Living long term in Egypt

I am differently not mistaking Egypt with Iraq. If your research failed to take note of what I mentioned then you cannot have done much research. Surly the shear amount of people on here saying the same thing should be setting off alarm bells for you.

It doesn’t take much research to find out Vendettas are common among clans in Egypt and there is a lot of tension between communities more so Christians and Muslims with deaths.

EDIT: From what I can gather the south of Egypt is much worse than the North. Which area are you planning on moving to? If it’s the south you should really re think or do some real research.
 
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Pottsey said:
I am differently not mistaking Egypt with Iraq. If your research failed to take note of what I mentioned then you cannot have done much research. Surlythe shear amount of people on here saying the same thing should be setting off alarm bells for you.

It doesn’t take much research to find out Vendettas are common among clans in Egypt and there is a lot of tension between communities more so Christians and Muslims with deaths.
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.... and the shear amount of people are saying don't go because there are beggars and people out to scam you, like I said you get that everywhere! Even here in the UK that doesn't stop people coming here... read post 42, he talks about blending in and not being a tourist, you see the difference right?
 
elrasho said:
.... and the shear amount of people are saying don't go because there are beggars and people out to scam you, like I said you get that everywhere! Even here in the UK that doesn't stop people coming here... read post 42, he talks about blending in and not being a tourist, you see the difference right?
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I'm sorry but you are in for an eye opening experience.
 
I have worked in Cairo in the past for about 2-3 months (IT for banking sector), issues with Visas was my main problem, which I think still are hard to get.

The city is totally crazy, slum, slum, Hard Rock Cafe, massive river, traffic, slum and lots of escorted tourist parties. Work environment was horrible worst I have been in, smoke filled and little to no time away from office (which was the idea I suppose).

To be honest most Egyptians I met were nice but they obviously knew that I came from a more affluent background (westerner) and would always try and get their share of that.

It is imperative that you get a guide or someone who speaks the lingo, as although a lot speak good English they never tell you the true story.

Roads and public transport are manic, no insurance don't forget so you can go for it :)

Cairo itself was an amazing experience, but there were many issues and that's in the cosmopolitan capital. I am not sure I would like to work in the 'backwaters', remember Egypt is still considered a 3rd world country for many reasons.

If you have never been there I would think about it some more and definitely pop over for a week or 2.
 
85 posts in and I get someone who's actually been for work lol

I agree with everything you wrote, that's what I've heard. Reminds me of a place called Pindi in Pakistan, it's next to Islamabad. I didn't mind the traffic, madness and noise. Was nice to see such colorful people, sounds, smells and noise, its an experience in itself.

I'm not looking forward to the touts, I know I'll have my share of stories to tell. But let me tell you about the outskirts of Cairo. Theres a place called Maadi where a lot of the Internationals stay. This place is much like a typical America suburb (leafy green wide roads, parks scattered around, much less noise and traffic compared to the centre of Cairo, better air quality and upmarket shops aswell as a shopping mall like Trafford Centre).

So yeah on the whole its a third world country, but there are gems in there and its those gems where you gotta stay at. Another nice place is Zamalek where all the "posh" people stay, full off boutiques, cafes, clothes shops and public sitting areas.

What I'm trying to say is, Cairo down town is what 90% of tourists see as they are only there for like 5 days. I'll be there for a month initially, so yes I will see the bad points of Downtown cairo, but also the "breath of fresh air" that is Maadi and Zamalek.
 
What job are you going to do while you are out there? What sort of transferable skills do you have? What business contacts do you have?
 
elrasho said:
Theres a place called Maadi where a lot of the Internationals stay. This place is much like a typical America suburb (leafy green wide roads, parks scattered around, much less noise and traffic compared to the centre of Cairo, better air quality and upmarket shops aswell as a shopping mall like Trafford Centre).

So yeah on the whole its a third world country, but there are gems in there and its those gems where you gotta stay at. Another nice place is Zamalek where all the "posh" people stay, full off boutiques, cafes, clothes shops and public sitting areas.
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The trouble is that you will have no job and so will not afford to be there.The people there are disproportionately rich.
I've heard that that London City has a palace and places like Kensington and Chelsea that you can stay at, it's really nice and up market
 
elrasho said:
I'm not looking forward to the touts, I know I'll have my share of stories to tell. But let me tell you about the outskirts of Cairo. Theres a place called Maadi where a lot of the Internationals stay. This place is much like a typical America suburb (leafy green wide roads, parks scattered around, much less noise and traffic compared to the centre of Cairo, better air quality and upmarket shops aswell as a shopping mall like Trafford Centre).
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Maadi is very nice, but it is far from picture perfect that they try to make out (not far from it mind). There is another suburb that for the life of me I can't remember which is very studenty, that's nice and plush too.

