Canadian expat Umm Travis lives with her husband in a suburb in historic Cairo in Egypt, a place where she has found humor and patience to go a long way towards adjusting to the local culture. Here she shares some of her observations, recommendations, and insights on living in Egypt.	Umm Travis

-Where were you born?

I was born in Toronto, Canada.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I live in a suburb of Cairo, Egypt, called Nasr City.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my Egyptian husband.

-How long have you been living in Egypt?

We moved here from the UAE in July 2007.

-What is your age?

I am 30.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Egypt?

My husband wanted to relocate in order to be closer to and take care of his family, as per Islamic customs.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

For any Canadian (or American/ most European countries) it is easy to obtain an entry visa at the airport for a small fee.  Once here, I was eligible to apply for a residence visa under my husband's nationality.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

The cost for medical treatment is extremely cheap here compared to western countries so we didn't worry about insurance.

-How do you make your living in Egypt? Do you have any type of income generated?

My husband is working here.  I was offered a teaching job for a very low salary and declined.

-Do you speak Arabic and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I am currently taking Arabic courses and find it extremely difficult to manage without the language.  It is a constant barrier for me.  However, people visiting tourist locations can usually find someone that speaks English.  For women especially, I recommend to attend to the Islamic customs here, as they might find it extremely uncomfortable around the men who will openly gawk at and call names to them.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? What are your favorite recreational activities there?

I miss home all the time.  I did have some family visit me here in Cairo, but it was not what they were expecting, and I imagine it would be very difficult to convince them to come back! 

With my husband we like to visit the famous City Stars Mall, go out to family-friendly restaurants, shop and visit family and friends.  Generally on holidays, and especially in the winter time, it is easy and fun to visit neighbouring cities in Egypt such as Ain Soukhna, Alexandria and Fayyoum.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I imagine this is home for us, but we never know what Allah has planned.  My husband and I are certainly up for some more short-term adventures if the opportunity arises!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are renting for a reasonable amount in Nasr City.  I think a 3 bedroom flat will be about 25-30 k a year.  Generally the rents in the surrounding areas are higher, especially for foreigners.

-What is the cost of living in Egypt?

Compared to the West it is really cheap, although the prices for basics like food and gas are increasing a long with the rest of the world.  But, it is easy to find bargains here if you look!

-What do you think about the Egyptians?

In general, I think the Egyptians are very friendly toward foreigners.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Egypt?

To sum it up:  Cairo is extremely dusty, dirty, crowded, chaotic, and smelly.  The Islamic culture makes up for some of these aspects, but to live here requires a lot of patience and frequent visits outside of the city.  I have heard, after 4 or 5 years, most expats learn to love it!  And I'm not quite there yet, although I do enjoy some of the quirks and humour of trying to survive in this sandbox!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Egypt?

Expect the unexpected.  Nothing is as it seems.  People generally don't follow the rules here.  And have a loooooooot of patience!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Egypt?

To read about my insights and experiences, please share in my Tea Break Thoughts at http://teabreakthoughts.blogspot.com

To view my photos:

http://ummtravis.tumblr.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ummtravis/

 

Thanks and happy travels!