posted
I was discussing life in Egypt last night at a dinner party. Those attending were all expats here with work or their spouses' work. It was a luxury affair to say the least. Anyway,the main concensus was that they don't like life in Cairo and are here only for work purposes. They go to their home countries often and those who did not have work commitments left for the whole of the summer just returning now for schools etc. A very different view from what is posted here. Are the majority of posters here involved with Egyptians and not of the group I have described? I am in awe at why they say life here is not good for them. They have everything. Wait until the UK ones go to buy property in UK! No pools and expanse gardens. No drivers,maids,nannies and cooks. The women describe depression symptoms if they do not leave every 12 weeks and CSA is doing a roaring trade in daft counselling courses. So you can have everything and still not be happy!
Posts: 316 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
These folks are not satisfied with their environment; they are not at peace with it. What are you going to do that is the nature of mankind! These are the same people who would feel uncomfortable walking down a typical Egyptian street. They don’t belong there and they know they don’t belong there. They make no effort whatsoever to assimilate in Egypt. They maintain the same routine, one that minimizes interaction with Egypt and Egyptians. I’ve realized this holds true for families because some single men love having young Sudanese women day and night. This was the case with many guys working for GD and other international firms. Yeah it’s like with guys it is as long as there are women and booze then they are happy.
Posts: 2079 | From: 'by any means necessary' - Malcom X | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Hi Life is Good, I am not involved with an Egyptian, both my husband and I are ex pats and wouldn't live anywhere else. Yes it can be frustrating at times, here in Hurghada there is not the wealth of shops available, nor the variety of goods, but on the whole, life is good. That is so sad that these people can't or won't adapt their lifestyle to fit into the country in which they are living.
quote:Originally posted by Life is good: So you can have everything and still not be happy!
It's because they don't have "everything", they only have material possessions and that is external; it is not what makes you "happy" because it's superficial. They need something deeper than that, to feel that they belong, to feel that they like the place they are in, to feel that their needs as a person are being met, that they feel at peace...this they don't have.
Posts: 4576 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jun 2002
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Its just more proof that THINGS are not what makes a person happy, huh? You can have all kinds of TOYS, and all kinds of money in the bank, but its doesn't necessarily make you happy. Happiness comes from within. Yes...its nice to have money in the bank, it frees you from worry,and its nice to be able to go where you want, any time you want, and be able to buy whatever you like, but if you are not happy with yourself, then you will always be thinking that...oh..if I just had that bigger villa - then I would be happy. Or, oh..if I just had that new BMW, then I would be happy. Its an endless, and fruitless quest. These women are just not happy inside of themselves. I suspect that they don't like themselves or their own company very much. I don't want to turn this into a religion thing, but I found, that when I am right with God, then I am right with the world, and when I get far away from God, then I am not happy, no matter what I try. I kinda think that people like the ones that you describe, are probably pretty unhappy people, and will be miserable forever, until they discover that their happiness cannot be bought, and they have to give of themselves, and open up themselves to the world.
just stuff that I have discovered as I got older...what really is important in life.
Posts: 1103 | From: 6th of October | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I just had a look at this CSA sight they were raving about.
"Daily Life in Cairo: From an expat wife’s point of view discusses local sightseeing and entertainment in Cairo, how to handle household staff and salary guidelines, setting up your home and shopping "
Maybe just me but I find these so funny!
Yes Sobriquet,I never met one who spoke Arabic,used public transport or did their own food shopping. The only Egyptians were introduced as the service staff. I have an event occuring downtown next week and invited a few but was told they had been once and never again. I was expecting my good friend and her husband to attend the party. No sign of them so I called and she told me,no thanks I am done with holywood wives She has Egyptian friends and is always asked,"where did you meet such and such?". She gets very pist!
Semsema,I think you are slightly different as you are living in a hoilday resort. I must visit Hurg sometime for the beach!
I am meeting the "well adapted" friend this weekend and she no doubt will have me everywhere. Last time she had me at Basateen to see a project she was doing. Now that was different.
Posts: 316 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I have lived here quite some time before I discovered the CSA. I live in Maadi, but not in the European area. I live in flats mostly owned by Egyptians who wondered why I wanted to 'live in their area' Having an Egyptian husband I did not find this as unusual as the Egyptians do.
After 9 months I thought I would make an effort to learn Arabic, so joined the classes at CSA. Classes were good, and I met lots of people who's first language is English. This was great at first. I could laugh and joke without having to explain the jokes and say the odd sarcastic quip without offence being taken. In other words did not have to carefully think before speaking But after a few weeks I soon discovered that the ex pats did form a 'click'. They were there for the purpose of work, and the wives were driven every where via their partners driver. They did not venture out on their own, and only went to visit different areas 'escorted and chaperoned'
I began to feel as if I were a different species. They did keep to the routine from their own countries, and had their monthly alcohol allowance's, dances and employers organised trips. And slowly I saw this divide into the countries they originated from, ie groups of Americans stuck together UK groups stuck together and so on.
I shall continue my Arabic classes but much prefer the saying...'when in Rome' Posts: 643 | From: Over there | Registered: Aug 2007
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Pink Cherry,are you sure you are not the friend I have been taking about?! No,she is married to a UK man. Joking aside,you have just echoed her sentiments.