Students are encouraged over there which is good, they have a free University for all program in place. Met a few international 'students' on my stay.

Bear in mind you will be working Donwtown for a lot less than anywhere else in Europe (not done research to back that up though :)) I 'lived' in the Grand Hyatt Hotel room basically owned by the employer.

I am more concerned about the work you expect to get. Unless you line work up before you go for (usually) a western company money is tight. You can earn well if teaching but I can't help you there.

Have you ever lived/worked abroad before? You mention Pakistan?
 
Initially I will be doing some charity work that I can find, I want to make a difference in peoples lives. Working in IT helping peple with their bs IT problems like setting up email accounts, configuring PHP scripts, diagnosing ADSL problems and website debugging (these are the kinda skills I have by the way, Im jack of all trades master of none lol) doesn't give the sense of satisfaction it once used to.

Don't get me wrong, I could just as well go to a much poorer country and concentrate on charity work only but I won't be able to sustain a living for myself. There is demand for IT in Egypt, not only as ICT teachers but also in the various IT companies (they even have ADSL2+ there! Although it works out at £35 a month for a 50GB download limit cap and customer services doesn't exist in Egypt lol).

Basically I want a change but also want to make a change in other people lives. What I don't want to do is go there and end up working in an IT company and eventually living the same life I was living here! (but without the telly, xbox and friends).
 
Bill101 said:
The trouble is that you will have no job and so will not afford to be there.The people there are disproportionately rich.
I've heard that that London City has a palace and places like Kensington and Chelsea that you can stay at, it's really nice and up market
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It's very cheap to live in Egypt, a months rent in a decent enough apartment is £200 a month including bills. Add about £150 for food and other stuff and your done. I know a guy who lived like a king he said for a year, in the end he had spent just 9k. He did everything you could possibly imagine in Egypt, the touristy stuff, clubs, fine dining etc...
 
Saviola said:
Have you ever lived/worked abroad before? You mention Pakistan?
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I've never worked abroad. I know emplyees don't get the same rights like they do in the UK so that is kinda worrying, but as long as Im making enough to sustain a simple lifestyle with the odd luxury I'll be happy. Are you heading back out there?
 
So initially it would be a kind of gap year/sabbatical? That I can understand, I would hate to think of you selling up and moving just on the research done on the internet. However, I would not want to hinder anyone's spirit of adventure :)

I am a permy at the mo so no fun traveling for me, well for the last few years anyway :)
 
elrasho said “like I said you get that everywhere! Even here in the UK that doesn't stop people coming here...”
It’s nothing like the beggars and people out to scam you in the UK. With your mind set you could be for an eye opening experience as other have said and not in a good way.

If you think it’s going be like the beggars over here you will be in for a massive shock more so if you go to the South.

It is not the same as you get everywhere.
 
Saviola said:
So initially it would be a kind of gap year/sabbatical? That I can understand, I would hate to think of you selling up and moving just on the research done on the internet. However, I would not want to hinder anyone's spirit of adventure :)

I am a permy at the mo so no fun traveling for me, well for the last few years anyway :)
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Yeah kind of a career break and get a sense of what's going on in other parts of the world. When you say perm, do you mean your permanently in Cairo now?
 
craig3000 said:
I would never live long term in a place with no decent broadband :p
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ADSL2+ upto 24Meg is not decent? Dude there's places in the UK that barely get dial up or no Internet at all. Although the customer services side of things are non exisiting in Egypt, if your broadband goes down prepare to wait weeks for it to be back up no matter how hard you complain. Although there are tons of internet cafes dotted around.
 
Well look, if you think you can get work over there, don't have to pay big setup costs, can return to the UK easily if things don't work out... why not take a quick holiday first, then go for it?
 
I was thinking that but I've kinda conditioned myself into "do it all the way or don't do it all" way of thinking. Yes it's risky but I'm desperate to make a change in my life. I can't express how fed up I am with my current mudane setup of work, eat, sleep rinse and repeat kind of lifestyle. By the way I was thinking of teaching in Thailand ;) Are you liking it there?... time to go home, I won't be able to reply until I get home (now for a 1hour 15min commute home, yipee!)
 
Good luck with the move OP:),me personally being a westerner i would/could never live in Muslim country this day of age.

Doing research is one thing, living there is completely different im afraid
 
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