Before moving to Egypt

MaidenScotland · #1 (**permalink**) 16th July 2009, 12:09 PM

I have lived and worked in Cairo for many years now and have worked and lived in other countries other than the U.K. First of all let me say that I like Egypt and Egyptians but I just want to point out the problems we have here.

You will not get an expat package once you are here, to obtain and expat package salary you must source your job in your home country.

Local salary is not enough to live on... fact but you may be offered a job with an enhanced salary... 5000 Le is considered a good local enhanced salary, but believe me it's ok people saying you can live well for that, but there is no way I could live on that and live the life I want to lead and I am not out in 5 star hotels eating everyday, as a foreigner we pay more for everything than locals, and they see no wrong in this.
Earlier today I went into the shop that I usually buy my private phone cards from, now I spend on average 400Le a month on cards from this shop and I saw a purse to protect my phone, I asked the price and was told 15 Le, I refused, later I sent the boy who works for me to buy it........... cost to him 10 LE, this is a daily occurance and why I tend to shop in Carrefour, Metro you may pay a little more but at least you are being charged the proper price, btw at the moment most vegestables in Carrefour are cheaper than street prices. Other than the big shops nothing is priced here and they try and charge what they think you can afford and will accept.
Taxis are more expensive for us than locals, and as a woman there is no way I would advise another one to travel on local transport, if the smell of B.O doesnt kill you the harrasement will. Yellow taxis and the new white ones are good because they are metered but sadly they too are now out to fleece you if you don't know the way to your destination they will try and take you miles out of your journey to bump the price up.

Fully furished apartments are basic and not western standards but they will try and charge over the odds and you have to really look round for a decent one.

Quick or fast are words that do not exist here and I find it frustrating at the lack of pace in everything and more so the work enviroment

You are expected to tip everyone and anyone, even the man who comes to repair your phone expects a tip.

Local schools are horrendous and they beat the children... if you are bringing children here you must have the funds for a private school.

Hygiene........ mmm well you will be horrified at the lack off.

Try and cross the road? Only if you have got good health/life insurance.

Gigolos..... don't get me started, I am amazed at the silly women who up sticks and come here because some young man has declared he loves her and wants to be with her for ever. I have friends that are married to Egyptians and have been for 30 plus years but these friends husbands are highly educted profsesional men, not waiter, tour guides etc. Your average waiter, tour guide is after your money and sex and a visa to the west nothing more and chances are he has several of you on the go and if you do marry him he usually then wants to change the way you dress, stop you going out and change your religion, never seems to occur to these woman that this man supposedly fell in love with you the way you were .
This also goes for gay men, a gay friend of mine has paid to bury his boyfriends mother 3times.

If you are coming out to live, experience the culture etc then fine but don't come thinking that it cost next to nothing to live here.

koko661 · #2 (**permalink**) 16th July 2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

I have lived and worked in Cairo for many years now and have worked and lived in other countries other than the U.K. First of all let me say that I like Egypt and Egyptians but I just want to point out the problems we have here.

You will not get an expat package once you are here, to obtain and expat package salary you must source your job in your home country.

Local salary is not enough to live on... fact but you may be offered a job with an enhanced salary... 5000 Le is considered a good local enhanced salary, but believe me it's ok people saying you can live well for that, but there is no way I could live on that and live the life I want to lead and I am not out in 5 star hotels eating everyday, as a foreigner we pay more for everything than locals, and they see no wrong in this.
Earlier today I went into the shop that I usually buy my private phone cards from, now I spend on average 400Le a month on cards from this shop and I saw a purse to protect my phone, I asked the price and was told 15 Le, I refused, later I sent the boy who works for me to buy it........... cost to him 10 LE, this is a daily occurance and why I tend to shop in Carrefour, Metro you may pay a little more but at least you are being charged the proper price, btw at the moment most vegestables in Carrefour are cheaper than street prices. Other than the big shops nothing is priced here and they try and charge what they think you can afford and will accept.
Taxis are more expensive for us than locals, and as a woman there is no way I would advise another one to travel on local transport, if the smell of B.O doesnt kill you the harrasement will. Yellow taxis and the new white ones are good because they are metered but sadly they too are now out to fleece you if you don't know the way to your destination they will try and take you miles out of your journey to bump the price up.

Fully furished apartments are basic and not western standards but they will try and charge over the odds and you have to really look round for a decent one.

Quick or fast are words that do not exist here and I find it frustrating at the lack of pace in everything and more so the work enviroment

You are expected to tip everyone and anyone, even the man who comes to repair your phone expects a tip.

Local schools are horrendous and they beat the children... if you are bringing children here you must have the funds for a private school.

Hygiene........ mmm well you will be horrified at the lack off.

Try and cross the road? Only if you have got good health/life insurance.

Gigolos..... don't get me started, I am amazed at the silly women who up sticks and come here because some young man has declared he loves her and wants to be with her for ever. I have friends that are married to Egyptians and have been for 30 plus years but these friends husbands are highly educted profsesional men, not waiter, tour guides etc. Your average waiter, tour guide is after your money and sex and a visa to the west nothing more and chances are he has several of you on the go and if you do marry him he usually then wants to change the way you dress, stop you going out and change your religion, never seems to occur to these woman that this man supposedly fell in love with you the way you were .
This also goes for gay men, a gay friend of mine has paid to bury his boyfriends mother 3times.

