Egypt

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:20:54 GMT

Egypt’s ancient temples and pyramids have lured vacationing tourists for more than two millennia. Today, the country embraces a unique social stew, incorporating ancient traditions, modern Islam and Christianity, Middle Eastern art and folk cultures, and Western music and films. Because 90% of Egypt is desert, almost everyone lives close to the Nile, and crowding intensifies the ferment. In sprawling, cacophonous Cairo, robes are as common as Levis, donkeys share roadways with BMWs, and buildings made of mud stand next to glass-and-steel high-rises. Buffeted by so many influences, Egyptians remain religiously pious, devoted to their families, hospitable toward strangers, and skeptical that economic progress—in the Western sense—improves the quality of their unhurried lives.

School

Exchange students usually attend private language schools. Students there may have studied English from an early age and speak it well. Some classes may be taught in English and others in Arabic. Subjects can usually be chosen freely, depending on the school. A school day usually starts at 8:00 and ends at 3:00. The school year goes from September until May with a two-week vacation in January.

Lifestyle of the Egyptians

While Egyptian life is centered on family and religion, there remains a great difference between the rural and urban peoples of Egypt. Generally speaking, life outside the country’s major cities is in keeping with tradition. Communities are patriarchal, with men in dominant roles. Family ties are very strong and neighbors are often treated as family. People in urban centers such as Cairo and Alexandria still maintain these traditional values but to a lesser extent. They tend to follow a more modern and Westernized lifestyle.

Dress and Appearance

Egyptian men and women tend to dress conservatively, in accordance with their Islamic beliefs. Both must be decently covered, especially the women. In recent years, however, Western styles of dress have become popular throughout the country.

Quick Facts
Starting the Process

Both Easter and the coming of spring are symbols of new life. The ancient Egyptians and Persians celebrated their spring festivals by coloring and eating eggs. This is because they considered the egg a symbol of fertility and new life.
We owe our calendar of 365 days to ancient Egyptians. They were the first to divide the day and night into 24 hours and to use clocks.
Egypt is a land of many firsts: ancient Egyptians invented beer. There were more than 17 varieties. Ancient Egyptians were the first known people to fish for pleasure and to keep bees for making honey.

monkeys with tarter sauce™: Travel

Egypt