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My 13-year old son is doing a presentation on Egypt. His class has been assigned an around-the-world project and each child has to choose 5 countries to "visit". One of the questions asks "What is the biggest faux pas a native of your country can do to a visitor?" It gave the example of asking a foreign woman her age. What is the biggest faux pas an Egyptian can commit when dealing with visitors to Egypt? He needs something really interesting and funny. And please keep it clean - these are children, after all! There is a prize for the best one in the class, so please help. Thank you!
wiggum Member # 7129
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quote:Originally posted by just_curious: My 13-year old son is doing a presentation on Egypt. His class has been assigned an around-the-world project and each child has to choose 5 countries to "visit". One of the questions asks "What is the biggest faux pas a native of your country can do to a visitor?" It gave the example of asking a foreign woman her age. What is the biggest faux pas an Egyptian can commit when dealing with visitors to Egypt? He needs something really interesting and funny. And please keep it clean - these are children, after all! There is a prize for the best one in the class, so please help. Thank you!
How about when saying goodbye to his foreign visitors, (a husband and wife), the Egyptian host (man), kisses the husband and shakes hands with the wife.
It is customary in the middle east for friends of the same sex to kiss at meeting or farewell, but not to kiss the opposite sex, unlike European or Amercian custom.
It is a social custom and has no sexual conotations what so ever.
I have seen many a European man, totally frozen with embarassment when this happens to him.
By the way you may have seen it on TV .
wiggum
annie_81 Member # 4149
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i speak french so I know waht a Faux Pas is but others probably dont: faux pas is doing someting that is not socially accepted, that brings shame or embarassment on the person doing it.
Dalia Member # 1230
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quote:Originally posted by just_curious: It gave the example of asking a foreign woman her age.
In Egypt that's not a fauxpas but very common, btw ...
_ Member # 3567
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The question would be easier to answer if asked what are the worst things a visitor can do to an Egyptian host? I could name maaaaaaaaaaaany things!
_ Member # 3567
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Personally I was always very offended whenever Egyptian men (only them!) brought up what a good man Hitler was when they heard I am from Germany. I didn't like to continue the introduction......
_ Member # 3567
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Don't give this info to your son - since this is not underage stuff - but once me and my Finnish friend - were walking on the street in Cairo, did some shopping and an Egyptian man came along and he said to my friend: "I want sex with you, two pounds".
She was really upset and offended: "What, I am not more worth than that?????"
akshar Member # 1680
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It is to sit with your legs crossed and the sole of your shoes pointing at the host. This is equivalent to saying he is like the **** on the streets.
My husband was always turning my shoes right side up when I first moved here lol
wiggum Member # 7129
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quote:Originally posted by annie_81: i speak french so I know waht a Faux Pas is but others probably dont: faux pas is doing someting that is not socially accepted, that brings shame or embarassment on the person doing it.
I am not sure if by following my post you are implying that I did not understand (I do speak french), or was it just a co-incidence.
wiggum
just_curious Member # 7261
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Thanks to everyone who's responded so far. The kissing I knew about, but the shoes I didn't. Keep 'em coming!
_ Member # 3567
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quote:Originally posted by just_curious: One of the questions asks "What is the biggest faux pas a native of your country can do to a visitor?" !
I am a little confused here because it wasn't ask about customs you should be aware of while visiting Egypt and/or being hosted by an Egyptian native.
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