If you are coming out to live, experience the culture etc then fine but don't come thinking that it cost next to nothing to live here.

HI,There
Iappreciate your tips .In my opinion every where has good and bad people .So you have to select the people you want to deal with .Also you have to choose the place you are going to live in .Acording to my experience Egypt is the finest country to visit especially Cairo and I can prove that .So any time you or your friends will be in Egypt be in touch with me and you will find out the different.Please send me PM for more discusion if you like and Iam sure one day you will change your mind about Egypt and Egyptians .Ihope so .
Good Luck

MaidenScotland · #3 (**permalink**) 16th July 2009, 10:23 PM

Hi, Thanks but if you re read my posting it does tell you that I live here and have done for many years so I am giving my views on my experiences here as an expat which is what this forum is about... expats in egypt.

MaidenScotland · #4 (**permalink**) 16th July 2009, 10:29 PM

whoops that posting went before I finshed.

I have also stated that I like Egypt and Egyptians, so why would you want me to change my opinion?

Would I be correct in assuming your male?

koko661 · #5 (**permalink**) 17th July 2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

whoops that posting went before I finshed.

I have also stated that I like Egypt and Egyptians, so why would you want me to change my opinion?

Would I be correct in assuming your male?

Hi,There
Iknow you started you like Egypt and Egyptions,but you just mention the disadvantages you met here in Egypt . All I want from you to tell the westerners about the advantages and the disadvantages .I have travelled to Europe countries and Arab countries.Imet there good and bad people.when any body ask
me about what Ihave faced there ,my answers should be fair by telling the advantages and the disadvantages .That is what Imean .
Any way you are welcom in your second country, Egypt and God bless you .
Good luck.

MaidenScotland · #6 (**permalink**) 18th July 2009, 09:42 AM

I am not here to tell the advantages, I am pointing out that some people think that coming here will be Utopia and it is nothing like that. This forum is full of people asking how much does it cost to live, how easy is it to get a job, what sort of salary etc, living here is so much more different from being on holiday and that is what I am pointing out. Why anyone would want to live abroad and have a lower standard of living from their country of origin is beyond me and if you are on a local salary you will struggle.
The first time I arrived in Cairo it was raining and cold and I was shocked, didn't think it rained here but as you know the winters here are miserable cold and wet, its not all sun and warmth and that is what I am pointing out

koko661 · #7 (**permalink**) 18th July 2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

I am not here to tell the advantages, I am pointing out that some people think that coming here will be Utopia and it is nothing like that. This forum is full of people asking how much does it cost to live, how easy is it to get a job, what sort of salary etc, living here is so much more different from being on holiday and that is what I am pointing out. Why anyone would want to live abroad and have a lower standard of living from their country of origin is beyond me and if you are on a local salary you will struggle.
The first time I arrived in Cairo it was raining and cold and I was shocked, didn't think it rained here but as you know the winters here are miserable cold and wet, its not all sun and warmth and that is what I am pointing out

Hi,There
Thanks for your message.I acually agree with you.Really living in Egypt as tourist is different from origin pepole.May Igive my self the right to ask you personal questions such as ,where have you gone after Egypt ?How long have you been in Egypt ?

masr8 · #8 (**permalink**) 19th July 2009, 09:15 AM

I have lived here for three years now and I TOTALLY AGREE with what you said. I love Egypt but am sick of everyone having a claim on my wages. An average Egyptian could live very well on 5000LE but we cant - we get charged up to 10times on everything so basically living the same as the UK in some circumstances. Egyptian friends cant understand why we shop at metro, spinneys etc as its so expensive but its the only place with the price label on it. I ended up hiring a car as was getting charged more and more each time with taxi companies charging 'friends rates' eg. double and also relaying your conversation to all and sundry when its nothing to do with them. Other than that Egypt is great but not a cheap place to live if you are not Egyptian.

MaidenScotland · #9 (**permalink**) 19th July 2009, 12:18 PM

You can ask but I won't tell you as it really is none of your business, I am wary of Egyptian men asking me personal questions as there is always a reason for it and the reason is usually that they want to see what I can help them with or what I can give them. Yes maybe I am generalising but believe me this is the Egyptian that foreigners see.

MaidenScotland · #10 (**permalink**) 19th July 2009, 12:39 PM

Masr8......Yes everyone wants a slice of my salary , thing is they forget that I have to work very hard to do my job and I have also left my home to come here and I don't get to see my family every day after work. I still have outgoings in the UK that have to be paid for, whilst I am comfortable I am not rich. I have a huge list of the people I have given money to for various reasons, but the first day back after my holiday a man that I have helped many many times came with his wife to tell me that she is having her C section the next day, in other words they wanted me to pay.... I have had enough and told him if you cant afford babies dont make them and dont take advantage of my good nature.
I help out with an orphange here and that will remain, but from now on what I earn I keep for myself... sadly I learned the hard way.