Wow,
I have to be honest, i'm totally shocked by almost all the comments here. Firstly, the OP I dont believe, was asking for anyone's opinion on Egypt. The guy has made a pretty huge and brave decision, to give up the luxury of comfort in the UK, with a job and steady income, and has decided to just try something new with his life. Instead of telling him how much of a dump Egypt is, why not offer something constructive. I guess most of you are too bombed down with your 9-5, mortgages, and spending all of 3 hours with your family when you get home sitting on your pc or infront of the TV. Congratulations, some of you have seen the place for 2 weeks on a holiday, and seem to think you understand the entire country and a culture, that you had no interest in experiencing for more than their sunshine. Im fairly certain before most of you went, you received some bad feedback about Egypt from friends, or online...Did that stop you from going?? Obviously not, cause so many of you still seem to have been. So considering you didnt listen to someone elses opinions and advice, why the hell try and give them to someone else. Id happily bet a few English pounds, that more the most of you wouldnt even give moving to a foreign country out of of comfort zone a second thought, which to be honest...I find kind of sad. Im sure youll all really enjoy your 9-5 until the day you die, experiencing the world....2 weeks at a time. Have fun!
To the OP, I think what youre doing is great. You dont need to go there for a holiday first to see what youre doing...just bloody go, who cares. My only advice would be to stop planning and researching and just go. If you dont like it, come back home! Its as simple as that. I think youll have a riot. I personally have only been to Egypt twice, and Ive got to be honest, I really enjoyed it. Yeah I had some trouble adjusting to the locals spotting me from a mile away and trying their luck with me...But, luckily, im a talker and ill talk to anyone, and if it wasnt for this I wouldnt have got some awesome advice from one local. After trying to sell me a few bits, I ended up just asking about him, his shop family, and the like...and he stopped. He told me that so few people actually talk to all the locals properly, as they are more concerned with avoiding them, or convinced they are going to shoot them, or just get all british and start raising their voice to leave them alone...that the locals find it amusing to intimidate people a little, because they are so used to the humour of it...as actually, they arent that intimidating at all. So he told me to just do what I was doing, talk to the locals like human beings, and theyll treat you completely differently. Theyll open up to you, have a giggle, and yeah theyll cheekily try and offer yousomething as you leave, but the pressure stops. this information for me, changed my entire experience. After this, I didnt have a single problem. Next day when I went back to actually buy a scarf I had seen the day before...I was welcomed with hugs, and everyone knew me by name in the shop, and I was introduced to some other locals, and in the end, got the scarf for free. Which in return I cooked for everyone the following day.
You will ultimately make of the trip what you will, but it sounds to me like youre going to have an amazing experience and time to me. Especially with you wanting to learn the language, what a better place to start. I cant advise you on the visa and working process, but I do know friends who have been travelling, and ended up working in Egypt for a couple of months because they enjoyed it so much, so I know its possible, and im sure not that difficult to achieve.
I think youre doing a great thing, and youll have the time of your life...and if not, come back, got a temp job, save some money...find a new country to go and experience. See the world, have fun, then worry about settling down into life. Anyone being negative about this in anyway, in my opinion is too unhappy in their own life, but however, cant now do this because they cant escape their comfort of their jobs, knowing they now have all their life debts and worries to contend with.
Have an awesome time!
,me personally being a westerner i would/could never live in Muslim country this day of age.
my comments were not meant to offend and where do i mention terrorists?
You'll know what i mean once you get there & it's not One event it's a Constant barrage of Begging peasant scum bags & that's Me saying that. 