She tells me she has nothing in common with these people.
Posts: 316 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Is this a topic to slander expats and their families?
So a lot of them hate to live there, they stay in Egypt because of the money, it's a developing country, such a different culture from their own and not everyone can cope with it. Is it a crime?
And of course they need to get advise on basics of Arabic language, on how to go shopping and how to avoid scam, what are the best places to visit and so on.
And I am happy that there is a place like CSA because it's a main point for support, you can exchange information and thoughts. And btw that is totally bullocks that all these women leave every three months!
I personally met enough Germans and Americans (foreign people I mostly assimilated with next to Egyptians) who actually liked it there. They would go on a lot of trips, sight-seeing tours, be very busy also in the evenings and enjoyed their two or three year contract periods in Egypt.
My husband is the best example. Just like me he badly wants to return - as an expat.
Just as a last note: Of course as a woman being married to an Egyptian man in Cairo or somewhere else you HAVE to assimilate to the Egyptian culture, your main circle of friends are Egyptians and you experience way different things than the normal expats.
Live and let live.
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
TL,I am only voicing what I was told and observed last night. When did you last mix here in Cairo at a totally expat party? Where money was no objective. And these women do go home at least every 12 weeks,usually paid by the company. This keeps their employees here. Do you realise that gas and oil companies in Egypt have a hard time retaining their staff from outside. Why? I am told the expat life in other countries is so much better so if given a choice those I met last night would not be here.
Posts: 316 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2006
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Are these the ones who only come for vacation? As I see quite a few negative remarks from the ones who do live here.
To sum it all up,Egypt can be a hard life despite being rich. I feel sorry for the poor then!
Posts: 316 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I know exactly what you mean, Life, and if I were you I would try to stay away from those people and meet some others who life a different lifestyle.
I have expat and Egyptian friends alike (and, no, I'm not involved with an Egyptian), some of my expats friends are indeed rich, but most do not live the lifestyle you described above, they came to Egypt for all sorts of reasons and try to make their life there, immerse themselves in the culture, learn the language etc. You can meet many interesting people in Cairo, just give it some time and try to venture out of the expat circles sometimes.
Posts: 3587 | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
I'm always in the middle. I didn't hate it in Cairo but didn't love it either. I was there for the money, but was not in the same bracket as the traditional oil and gas co. employees.
The things that do make life difficult were mostly family orientated: Wife couldn't drive - had to depend on often undependable drivers No paths (walkways) to allow leisurely walks - esp. with prams No parklands or play grounds (with the exception of the cat pee laden sand pit at Victory college) for the kids to enjoy Only oasis with half decent amenities was Katameya - a half hour drive from Maadi A large proportion of supermarket goods do not exist or are extremely hard to find or are only available intermittently Nothing ever gets fixed properly first time
-------------------- Happiness is a choice! Posts: 177 | From: London | Registered: May 2006
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posted
There is a big difference between moving to a country for a financial opportunity, or a professional obligation, or following the husband as a marital duty, and moving because of a new relationship.
Not everyone likes Egypt and it is their right.
The ones with an interest to understand the culture, the history, the background of a new country to them, usually appreciate it. Some fall in love with it regardless of having a romantic interest, and some prefer the comfort of their own home neighborhood, environment, kitchen aromas etc...
Expats have 'cliques' because they need to relate to the love or the hate of a country, and find support by bonding.
A 'clique' is their 'support' group away from home.
On this board, in general it seems that the focus on Egypt is more from the expats with a relationship and from some interested travel adventurers.
Posts: 215 | Registered: May 2007
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Almaz, I was an "adventurer" long time ago! Seriously if I would have come there under different circumstances I don't know if I would like Egypt so much as I do now. I was living at first with an Egyptian family so experienced the culture shock on a full blown scale from the beginning, not knowing any foreigners until three months later. I think the 'cold shower' in the start there helped me big time to assimilate with Egyptians and overcome certain difficulties in adjustment.
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tiger, did you ever experience a real 'cold shower' in the very hot hot summer days in Egypt? lol I do wish the water would turn to ice cold sometimes - when electricity is suddenly cut and AC abruptly stops.
The best adventure for an Egyptian or other nationality - in my opinion - inside Egypt, is to find creative ways to take a shower, when the water brutally stops from running..
posted
No actually when I lived there (and it was about ten different places in three years! ) I didn't experience severe water problems but we did actually had toilet problems several times in different apartments which the plumbers never really seems to get a hold of and I won't go further into details here!
In most places I lived there was no A/C we just had normal fans. I did experience sometimes that that there was no electricity. I lived most of the times very simple, one time I didn't even have a washing machine (so I took my laundry to my foreign guest family) and a TV. But life was good, there was so much to do outside of the house that I didn't miss watching TV at all.
Oh and yes I can sing a song about cockroaches - "But I am not frightened anymore....". Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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Seriously if I would have come there under different circumstances I don't know if I would like Egypt so much as I do now. I was living at first with an Egyptian family so experienced the culture shock on a full blown scale from the beginning, not knowing any foreigners until three months later. I think the 'cold shower' in the start there helped me big time to assimilate with Egyptians and overcome certain difficulties in adjustment.
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