. Backhanders are still paid in order to secure business contracts and bribery is dressed up in nice neat packages under the disguse of corporate entertaining.
Grumpy Oldbag Member # 9889
posted
Myth 6 - taxi drivers only rip off foreigners in Egypt
An English friend went to visit another friend in Dublin (capital of Eire) (where they use Euros - which we don't in England) and was charged 4 times too much for the taxi fare because she wasn't familiar with the money.
Oldbag Member # 9889
posted
quote:Originally posted by With a name like Smuckers: - my sister and her husband just came back from the US and she said they were pestered non-stop by people giving the tiniest bit of help (eg - you need that direction .. or whatever) and then asking for money
Jees, what bad part of town were they in?? I've lived in America my entire life (less the last two years) and this has never happened to me or anyone near to me.
Finally remember to ask her.. she said it was mainly in Memphis and Atlanta, but also in New Orleans. She said people would come up if they were looking lost, give them directions and then go into a whole sob story about being unemployed, having not eaten etc etc and stick their hand out.
Almaz. Member # 14025
posted
The thing is, people need to vent about issues that upset them, hurt them, frustrated them in a specific country on a forum related to that country.
Some things only happen in Egypt, maybe. Like URFI and the multiplicity of it, with foreigners while married to others, using Religion as a justification, which is totally convoluted in most cases.
In other touristic countries, some are ripped off jewellery or money, but maybe are not 'Urfied' with a bunch of lies.
I understand when people are venting, I feel bad for them, and wish it did not happen in my country!
????? Member # 12336
posted
For every frustration there seems to be a possibility to vent it in public. Besides messageboards we also have television-programmes, radio-programmes, and sending letters to other public media-sources, like newspapers, magazines, websites etc. As long as it works therapeutical, it saves a psychologist! However, sometimes I get the impression that it also can have a negative effect by keep hanging on in a certain state of mind...
Almaz. Member # 14025
posted
True. Negatively speaking, it depresses the reader, positively speaking, it reliefs the speaker! Life is not always fair!!